Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Arts Services
Strategic Business Plan
2005/08
Arts at the
Centre
Our mission is to make the arts
visible, valued, enjoyed, and easily
accessed by the people of
Swindon. I am passionate that
this will be achieved through
working with our partners to
provide a broad range of
opportunities for people to both
enjoy and benefit from the arts.
Swindon Borough Council has a
vital role to play as an enabler,
bringing together the hard work,
enthusiasm and ideas, helping
deliver broad, dynamic and
exciting arts for the people of
Swindon.
Art in the streets
Imaging Festival 04
Cllr. Justin Tomlinson
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Photo: Copyright Swindon
Culture and Recreation Borough Council
Page 1
Contents
Introduction Page 3
Mission Page 3
What do we do? Page 4
The Arts Centre Page 4
cre8 studios Page 5
Exhibitions Page 5
Festivals and Events Page 6
Public Art Page 6
Our values Page 6
What is meant by the arts? Page 7
Why do the arts matter? Page 8
Our vision Page 9
Issues that inform this plan Page 10
Arts key themes 2004/08 Page 10
Quality assurance Page 11
Targets and performance indicators Page 11
Budget summary Page 12
Funding to arts organisations Page 13
Key strategic partnerships Page 14
Strategic objectives 2005/08 Page 20
Staffing structure Page 22
Staff contact information Page 23
Priority projects and initiatives 2005/06 Page 25
Appendix 1
Arts Services Action Plan 2005/06
Introduction
Arts at the Centre sets a strategic framework for Swindon Borough
Council Arts Services 2005/08. It has been developed by the Arts
Services Team in consultation with key strategic arts organisations,
funders, partners and stakeholders. It is the outcome of an 18 month review
of Swindon Borough Council’s arts provision and has been accompanied by
a staffing restructure.
Arts at the Centre takes into account local, regional and national priorities
and opportunities in both the arts and local government.
Helen Miah
Arts Services Manager
Mission
July 2005
Page 3
What do we do?
Arts Services develop, support and deliver a wide range of arts activities and
events and encompass The Arts Centre in Old Town, cre8 studios at the
Town Hall, Public and Visual Arts, Festivals and Events. We manage a
number of key strategic partnership agreements with local and regional arts
organisations including Sixth Sense Theatre Company, REACH Inclusive
Arts, the Swindon Festival of Literature and the Wyvern Theatre.
Arts Services provide an artistic programme for Swindon which includes the Swindon
annual Summer Street Festival, The World Music Series at the Bowl, exhibitions at the
Great Western Hospital and the Wyvern Theatre as well as a programme of music,
comedy, film, art, drama and exhibitions at the Arts Centre. We develop and deliver
workshops, short courses and bespoke projects, including the delivery of the Council’s
Public Art Policy, across the full range of art forms and with a variety of community
groups, schools and colleges.
Page 4
cre8 studios
cre8 studios is Swindon's community resource for film, video,
multimedia, sound and photography providing a wide range of
activities, facilities and equipment. cre8 studios offer a broad
range of training courses for children and adults of all ages,
bespoke community projects and support programmes for
emerging artists.
Based at the Town Hall cre8 facilities include a vision studio, editing suites, photography
and sound studios.
cre8 studios are managed by Stuart Webb, Arts Business and Development Manager
supported by Keith Phillips, Digital, Film and Media Arts Development Officer, under the
programming direction of Clarry Bean, Arts Programming Manager.
Open Studios
Photo: Richard Wintle
Media Circus
Photo: cre8 studios
Exhibitions
Exhibitions by local, regional and national artists are programmed at the Arts Centre, the
Wyvern Theatre and the Great Western Hospital by Barbara Dixon, the Visual Arts
Development Officer, under the programming direction of Clarry Bean, Arts Programming
Manager. Education packages are delivered to accompany specific exhibitions and there
are classes and workshops throughout the year.
Guidance and support is provided to local artists and bespoke projects are designed to
meet public service priorities with a recent focus on arts and health.
Page 5
Festivals and Events
The Swindon Summer Street Festival, the World
Music Series and the Swindon Mela are managed
by Toby Rathbone, Festivals and Events Officer,
under the programming direction of Clarry Bean,
Arts Programming Manager. These large scale
events have grown in stature over the last five
years and have developed a loyal and growing
Swindon Summer Festival
audience from Swindon and the surrounding
Photo: Mark Pepperall
region.
