The South West Culture Digest - October 2021
Hello, and welcome to the October issue of the South West Culture Digest.
This month we’re bringing all you culture lovers the latest creative opportunities from some of our funded organisations in the south west; a snapshot of the ACE SW comms team’s latest cultural escapades; a glimpse at some exciting recently funded projects on the horizon; and a Q&A with two Isle of Wight residents in their 70s who share their creative memories as we continue to celebrate our last 75 year as a public funding body.
If you have a story you’d like to share with us, send us an email and we’ll do our best to include it in a future issue.
Good news
ACE SW comms team visits cultural organisations in the south west
Last month, Arts Council South West’s Advocacy & Communications team enjoyed visiting just a handful of organisations that have benefitted from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. They spent a sunny afternoon exploring the magnificent SS Great Britain in Bristol with a stunning immersive theatre experience from Limbic Cinema, Iron Island. They then headed down to Knowle West to get stuck in to Paraorchestra’s SMOOSH! – a joyous, celebratory music parade through the streets – with plenty of dancing in tow.
Next up was a tour of some of Dorset’s cultural delights, stopping to check out Activate Performing Arts’ Inside Out Festival, Poole Museums, Extraordinary Bodies new show HUMAN, a collaboration between Cirque Bijou and Diverse City, and Extraordinary Bodies’ Young Artists performing their debut Till We Win at Lighthouse Poole.
Check out our video of SMOOSH!, which is sure to put a smile on your face >
Black History Month
October marks Black History Month – a time to celebrate the huge impact that Black talent and culture has on creativity, as well as a time to reflect on the past and look to the present and future for year-round representation. Cultural organisations across the south west have been getting involved in celebrations and discussions – from Mary Evans’ installation at John Hansard Gallery paying homage to the rich migratory history of Southampton, to a performance by Chineke! at St George’s Bristol and a Poetry Archive collaboration with Poetry Africa.
Southampton and Cornwall in the running for City of Culture 2025
The eight places longlisted for the prestigious City of Culture 2025 title have been announced, and we’re thrilled to see Southampton and Cornwall in the running. Congratulations to both places on reaching the next stage of the process! For the first time, each longlisted bidder will receive £40,000 to develop a full application. The winner will be announced next year and will be at the centre of the UK’s cultural spotlight in 2025.
Funding news
September National Lottery Project Grants highlights
In September, we invested £815,150 in 34 projects across the south west through National Lottery Project Grants, which will bring incredible artistic and cultural experiences to individuals and communities across the south west, thanks to the National Lottery and its players.
The funding will enable learning opportunities for youth offenders in Southampton; support the revival of heritage skills in North Devon; engage dementia patients in artistic sessions in Eastleigh; unite the people of Swindon in literary activities and festivities; support a pilot programme to benefit the cultural and mental well-being of Gypsy, Romany and Traveller communities in Somerset; and engage the community of Callington, Cornwall in music and creative workshops and performances.
Find out more about the projects >
Major contemporary art event returns to Plymouth
The 12 month count down has begun for the British Art Show 9 (BAS9) in Plymouth, a landmark touring exhibition held every five years to showcase the work of British artists who have made a significant contribution to international contemporary art. Before heading to Plymouth, the exhibition will be presented in Aberdeen, Wolverhampton and Manchester. We’re thrilled to support BAS9 in Plymouth with a significant investment of £100,000 through our National Lottery Projects Grants funding programme.
With a focus on diversifying audiences for contemporary art and nurturing local talent, the event will bolster cultural engagement in the city whilst also generating professional development and employment opportunities for artists. BAS9 will be shown across four city venues – The Box, KARST, The Levinsky Gallery at the University of Plymouth and the Mirror Gallery at Plymouth College of Art from 8 October – 23 December 2022.
Opportunities
New opportunities for artists and curators as part of the West of England Visual Arts Alliance
Spike Island has announced exciting new opportunities for artists and curators as part of the new Arts Council supported partnership, the West of England Visual Arts Alliance, set up to transform the future of visual arts in Bristol and the West of England:
Engagement Fellowship for Curators
An opportunity for an independent curator based in the south west to plan, create and deliver a programme of events as part of Spike Island’s Engagement programme throughout 2022.
Apply by Sunday 31 October 2021. Find out more >
Engagement Fellowship for Artists
An opportunity for UK-based artists to apply for a new Engagement Fellowship for Artists. The successful applicant will mentor and develop a new Engagement commission with alumni from Creative Youth Network’s Creative Futures programme.
Apply by Sunday 31 October. Find out more >
Digital Commission for South West-based Artists
An opportunity for artists based in the south west of England to develop a new digital commission for Spike Island’s website and/or online channels.
Apply by 29 November 2021. Find out more >
New opportunities from Wheal Martyn Clay Works
Wheal Martyn Clay Works in St Austell, Cornwall – the UK’s only china clay mining museum – has exciting new opportunities to join the team for storytellers and budding curators alike:
New partnership and writer-in-residence opportunity
The museum has announced a new partnership with Literature Works to host a writer-in-residence at the Cornwall museum in February 2022 to celebrate the ‘Writers of the Clay’, working with the communities of the clay villages.
Apply by 19 November. Find out more >
Trainee Curator
The museum is offering a 12 month opportunity for an individual aspiring to develop a career in museums and galleries, as part of a development programme being delivered by the Cornwall Museums Partnership.
Apply by 30 October. Find out more >
Join the team at acta, Bristol’s community theatre
acta creates new theatre with diverse communities of all ages across Bristol, engaging with audiences who rarely attend theatre. acta is seeking two new core team members. Applications are encouraged from anyone who faces barriers to developing careers in the sector. To support applications, acta will be holding an Open Day on 25 October.
Communications Coordinator
This full time role will take lead responsibility for marketing all of acta’s shows and participatory activity as well as audience development, to deliver acta’s busy programme of community theatre workshops and shows. Apply by 1 November. Find out more >
General Manager
The General Manager is a newly established role that will work in tandem with the Director, to complement and enhance the company’s approach to working with communities. Apply by 8 November. Find out more >
South West highlights
Celebrating Age with Isle of Wight residents
As we continue to reflect on our last 75 years as a public funding body, we caught up with Rose and Iris, two women in their seventies who took part in Independent Art’s Tide and Time project on the Isle of Wight. The project celebrated the ageing community and offered the island’s older residents a varied programme of creative activities, from photography workshops to museum visits and creative writing to carnival parades. We spoke to Rose and Iris about their experience of the project, and asked for advice for future generations.
