Worcestershire Arts Partnership: November 2016

The First 31 Days – 969 to go!

October was a busy month for us at WAP and we were delighted to do our launch event at The Cube which was run in conjunction with an Open Space meeting about collaboration which was then followed by a showing of the beautiful poetic play The Magnetic Dairies, which signalled the opening of the new festival of theatre, Feast.

Feast featured a wide range of shows, workshops as well as great stuff for all the family. I ran a workshop on writing 20 minute plays and I saw a couple of great plays, The Murderer and From Ibiza to The Norfolk Broads.

In October we also featured the work of Arts in Minds who provide a great service for people who have or are suffering with mental health issues and who are using creativity as a way of healing. Wap have been working with this organisation for some time now and both Claire Hilton and her predecessor Jayne Gaze have given many presentations at events about this organisation. They are an excellent group who have deservedly been funded by The Arts Council on many occasions.

November 2016

For November we are looking ahead to a couple of projects that WAP has taken a lead on. Both are very different in their nature and a key person connected to them is Manda Graham. Manda was the arts officer at Malvern Hills but now has become one of the leading freelancers in the county. Manda is the Project Manager of the Ring which is a project that will place arts on the Worcester Droitwich Canal Ring. The project came about through the work of an ex colleague Simon Tipple who worked for Destination Worcestershire and who was keen for the arts to play a major role in the redevelopment of the Worcester Droitwich Canal Ring. A few years and significant public funding later we are now ready to begin employing artists and to place some fantastic art work of all types on the Waterways. Cathy Major has been employed as Artistic Director and Cathy with the help of Tim Easop from The Canals Rivers Trust has some great ideas on the kind of art interventions that will make The Ring one of the best arts projects in the county.

Manda is also heavily involved in the development of Worcestershire Theatre Club. This project came about through some shows that were run by Fuel at Malvern Theatres and the need to try and get theatre audiences for new writing. The project has now gone county wide and we now have a thriving network of audience members who regularly see new challenging work. Check out Worcestershire Theatre Club on Facebook to see what shows are planned in the autumn.

Last but not least there was the project A Place Free of Judgement

A Place Free of Judgement 'A Place Free of Judgement' is an ACE Funded Regional project in libraries, supported by Arts Connect, ASCEL and The University of Worcester. The project is about a teenage take-over of libraries and a re-imagination of how libraries will look like in the future.

The lead Libraries were:

Cannock, Staffordshire; Southwater, Shropshire; St. John's, Worcestershire

Blast Theory, an internationally renowned group of artists, and acclaimed author Tony White, were the lead artists and we had a wonderful group of students who really enjoyed the whole event.

In October, St John's Library was the site for a live streamed event which will be then made into a short film and published into a book with a Blog updating progress on the way.

Looking ahead we will feature the wonderful Tenbury Mistletoe Festival which is taking place in December .

Funding News Funding News Funding News Funding News……

As well as the Arts Council's new funding guidance for their NPO funding we also wanted to point out some of the funding that is available from Paul Hamlyn Foundation. http://www.phf.org.uk/. Paul Hamlyn plays a major role in funding projects working to make real social change especially with young people and its definitely worth a look.

Who are the WAP PARTNERS

The focus this week is on Natalie McVey

Natalie McVey - Service Lead Young People 13-24, Libraries, Learning and Arts

What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently working on a number of Arts Projects including 'A Place Free of Judgement', 'Young Poet Laureate' and 'Worcestershire Teen Book Award'.

I am also working with colleagues to develop a set of Standards for 'Autism Friendly Libraries', extending our core services to children and young people in the Looked After System, and incorporating the 'Code Green' Digital initiatives across the Libraries and Learning Service.

What does the WAP mean to you?

To me, WAP means a broad range of passionate people, from a variety of backgrounds, sectors and places, coming together to champion 'The Arts' in its broadest sense.

It means that collectively, we ensure that The Arts are relevant, accessible, exciting and headline grabbing for all communities and individuals in Worcestershire.

Who do you work with in the WAP?

I mainly work with Steve Wilson and his team, but WAP has also given me the opportunity to establish productive working relationships with a variety of people, such as WAW, Perfect Circle Theatre Company, Dancefest and Caged Arts.