Public Art
Swindon’s nationally acclaimed collection of Public
Art is managed by Celia Yeoman, Senior Public Art
Manager. The Percent for Art policy is rigorously
applied and has resulted in a consistently high
standard of Public Art integrated throughout
Swindon’s major development areas. A recent
Public Art South West Review of Swindon’s Public
Art policy has reinforced Swindon’s national
reputation as a provider of excellent practice in this
field.
Our values
Arts Services work with passion, respect,
integrity, determination and energy.
Page 6
What is meant by
the arts?
This plan uses a broad and inclusive definition of
the arts, to include all types of:
! Amateur
! Voluntary
! Professional
! Subsidised
! Commercial
New Youth Theatre
Photo: Sam Frost
Page 7
Why do the arts
matter?
The arts and creative industries contribute to
economic health. Employment in the cultural and
creative industries is predicted to continue to grow
substantially over the next ten years. Turnover in the
South West regional economy is set to exceed the
£5.6 billion figure set in 2002.
Page 8
Our vision
The arts will play a significant role in
helping Swindon become a dynamic
and economically prosperous place,
that is renowned for its quality of life
and varied leisure opportunities. Celebrating Cultures
Photo: Sam Frost
We want Swindon to be a place where people actively choose to live and work. A wide
range of arts opportunities are enjoyed by dynamic, self-confident local people with a
strong sense of community; and the arts are clearly visible and valued in civic,
business and private life.
We want to entertain and inspire audiences through a varied programme of top quality
arts activities across different art forms. Audiences are willing to try new experiences
and value the pleasures of sharing live performance, without needing to travel beyond
their own community.
We want to encourage professional development, by ensuring exciting opportunities
exist to support practitioners and develop diverse artistic skills, which encourage active
learning throughout people's lives. A thriving professional creative sector, and a strong
arts network which includes the university, will support economic development. The
amateur, voluntary, commercial, subsidised and professional sectors will work together
for maximum impact. A confident and go-ahead amateur sector is evidence of a
healthy community.
We want to engage young people and local communities by developing projects that
give them the opportunity to be creative and work together. This will build individual
self-confidence and contribute to a sense of community. Current barriers to
involvement, whether economic, physical, or cultural beliefs that the arts are "not for
me", will be broken down by a co-ordinated approach which embraces all art forms as
equally valuable.
We will take artistic activity out to where people are, and integrate art into their lives.
Continued investment in public art will enhance civic pride and identity and integrate
the arts into the urban and rural fabric of the Borough.
Engagement with the arts enriches individuals and improves the quality of community
life in Swindon. With many social factors contributing to a sense of personal isolation,
we see artistic activity as providing the social "glue" that can bring people from across
the age and social spectrum together in shared, pleasurable activities. Diversity and
tolerance will be properly valued in Swindon.
N.B. We know that these aspirations are not easily or immediately attainable, but we
hope that this vision of how things could be will inform our objectives and challenge
and inspire us to aim high in everything we do.
Page 9
Issues that inform this plan
National
DCMS Culture at the Heart of Regeneration
Regional
Wiltshire Forward Plan
Arts Council England South West
Local
Community Strategy
Swindon 2010 Corporate Plan
Medium Term Business Plan
Cultural Strategy
Cultural Partnership Development
The New Swindon Company – plans for Town Centre Regeneration
Local Plan 2011 2nd Deposit
The Provision of Public Art Supplementary Planning Guidance
University of Bath in Swindon – plans for University Campus and Central Institute of
Contemporary Interdisciplinary Arts
Artsmad, Arts Education and Youth Development Plan
Local Authority Partnership Agreement with Arts Council England South West
2004 - 2006
TheatreWorks - Theatre Locality Plan for Swindon and Wiltshire
Re-development of Old Town
Artswords - Literature Development Plan
Page 10
Quality assurance
Arts Services gained IIP status as part of Cultural Services in 2004.
Arts Services are committed to continuous improvement and apply rigorous
evaluation and review to all aspects of service delivery.
Targeted consultation and customer feedback is used to inform all aspects of service
development.
