Information update December 2008

The baseline data for national indicators 9, 10 and 11 is now available on the DCMS website

This headline data will tell part of the story about how readily people engage with the arts.  As you are already aware, Arts Council England has carried out segmentation research to find out how and why different kinds of people engage with the arts in England today.  Alongside this we have produced a ‘propensity to engage’ analysis which gives an indication of the likely level of engagement in arts in a local area, based on demographic and lifestyle characteristics.  You can compare this analysis with the survey information to assess how your area is performing.

http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/downloads/Propensity_to_engage_analysis.pdf

2.  Regional Cities East update

Regional Cities East is an alliance of six cities in the East of England supported by the East of England Regional Development Agency and the Government Office for the East of England. 

The six cities, Peterborough, Luton, Ipswich, Norwich, Colchester and Southend-on-Sea, believe that by sharing best practice, collaborating on joint ventures and setting clear priorities, they can create more jobs and affordable homes than they could by working alone. They share a common belief - that medium sized cities can deliver economic growth in a sustainable way. And they face common challenges – to improve infrastructure and skill levels.

Regional Cities East has recently appointed leading PR and communications specialists Grayling Global to develop and implement a three-year culture-led marketing campaign aimed at raising the profile of our region both nationally and internationally.

The campaign is aimed at changing the external profile of the region and attracting investment and visitors by maximising the cultural assets of the East of England and the seven cities which make up Regional Cities East: Colchester, Ipswich, Luton, Norwich and Peterborough, and Cambridge, which recently joined the initiative.

Grayling Global is currently undertaking research and visiting RCE cities to ascertain needs by meeting regional representatives for economic development, regeneration, cultural development and other relevant stakeholders

Website www.rce.org.uk for more information about Regional Cities East

3.  Grants for the arts seminars – dates for 2009

Arts Council England, East hosts Grants for the arts seminars every month. The seminars are aimed at individuals or organisations who are thinking of applying to the scheme.  ACEE officers take potential applicants through the process, including guidance on filling out the application form. 

The next seminar will be held at our offices in Cambridge on Thursday 22 January from 10-1pm..  Please contact any of our administrators for more information or to book a place.  

Future seminar dates are: 

Thursday 19 February

Thursday 19 March

Wednesday 22 April

4.  Essential Guide

The next Essential Guide for local authority arts officers will be held on at Arts Council East’s office on Thursday 26 February.  So please put this date in your calendars, and look out for the email flyer with more details and information on how to book which will be sent out in the new year.

For more information about the Essential Guides, see our website page  Essential Guides

5.  Arts Council England East staff update

Latest staff list is attached at the end in the Documents section.

6.  Commissions East – keep in touch by e-bulletin

Those of you who came to the last Essential Guide will be familiar with the work of Commissions East.  They are one of the UK’s leading public art agencies, working in partnership to develop and deliver outstanding visual arts projects that define places, unite people and challenge perceptions.  Commissions East provides public art strategy and policy development, alongside a full range of project advisory and management services. 

To keep in touch with current and forthcoming projects in the public realm, please subscribe to Commissions East’s new e-bulletin by visiting www.commissionseast.org.uk or telephone 01223 356882.

7.  Cultural Olympiad Update

Introducing Stephanie Hogger

Liz Hughes, Creative Programmer for the East of England for London 2012, is now on maternity leave and Stephanie Hogger has joined as interim Creative Programmer for the region for London 2012.

Steph can be currently be emailed at creativeprogrammereast@london2012.com or called on 07875 708018.

If you would like to hear the latest about the Cultural Olympiad or chat about how your organisation can get involved, Steph is planning a series of sub-regional briefings and surgery sessions for February and March. To receive further details about these, send her an email or look out for the next edition of the Creative Programmer’s update.

Case studies from the launch of the Cultural Olympiad and the first Inspire Programme projects in the East of England

A short document drawing together short case studies from the launch of the Cultural Olympiad has been pulled together. This can be downloaded from the East of England pages on the London 2012 website www.london2012.com/ or can be requested from Steph.