My virtual door is always open.

What do you most enjoy in your job

There are too many things to mention.

I have found that the more I engage with The Arts and Artists, the more job satisfaction I get. Recently I have worked with Blast Theory, world leaders in their field of Digital Arts. This opportunity gave me such a sense of achievement as it pushed our boundaries in a huge number of ways.

I guess that underpinning it all for me is the opportunity to work with young people, some of whom have been marginalised and not been given opportunities that many take for granted.

What is your greatest challenge?

Saying 'No'

Don't forget to follow Worcestershire Arts Partnership on Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Worcestershire-Arts-Partnership/321230657962937

Ensuring Cultural Education in England

An Inclusive Curriculum, a Pathway for Talent and Access to the Arts for All

Policy-UK Forum: Morning, Wednesday 7th December 2016
Central London

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With a Keynote Address from
Richard Russell
Chief Operating Officer

Arts Council England

And further contributions from

Dea Birkett, Creative Director, Kids in Museums and Liza Vallance, Artistic Director, Studio 3 Arts

Chaired by

Sharon Hodgson MP, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Art, Craft and Design in Education and David Warburton MP, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Music Education

We are pleased to be offering a 16% (£40) discount via the code using the code CLTR1G-562447. Further discounts (as well as free places) are also available to assist those for whom the ticket price is a barrier. Never feel excluded - we try to accommodate everyone (further details are below).

“I want every single young person to have the opportunity to discover how the arts can enrich their lives. Access to cultural education is a matter of social justice.”

(Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP)

Being held at the mid-way point of the Government’s 2011 National Plan for Music, and nine months on from the publication of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Culture White Paper, this timely forum will assess progress made in ensuring all young people in England have access to the arts and a quality cultural education, as well as how to stem the decline in the number of students taking these subjects at school and beyond.

Protecting Access to Arts and Culture

School Partnerships, Overcoming Budget Cuts and Impact of Brexit

Delegates will look at the importance of access to culture for young peoples’ social and emotional wellbeing and all-round education, and how the ongoing reduction to local authority budgets, coupled with reduced funding from the EU following Brexit, will affect cultural institutions in the UK and the opportunity and ability for them to partner with schools or organise events aimed at young people.

Arts for All

Implementing the White Paper, Eradicating Inequality of Opportunity and Joined-Up Working

Sessions will also look at how to overcome inequalities of opportunity, including the role of Pupil Premium funding, how the continuation of funding for 2016/17 for Music Hubs will help to encourage more joined-up working between organisations and provide high quality music education for all as well as what is expected from the recently announced Cultural Citizen’s Programme pilots beginning in September, where young people from disadvantaged communities will be given access to a range of cultural activities.

Culture in Schools and Beyond

The EBacc Effect, Teacher Shortages and Progression to Work

Further sessions will assess the impact of the EBacc on take up of arts subjects at GSCE and A-level, and what effect the lengthening of school days to allow more time for extra-curricular activities such as ‘sport and art’, as suggested in the Budget, will have on interest in the subjects. Delegates will also look at the priorities for tackling current teacher shortage levels in the arts and whether the current curriculum gives pupils a realistic representation of arts in the real world, particularly looking at progression and routes into employment.

Further information is available on our website here.

< < < Confirmed Speakers < < <

Richard Russell, Director for Policy and Research, Arts Council England will be delivering a keynote address at this event. Dea Birkett, Creative Director, Kids in Museums and Liza Vallance, Artistic Director, Studio 3 Arts will also be speaking.

Sharon Hodgson MP, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Art, Craft and Design in Education and David Warburton MP, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Music Education will be chairing the forum.

The process for inviting further participants is currently under way however we are always keen to hear from potential speakers - or hear nominations of individuals you think could make a contribution. Please get in touch if you - or a colleague you may like to nominate - would like to take part.