The Arts Council England and Best Value Unit are currently looking at the most
appropriate indicators to measure arts activity.
The following Local Performance Indicators capture data from the Arts Centre, former
Artscape activities and events and cre8 studios. These measures and targets are
currently under review.
LBVPI 1 LBVPI 2
2003/04 actual 103,876 573
2004/05 actual 106,916 590
! Equalities
! Community Engagement
! E-government
! Communications
! Access
Expenditure
Service 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06
Arts Management [including Arts
Grants, Subscriptions & Literature £158,474 £162, 934 £152,400
Development]
Income
Service 2003/04 2004/05
Arts Management £0,000 £18,338
Page 12
Funding to arts organisations
Organisation 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06
Arts Services also manage the allocation of the interest from the McDermott Trust,
bequeathed to be used to support classical music development in Swindon. For the last
three years this funding has been allocated to the Swindon Recital Series. In 2005/06 this
fund will be offered for a further three year bid in an open tender process.
Page 13
Key strategic partnerships
Arts
Services
Artsminds
Over the next three years Arts Services will continue to develop partnership
working with a wide variety of local arts organisations and key stakeholders.
Page 14
Artsmad
Artsmad is a new initiative driven by Arts Services and the
Arts Council England that aims to ensure access to high
quality arts experiences for children and young people in Swindon.
Artsmad is a partnership between Swindon Borough Council Arts Services, LEA, Music
Service and Youth Service, Sixth Sense Theatre Company, Swindon Dance National
Dance Agency, Arts Council England South West, The University of Bath in Swindon
Institute of Contemporary Interdisciplinary Arts and The Commonweal School.
Artsmad is a shared priority in the Swindon Borough Council and Arts Council England
South West Partnership Agreement and is a named action in the Community Strategy.
From May 2005 until November 2006 Artsmad is being managed by Kirsty Carter as
Strategic Co-ordinator. During this time the role of Artsmad will be further developed and
defined. High profile targeted action research projects, training, networking,
communication, links to the regional framework for education and youth agencies and the
establishment of robust evaluation techniques will ensure the role of Artsmad continues to
meet local, regional and national needs.
Artsminds
Artsminds is a new initiative managed by Swindon Borough Council
Arts Services. An agreed shared priority with the Arts Council England
South West, Artsminds is about networking and communicating across
Artsminds
the local arts community both within Swindon and the sub region.
Artsminds is currently in development but has agreed the following broad aims:
inclusive; accessible; supportive; independent; the "voice" for the arts in Swindon;
sharing; collaborative; partnership; social; and fun.
Artsminds is the key tool for breaking down barriers across the various arts sectors in
Swindon and ensuring a co-ordinated and cohesive and supportive approach to arts
development.
We are currently consulting with the local arts community over the future direction and
structure for Artsminds and this will be reported in Autumn 2005.
Page 15
Sixth Sense Theatre Company
Sixth Sense Theatre Company have a national reputation for
providing quality theatre for children and young people. They
are a Regularly Funded Organisation [RFO] with the Arts
Council England South West. Swindon Borough Council have developed a unique
relationship with Sixth Sense over the last 20 years and alongside the Arts Council have
provided funding to support the organisations core running costs.
The development of a Partnership Agreement with Sixth Sense has led to a more focused
and strategic approach with Sixth Sense taking an active role in the Artsmad and Cultural
Partnership initiatives. Their work with the LEA and other public bodies to develop and
deliver theatre that is relevant and challenging ensures added value and is targeted at
key Council priorities.
www.sixthsensetheatrecompany.co.uk
The aim of the Partnership Agreement between REACH and Arts Services is to clarify the
relationship, identify shared priorities and agree outcomes and targets. Over the next
three years Arts Services will continue to work with REACH on organisational stability and
capacity as well as supporting their on-going programme.
www.reachinclusivearts.ik.com
www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk
Page 16
Arts Council England South West
In spring 2003 the Arts Council England South West took over
responsibility for the arts in Swindon from Southern Arts. A new
Partnership Agreement was negotiated for 2004/06 which secured an
additional £36,000 to support shared strategic priorities:
1. A Cultural Partnership for Swindon
2. Artsmad
3. TheatreWorks
4. Artsminds
5. Technical Theatre Apprenticeships
The Arts Council are reviewing the development of Local Authority Partnership
Agreements during 2005/06.
