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INITIATIVES
STRIKE A LIGHT - LET ARTISTS BE ARTISTS
STRIKE A LIGHT – LET ARTISTS BE ARTISTS
A radical proposal for arts organisations to build a new normal, with artists and communities at its heart.
This summer, we’re contracting 3 artists to work with no ‘targets’, no pre-defined outcome and no pressure for 4 months with 3 different communities in Gloucester. Their brief is simply to work with the community to make people’s lives better through the arts.
We want to rapidly extend this idea of longer-term, deeper-rooted employment for artists to work in and with local communities. So we are reallocating some of our programming budget for 2021. We want to employ artists, full-time, for a year and need other organisations to collaborate with us to make this happen.
CULTURE RESET – Now closed
An urgent programme to reimagine the future of arts and culture
“ARTS AND CULTURE ARE SELF-ORGANISING FOR SURVIVAL RIGHT NOW.
But what are we fighting for? A return to how things were or a fundamental reset?
CULTURE RESET is a practical rapid response programme to inspire more relevant and impactful cultural organisations and practices.
Born out of the devastating impact of Covid-19 and inspired by the urgent need to accelerate change and respond to the experiences of a broader diversity of people, it will provide expert support and dynamic stimulus for 192 arts and cultural producers, makers and directors across the UK.
Applications are NOW CLOSED.
The programme ran from 20 July to 11 September 2020.
THEATR CLWYD: A Chance Encounter– Across Borders
A Chance Encounter– Across Borders
Here at Theatr Clwyd we’re missing the joy of seeing freelancers bump into each other on the stairs, in the green room, in our bar… Those chance encounters that happen in our building when two people start talking and something just clicks.
Most of us are spending more time apart than ever before but some of us may have a little more free time, a wifi connection and a desire to connect to others working in this brilliant industry of ours. So perhaps now is as good a time as any to say ‘hello’ to someone new.
A Chance Encounter– Across Borders is our way of helping those hellos to happen. We will fix you up with a fellow theatre freelancer you’ve never met for an online hangout, no expectations, no obligations, just you and a fellow creative. And by ‘creative’, we mean any and all freelancers who work in our amazing cultural world, whether onstage or off, in a theatre, a gallery, a library or a circus, whether traditionally labelled as ‘creative’ or not (some stage managers we’ve been speaking to claim they’re not creative but we think they’re some of the most creative people we know).
You might meet a future collaborator, come up with a new idea for a project or just have a reassuring chat. At the very least, you’ll make a new connection – or, if you happen to be paired with someone you know, it’s a chance to reconnect. It’s also a great way for us at Theatr Clwyd to hear from freelancers in these isolated times.
If you work in the arts (in any art form or practice) and would like to get involved, fill in this Google form by 9 September with your name, where you’re based and a short paragraph about what you do. We will then pair you up with another participant and introduce you via email, sharing the short paragraph you have sent us.
THEATRE SUPPORT FUND: THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Theatre Support Fund: The Show Must Go On
London’s West End standing together for the British Theatre Community.
The Theatre Support Fund have brought together the world famous artwork of London’s West End musicals raising vital funds for Acting for Others, The Fleabag Support Fund and the NHS Covid-19 Urgent Appeal
T-shirts, Bags, Mugs, Notebooks, Badges, Magnets, Pencils – all with ‘The Show Must Go On’ Logo – donating all proceeds to charity. There have been 15,000 orders so far raising over £200,000 for theatre workers in need.
You can also donate to the fund via the website.
THEATRE SEARCH: DATABASE OF THEATRE OPENINGS
Spun Glass Theatre: Theatre Search
A free comprehensive resource detailing all venue closures, re-openings and programming windows for independent producers and artists.
Arts Council England are currently funding Spun Glass Theatre to build Theatre Search – a free resource which catalogues the impact of Covid-19 on UK venues. We hope that by facilitating the creation of a free-to-access, shared resource for independent producers and arts companies, we can help to rebuild the UK touring ecology.
Theatre Search will clearly show which UK theatres are open, which have unfortunately closed and when some might be looking to programme work, helping new productions to be created and tours to be rebooked.
PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FOR THE ARTS – TELL YOUR STORY
Public Campaign for the Arts – Tell Your Story
A website to collate video stories from the industry
“Unless our government acts now, most of Britain’s theatres, music venues and performing arts companies will be gone by the end of this year.
We are members of the public who need them to survive.”
“Try to keep your video short and sweet, look straight into the camera, and simply talk from the heart about things like this:
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Say your first name and where you live.
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Tell the story of how the arts have made a difference in your life.
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How will you feel if the majority of theatres, music venues and arts companies shut down permanently?”
EXCHANGE PROJECT
Exchange Project – Creative Collaboration in a Time of Crisis
www.twitter.com/ExchangeProjec
Exchange Project – Connecting freelance creatives and furloughed staff to share knowledge, ideas & skills. #CreativeExchange
“The Exchange Project pairs freelance creatives with theatre staff currently on furlough for knowledge and ideas-sharing. We’re asking furloughed staff if they’d be happy to volunteer between 1 and 4 hours of their time, knowledge and experience to work on a specific task, to support a freelancer’s professional development.
We’ve heard a lot lately from freelancers who feel a heightened sense of instability and lack of parity during this time of crisis. Many furloughed staff, whilst also anxious about the future, are keen to remain connected, stay creative and to support freelancers in a hands-on way. This project is born out of these conversations and has been shaped by both freelancers and furloughed staff.
We appreciate that this is a difficult and uncertain time for everyone but we have been galvanised by the creativity and generosity of others in our sector and we hope that this project can contribute to building resilience and new collaborations despite the challenges we are all facing. We hope that this means, when we all return to work, we are better prepared to deal with what the future holds.”
For furloughed staff members, which asks you to let us know your area of expertise, and how much time you’d be able to volunteer remotely:
For freelance creatives, which asks you to let us know about your work, what you would like support with and your availability:
TALKS & SEMINARS
VOLUNTARY ARTS
Every Weekday at 9.30am
VOLUNTARY ARTS – #CreativeNetwork online get together
Monthly sessions
In March 2020, Creative Lives (formerly known as Voluntary Arts) launched #CreativeNetwork – a series of online get-togethers open to anyone involved in arts, culture and creativity in order to connect and collaborate in unusual times. Facilitating these conversations has enabled people from across the UK and Ireland to talk with others, develop ideas and projects, and find sustainable ways forward in changing circumstances.
After more than 100 inspiring sessions since 17 March, we have started to develop successful themed sessions that take place monthly. We’ll be continuing these for the foreseeable future and invite anyone interested in these topics to join a session. We will still also be hosting more open ‘peer support’ sessions, allowing people to raise other topics they’d like to discuss, but we don’t intend to run a session every weekday anymore. Each week will still have plenty of discussions open to anyone to join – see what’s coming up here.
WHAT NEXT?
Every week…
Sign Up to your local Chapter of What Next? for news of meetings and talks.
Everyone is encouraged to get involved with What Next? by joining your local chapter, setting up a new chapter or following the movement on social media.