> > > Networking and Attendees > > >

Places have already been reserved by ABRSM; Almeida Theatre; Arts Council England; Artswork; Barbican Centre; Birmingham City University; Birmingham Repertory Theatre; Bishop Grosseteste University; Brighton & Hove Music & Arts; Bristol Music Trust; Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival; Cambridgeshire Music; Chapel Arts Studio; Chichester Festival Theatre; Conservatoires UK; Coventry Performing Arts; Crafts Council; Design Museum; Digital Theatre; Drake Music; Face Front Inclusive Theatre; Gateway 6th Form College; Graeae Theatre Company; Greenwich Dance; Hawkins\Brown; Incorporated Society of Musicians; Kazzum; Kent County Council; Kent Music; Knowsley Borough Council; Laban Guild for Movement and Dance; Leeds Museums and Galleries; Leeds Music Education Partnership; London Borough of Ealing; LSA Technology & Performing Arts College; London Symphony Orchestra; Lyric Hammersmith; Manasamitra; Matthew Bourne's New Adventures; Minack Theatre Trust; Museum of London; Music in the Round; NCFE; Norfolk & Norwich Festival Bridge; One Dance UK; Opera North; Orchestras Live; Pallant House Gallery; Paul Hamlyn Foundation; Perrett Laver; Real Ideas Organisation CIC; Roundhouse; Royal Academy of Dance; Royal & Derngate Theatres; Royal Shakespeare Company; Saffron Hall Trust; Self; Sound and Music; Shakespeare Birthplace Trust; The Denys Bower Bequest; The Glasgow School of Art; The National Society for Education in Art and Design; The Regent Theatre; Theatre Royal Norwich; The Sixteen; Tri-borough Music Hub; Trinity College London; Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance; University of Bedfordshire and Watts Gallery - Artists' Village.

We factor in networking opportunities when designing our events and always attempt to provide time at the beginning, middle and end for those wishing to engage one-on-one to do so with their fellow attendees. We can never guarantee anyone's attendance (or their actual availability on the day) but do try to facilitate the chance for delegates to engage.

If you are interested sponsoring, exhibiting or promoting your organisation at our event then please get in contact via sponsorship@policy-uk.com or on 0845 647 9000. We have packages available for all budgets and are happy to negotiate accordingly.

< < < Event and Booking Information < < <

Ensuring Cultural Education in England

An Inclusive Curriculum, a Pathway for Talent and Access to the Arts for All

Morning, Wednesday, 7th December 2016

Central London

[ Book your place here ]

Places at the forum (including course materials and refreshments) are:

£210.00 *

(+VAT)

* Use the promotional code: CLTR1G-562447 to receive the above rate. £210 is 16% (£40) off our standard fee of £250;

* Multi-Delegate Discount *

We strive for a varied audience made up of not only the companies and public sector organisations with a financial interest in the topic but those small charities and individuals for whom this is both a career and a passion. To assist attendance, we offer discounts and free places for those with a genuine need. In brief, we run an honour system, asking those who can pay to do so, which enables us to provide free places for those who cannot. Please email me if you think you qualify. All decisions are made on a case by case basis.

Please be aware:

This discount will expire at midnight on Thursday 10th November 2016;
We use an automated system so you must use the promotional code at the time of booking or the discount rates will not be awarded and you will be charged the full rate of £250;
Places at the event are limited and tickets using the promotional code will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis; and
Once confirmed your booking will be subject to the terms and conditions and potentially cancellation charges.

Alex

Alex Kenney
Producer, Policy-UK
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About Us
Policy-UK organises Forums, Conferences and Roundtables on pertinent public policy issues. We liaise with policymakers, charities and other organisations within the sector to inform our events so we, and our delegates, can be confident we are covering the right issues at the right time.

We are a private company - with no affiliation with any other events company, lobbying company or other vested, commercial interests – we make our money through sponsorship* and by charging for attendance however we only charge those who would reasonably be expected to afford our modest ticket prices and provide free or concessionary rates to those who cannot. We are editorially independent with no political affiliation. All decisions regarding the topics and speakers are entirely decided by Policy-UK - *sponsors - while showered with appreciation – take part under the strict understanding that Policy-UK will decide every aspect of the event but will make them feel very welcome.