In a review of the activity around the launch of the Cultural Olympiad, over 50% of organisations interviewed said that their event attracted new audiences, 98% felt that their event was successful and 99% would take part again. It is likely that there will be another Open Weekend in 2009 – if you would like to be kept up to date, please email Steph or see the Creative Programmer’s Update.

A huge thank you to all the organisations and individuals who helped make all the activity in 2008 happen. We look forward to working with you as we enter 2009.

Rising to the Challenge Annual Summit

Save the Date: The regional ‘Rising to the Challenge’ Annual Summit will take place on 3 March 2009. This year it will take place at BT’s Adastral Park in Ipswich. The event will continue to be aimed at public sector stakeholders and key partners interested in the opportunities that the London 2012 Games will present to the region. To find out more or to ensure that you receive notification when further details are available please email your details to eastofengland@london2012.com.

Update on Major Projects

Four of the ten Major Projects will be launching before Summer 2009.

Unlimited, Artists Taking the Lead (led by Arts Council England), Stories of the World (led by MLA) and Discovering Places (led by Heritage Link)  will all launch in the New Year.  For more information about the projects, see the London 2012 website, www.london2012.com.  More detail will be available through the Rising to the Challenge regional newsletter or from the Creative Programmer’s Update in the new year.

8.  India-UK Connections through Culture

This is a project commissioned by the British Council and DCMS to explore the barriers, real and perceived, to artistic collaboration and exchange between India and the UK. It will build on the existing China - UK Connections through Culture initiative.

The British Council has appointed Nelson Fernandez & Associates to carry out the research.  Further details and a link to an online survey are attached (at the end, in the Documents section), and we would be grateful if you could circulate this to any of your contacts who may have an interest in work with India.

9.  Training for health and safety in the arts

Health and Safety is as important in the arts as it is in other subjects and creative practitioners should have a good understanding of how to keep themselves and others safe during their work and their rights and responsibilities under health and safety law.

Annabel Cheverst, a consultant and trainer specialising in Health and Safety for the arts (www.healthandsafetyforthearts.com) is interested in delivering this subject to creative practitioners and groups in our area as a one or half day training session.  Annabel has recently conducted Health and Safety training sessions for Arts Council England (Carnival Seminars), Voluntary Arts Network, Art Reach Consultants, Prince's Drawing School, DV8 Training and Chichester District Council. She has also worked with a variety of organisations and events as a Health and Safety consultant / Safety Officer.

The aim of the session would be to give participants a working knowledge of health and safety legislation and its application to their work, a good understanding of and practical ability to complete risk assessments and an appreciation of hazards common to the creative sector and methods of addressing them.

For further details see website www.healthandsafetyforthearts.com, or contact Abigail by email  abigail@healthandsafetyforthearts.com

10.  Pulse Fringe Festival – open for applications

Pulse Fringe Festival is a multi-disciplinary festival produced by the New WolseyTheatre in Ipswich.  It takes place from 29 May to 18 June 2009, at the New Wolsey Theatre and other venues in Ipswich.  The festival provides a platform for the development and presentation of new work by regional, British and international artists of vision, nurturing artistic ambition and excellence across a range of art forms including theatre, dance, comedy, music, event led visual arts, children’s work, physical theatre and circus led work.

As an active curator, Pulse Fringe Festival provides an environment in which participating artists develop, grow and connect within their chosen fields and benefit from the strong networks associated with the New Wolsey Theatre and its place within the industry.

The deadline to apply for 2009’s Pulse Fringe Festival is 9 February 2009.  For details and how to apply, see website http://www.pulsefringe.com/

Mailing list

The email address list for this information update includes contacts on our lists of arts development officers and invitees to the Essential Guides and other events.  If this email has been forwarded to you by another colleague and you would like to be added to the list, or if you would prefer not to receive these updates in future, please let me know.

With kind regards, and best wishes for the festive season and for 2009

Helen

Helen Dixon

Administrator, Resource Development

Arts Council England, East