Newslettter for September

Newsletter – September 2017

 

Introduction

The summer seems a long time ago as I write this on a cold, murky late September morning. Yet there is something of a new-year feeling with lots of arts resolutions in place. What better way of a new start than having a new person in place and so I say 'Welcome Elaine Knight'. Elaine is the new Part Time 'Arts Development Assistant' for Worcestershire County Council. She will be managed by Trevor Jones and despite listening to my jokes is still smiling. In between jokes I asked Elaine a few questions!

 

Hi Elaine – tell us about yourself?

I lived and worked in Lincolnshire for 26 years before moving to Worcestershire. I was the Performing Arts Manager for artsNK, an arts development agency based in Sleaford, in the heart of Lincolnshire.  My role included; developing the performing arts programme across North Kesteven, overseeing the artistic programme of The Terry O Toole Theatre (a 200 seater venue), managing a dance and older people's programme across the county, overseeing the Lincolnshire One Venue's programme which aims to connect young people and venues together in a more meaningful way and codirected a Creative People and Places Programme, Transported, in the south of the county.

Originally I trained as dancer and have always worked in rural areas, creating opportunities for people to take part in the arts who don't always have access to them.

 What attracted you to working in Worcestershire?

 Worcestershire feels a little bit similar to Lincolnshire -  A rural county made up of a city, a number of market towns and large areas of more isolated villages.  As someone who believes in creating opportunities for people who don't always have access to the arts it was important to me to move to somewhere where the arts didn't always take place in dedicated arts venues and there was the opportunity to develop a programme in non-traditional venues like village halls, schools and libraries. 

 What are you looking forward to most?

I really like the way the arts in Worcestershire work together through the Arts Partnership so I am looking forward to getting to know how that works and how together we can put the arts at the centre of people's lives.

 Good stuff and I know Elaine will be a brilliant addition to the WAP er family/massive/group.

 Updates

Arts and Health (New Prescriptions)

The NP Group, led by Jenny Davis, have been very busy with an event called 'Conversations About Death and Dying'. This was undertaken in partnership with Dr Maggie Keeble, who has a great interest in supporting people in their final years. We had a mixture of arts and health professionals at the event at the Hive on the 20^th September and we listened to a great presentation from Sharon Hudson from Birmingham YODO (You Only Die Once) who showed what our Brum friends are up too as well as some terrific arts interventions in this area. Despite the subject matter the event was both serious but also light hearted. Interesting fact – the mortality rate for those who will read this will be 100%. It was also the first project where someone emailed me as Dr Wilson too.

 Economy

Last night (the 28^th of September) saw 15 Festival providers get together to see if as a group (a flock perhaps) of Festivals can get together to share good practice, ideas and collaboration. Led by Oliver Carpenter, we had a great evening, with live music and free beer from the Teme Valley Brewery. There was lots of enthusiasm and energy and our next question is 'what next' but there was a real drive and purpose to it all. Big thanks to Oliver for driving this.

 Jump Start Performance

Our next event is planned for the Feast Festival at The Malvern Cube. There will be two events. The first is a new showcase of new plays. Lee and I read through 27 submissions of new work which we have shortlisted to 5. The showcase will be on Thursday 9^th of November and on the Sunday 12^th there will be a workshop by Pentabus Theatre in writing for a Rural audience.

Inspiring Futures in the Arts

Debbie Birch and yours truly have been busy recruiting artists for our project funded by the West Mercia Police Crime Commissioner. We have recruited 7 new artists from a variety of art forms and are ready to go! We now have great partnerships with Probation, YSS and County Council Children Services.

Vamos and Forthright Productions (Jest a Minute)

I was so proud to recently attend shows from two of our wonderful theatre companies. Vamos performed Finding Joy at The Courtyard in Hereford and Forthright at The Everyman in Cheltenham. Two excellent shows from companies who we should be proud of.

 

Last but least…

This is my last newsletter as County Arts Officer. When I took over, the Arts Partnership was 6 local authority officers. Now thanks to you all we have over 150 active 'members' and a thousand or so followers. To see this happen has been inspiring. Thank you. It really has been a pleasure. – Steve