Insite
The Essex Cultural Tourism Programme
Aims and objectives
Insite was a unique partnership comprising of the district, borough, unitary and county councils of Essex, and Arts Council England, East. The programme was hosted by ExDRA, the Essex Development & Regeneration Agency, from the summer of 2005 to the end of 2007. The partners had ambitious aims to challenge perceptions of the county and establish Essex as a cultural destination of choice.
During its two years of public activity Insite celebrated Essex's distinctiveness and conveyed positive images through a diverse programme of ground-breaking contemporary arts and cultural tourism activities. 2005 saw the development of 'Three Heads in the Well', a magical Essex tale devised by the Mercury Theatre set amid the most picturesque venues in the county from Hadleigh Castle to Harwich Redoubt.
2006 was the year of the big debate 'What is it About Essex?', with commentators Germaine Greer and Simon Heffer, and the innovative 'Spoke'n'Word' tours with Martin Newell, trips punctuated by poetry readings along the Colne Valley. Two spectacular performances, 'ESSEXstreetdiversions' in partnership with Chelmsford Borough Council, and 'Souterrain' with the Mercury Theatre, closed a year of exciting activities.
2007 was a busy year with 'Food in Landscape', a stimulating exhibition emerging from the Essex Food Challenge; exciting debates in partnership with Metal joined artistic and tourism communities in the county; exhilarating performances from the 'Wish You Were Here' festival; and an extended programme of 'Spoke'n'Word' tours.
Project summary
The Essex Cultural Tourism Programme, was one of six county-specific artsgenerate programmes in the Eastern region. The programme has commissioned, promoted and supported a series of initiatives celebrating areas and sites across the county in a contemporary and innovative way.
Empowering people to celebrate their unique identity, Insite aimed at raising the profiles of Essex, challenging perceptions of the county, and promoting it as a vibrant place to live, work and visit.
The partnership comprised all the district, borough, unitary and county councils of Essex, and Arts Council England, East.
End date: Saturday 1 September 2007
Documents
- Insite in the press (JPEG, 299.31Kb)
More information
Art forms
- Visual & applied arts
Programme
- INSITE, Essex
Themes
- Economic development
- International profile
- Sustainable communities
Interventions
- New ways of working with LAs
- Tourism events development
Location
- Essex
Organisation
- Insite
Project manager
- Rob West