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((((( A Policy-UK Forum )))))

Ensuring Cultural Education in England

An Inclusive Curriculum, a Pathway for Talent and Access to the Arts for All

Wednesday, 7th December 2016

Central London

Agenda in Draft

8.30 – 9.00

Registration, Coffee and Networking

9.00 – 9.05

Chair and Policy-UK Welcoming remarks

Sharon Hodgson MP

Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Art, Craft and Design in Education

9.05 - 9.25

The Importance and Value of the Arts

Speaker invitations under consideration

- - - - Questions, and answer session with delegates - - - -

9.25 - 10.15

Ensuring Access to Arts for All

Forging Partnerships, Overcoming Budget Cuts and Engaging with Families

FOCUS POINTS:

What impact will the ongoing cuts to local authority budgets and the reduced funding from the EU following Brexit have on cultural institutions in the UK and their ability to partner with schools or organise events aimed at young people?
How will the continued funding for Music Education Hubs to 2016/17 help to create and promote more joined-up provision for young people to access the music? How successful have Music Hubs been so far?
What more can schools, local authorities and cultural institutions do to work together to provide equal opportunities and access to the arts and overcome significant socio-economic and geographical inequalities and engage with families who may not traditionally be involved in the arts, for example raising awareness of discounted theatre tickets or free art shows etc.?
What is expected from the Cultural Citizen’s Programme pilots, which started in September, and how can the results and recommendations be rolled out nationally next year?
Did the DCMS Culture White Paper go far enough to ensure access to the arts for all?

	Dea Birkett
	Creative Director
	Kids in Museums

Further speaker Invitations under consideration

- - - - Questions, and answer session with delegates - - - -

10.15 - 10.55

Investing in the Arts

The Cultural Citizens Programmes, the Cultural Education Challenge and Outcomes from the Pilots

Richard Russell	Liza Vallance
Chief Operating Officer	Artistic Director
Arts Council England	Studio 3 Arts

Further speaker invitations under consideration

- - - - Questions, and answer session with delegates - - - -

10.55 - 11.00

Chair’s Closing Comments

Sharon Hodgson MP

Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Art, Craft and Design in Education

11.00 - 11.30

Refreshments and Networking break

11.30 - 11.35

The Chair’s Welcome Back

David Warburton MP
Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Music Education

11.35 - 12.05

The Government’s Vision for Cultural Education

Speaker invitations under consideration

- - - - Questions, and answer session with delegates - - - -

12.05 - 12.55

Culture and Arts in Schools

The EBacc Effect, Teacher Supply and Progression to Work

FOCUS POINTS:

What more could be done by schools to use Pupil Premium funding to create more opportunities for young people to take up arts at school? How likely will the focus on culture for this year’s Pupil Premium Awards be on take up?
How feasible would Labour’s commitment to introduce an ‘arts pupil premium’ be if they were elected at the next General Election?
With arts and music seen to becoming the ‘preserve of the elite’, particularly with the cost of musical instruments and the cost of theatre tickets being a barrier to families on lower incomes, what can schools do to ensure that students have access to cultural institutions and in turn encourage an interest in the arts?
How has the withdrawal of the Expressive Arts GSCE and the introduction of the EBacc last September affected the perception of arts subjects amongst students and take up of arts subjects at GSCE and A-level?
To what extent will lengthening the school day allow more time for extra-curricular activities such as ‘sport and art’? Do schools have sufficient funding and resources to offer this extra-curricular provision?
What are the priorities for tackling current teacher shortage levels in the arts and music at both primary and secondary level?
To what extent does the current curriculum give pupils a realistic representation of arts in the real world and routes into employment and what more could be done to improve careers advice?
Following the Government’s announcement to double the number of apprenticeship places by 2020, how many of these will be set aside for arts and culture?
With the creative industries contributing a significant amount to the UK’s economy, what more can employers in this sector do to encourage take up of arts subjects, identify skills gaps and work with schools to provide routes into work?


	Speaker invitations under consideration

- - - - Questions, and answer session with delegates - - - -

12.55 - 13.00

Chair’s and Policy-UK’s Thanks

David Warburton MP
Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Music Education

Worcestershire Arts Partnership Blog

Friday, 25 November 2016

Artist Opportunities in the Midlands - x3 artist commissions

Tuesday, 22 November 2016

Worcestershire Arts Partnership November newsletter

Thursday, 3 November 2016

Ensuring Cultural Education in England, a Pathway for Talent and Access to the Arts for All!