The Arts Services Manager is the named local authority representative with the Arts
Council and provides feedback on all Grants for the Arts applications from Swindon.
This ensures that public funding for the arts is directed at meeting both Arts Council and
local authority priorities. The Arts Council are also the key funding body for a number of
projects, organisations and activities involving Arts Services. Over the next three years
Arts Services will continue to develop close relationships with the Arts Council to
maximise investment in the arts for Swindon.
www.artscouncil.org.uk
www.swindon.gov.uk
www.swindondance@gov.uk
Page 17
The Wyvern Theatre Hetherington Seeling Theatres
In April 2004 Swindon Borough Council awarded a ten year contract
for the 600 seater Wyvern Theatre to Hetherington Seelig Theatres
[HST]. Arts Services will continue to work closely with the new
management to enable the theatre to reclaim its place at the centre of Swindon’s cultural
heart. The theatre aims to present a quality programme that encompasses the best local,
national and international drama, dance, opera, music, comedy, children's theatre and
other arts activities. Shared priorities include audience development, access and
education. By providing an eclectic and diverse programme the theatre will become a
catalyst for a fully inclusive and innovative arts community.
www.wyverntheatre.org.uk
The school have a clear remit to contribute to community arts in Swindon. The aim of the
developing Partnership Agreement between the school and Arts Services is to ensure a
co-ordinated and strategic approach, maximising the potential to achieve added value.
We will identify and deliver a number of shared projects and activities each year that will
address the targets of the specialist Arts College School and Community Plan.
www.commonweal.co.uk
www.swindon.gov.uk
Page 18
University of Bath in Swindon
Institute of Contemporary Interdisciplinary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Interdisciplinary Arts is already a key partner in a number
of arts activities across Swindon. As the plans for the university are clarified over the next
year the relationship with Arts Services will become critical. The potential for joint working
is tremendous with a particular emphasis on future capital development. Arts Services will
continue to work with the Institute to identify and deliver key priorities and maximise
opportunities for added value.
www.bath.ac.uk/arts
www.AandB.org.uk
www.newswindon.co.uk
Page 19
Strategic objectives 2005/08
In pursuit of our vision, Arts Services will:
Objective 1. Contribute to the economic health of the Borough by:
1.1 developing or supporting arts activities to put Swindon on the
cultural map regionally and nationally.
1.2 creating and delivering audience development initiatives.
1.3 marketing arts activity to promote Swindon as an attractive place to
live and work
1.4 continue to develop and deliver the Public Art policy through the
Percent for Art scheme
Objective 2. Broaden participation and address social inclusion,
regeneration and diversity needs by:
2.1 continuing to develop a culturally diverse arts programme.
2.2 supporting or undertaking arts projects in targeted communities
within Swindon.
2.3 researching, developing and implementing new approaches to
take arts activity out to people.
2.4 promoting access, ensuring that barriers to access are
minimised and that services comply fully with DDA legislation.
2.5 supporting access to disability arts activities.
2.6 developing and delivering workshop and short course
programmes
Objective 3. Engage with children and young people by:
Senior Secretary
Jean Coleman
Tel: 01793 466467
Email: jcoleman@swindon.gov.uk
Page 23
Digital, Film and Media Arts Development Officer
Keith Phillips
Tel: 01793 463678
Email: kphillips@swindon.gov.uk
Technical Manager
Matthew Herring
Tel: 01793 466565
Email: mherring@swindon.gov.uk
Duty Manager
Digital, Film and Media Arts Technician
Arts Administration [Reception]
Box Office/PR Assistant
Arts Services also employ casual and volunteer staff as well as temporary project workers
and consultants.
Wizard School
Photo: cre8 studios
Page 24
Priority projects and initiatives
2005/06
Artsmad
Mobile Media/Youth Service
Imaging Festival
Summer Street Festival
North Swindon Schools Public Art Programme
Swindon Festival of Literature
Artsminds
Brunel 200
Streets for Living
Artswords
World Bowl Series
Swindon Mela
TheatreWorks
If you would like to comment on any aspect of this plan please contact:
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