Helping others to make a positive change in their community - Resource

Big Lunch Extras is a three-year programme to help individuals across the UK create positive change within their communities. Funded through the Big Lottery it is all about bringing communities together, reducing loneliness and isolation and helping to make a difference locally which is at the heart of the Big Lottery Fund’s mission.

The Fund is therefore delighted to invest Lottery funding into Big Lunch Extras, which  builds on the success of The Big Lunch, to support individuals who want  to make a positive change in their communities. Big Lunch Extras will inspire and support people to tackle issues that are important to them. This will strengthen neighbourhood networks, create a greater sense of community cohesion improve the lives of communities across the UK.

The website is a very useful resource with lots of case studies demonstrating other projects. So if you're looking for ideas or advice on what to do next in your community, you’ll like our resources. We’ve created a growing collection, which includes:

• activities and project to try yourselves, with clear instructions
• inspirational stories from neighbourhoods around the UK
• simple guides that help you get to grips with big ideas

There is an online community forum which is also a brilliant place to start discussions and gain important insights from others who may be experiencing the same challenges.
Worth a look.  http://www.biglunchextras.com/content/join

 

Celebrate the summer with Artsreach!

Artsreach continues to bring professional performances to rural venues right across Dorset. This summer, there’s a whole variety of things on offer; everything from classical quintets to big, bouncy balls; award-winning Balkan bands to contemporary Shakespeare. There’s something for everyone in the new Artsreach summer programme:

Music

This summer Artsreach presents a range of high calibre musical performers. Belshazzar’s Feast, featuring the much-loved Paul Sartin and Paul Hutchinson are renowned on the English folk scene for their unusual mix of humour, folk, classical, jazz, pop and music hall. Celebrating their 20th anniversary, expect an unforgettable live experience when they arrive in Dorset! Red Hippo will be parading an array of instruments including sousaphone, Irish whistles, saxophones and strings, as they explore a musical world influenced by traditional English, Irish and Scandinavian folk melodies and tunes. Tim Laycock and Phil Humphries will continue ‘Rooting around the Ridgeway’ following the success of last autumns West Gallery workshops, this time exploring the folk songs collected in Dorset by the Hammond Brothers in workshops leading to a public performance. Following the release of a highly acclaimed new album, She’koyokh are back with more soulful Gypsy melodies, toe-tapping Yiddish music, exhilarating Balkan dances, Turkish ballads, and virtuosic solos. The visible energy and passion poured into their performances won them a host of new followers at The Exchange last summer, and their return is much anticipated. Each representing one of the string sections of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, five gifted musicians come together as the BSO Resonate Strings. Their engaging ‘Summer Serenade’ concert will reflect the wonderful diversity of the classical string repertoire and will feature music from across the centuries from composers such as Bach, Pachebel and Mozart to Jenkins, Joplin and Warlock.

Theatre

A whole host of Artsreach favourites will be treading the boards with new productions over the coming months. For anyone who's ever craved the last word, Theatre Alibi presents a very human comedy about arguing. From farcical fisticuffs at a wedding disco to squabbling for control of the TV remote, ‘Hammer & Tongs’ is physical, funny, absurd, musical, moving, and absolutely bloody-minded. The company brings its national tour to a close with one performance in Dorset on the Artsreach circuit. Expect the unexpected in ‘The Ballad of Martha Brown’, Angel Exit's latest original drama based on the life and times of the last woman publicly hanged in Dorset. Presented in the company's rich visual style, blending storytelling and striking physicality, this show is spliced through with wicked humour, an original score and macabre songs. The much anticipated West Country tour this year by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School sees the stars of the future taking on Georges Feydeau’s high spirited romp ‘Sauce For The Goose’. Stuffed with preening characters knitting their legs in sexual frustration, its heady mix of passions, pace and pleasure are the perfect mix for a good night out. Finally, Artsreach and Miracle Theatre invite you to take a trip into uncharted waters, and find yourself wrecked on a treacherous shore. Celebrating their 35th anniversary, they apply their offbeat and humorous style to Shakespeare’s classic ‘The Tempest’ to create a fresh and musical adaptation. This special open-air tour is the culmination of the Artsreach summer season, so wrap up warm, grab a blanket, pack a picnic and be entertained by this outstanding Cornish company.

FREE EVENTS!Families in Dorset are in for a treat in May as ‘The Big Bounce’ arrives at Kingston Maurward. In a fun and visually stunning event, a humorous story of learning how to play is told with acrobatics, dozens of large coloured balls and one GIANT ball. This fabulously playful, free outdoor performance is suitable for children aged 5 years and under. Bring a picnic rug and come ready to play; boing boing boing!

PUBS PROJECT

This summer, Artsreach are teaming up once more with the hilarious Living Spit (‘The Six Wives of Henry V111) to bring their latest idea to the County – a show for pubs. In an effort to reach new audiences and support rural pubs, ‘One Man & His Cow’ is specifically designed to be performed in a bar, and will be free for all to enjoy. Overflowing with a multitude of catchy songs, agricultural clichés and farmyard frolics, this show is coming to a pub near you soon...

Full details including dates, venues and individual box office numbers can be found at www.artsreach.co.uk, where you can also sign up to the Artsreach mailing list. Outlets where you can pick up a copy of the programme include libraries, arts centres and tourist information centres across Dorset. You can also find Artsreach on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest news and join in the rural touring conversation.

Outstanding Art in the Natural Environment AONB Workshop - new dates added

Local businesses, residents and visitors are invited to come along and share your views and thoughts about the area by taking part in series of workshops run by experienced professional artists. No art experience necessary – just your love for and interest in the area!

Outstanding Art in the Natural Environment - Workshops

Each workshop will involve an inspirational walk followed by a hands-on activity to focus on a particular theme and will include time to share ideas, thoughts and photos. Attendees will be encouraged to share their views, help devise text and collate visuals. There will be an opportunity to work with pen and paper as well as a chance to work in digital media using iPads and digital cameras.

The work generated will be used to enhance and illustrate publications produced by the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AONB team and will form the basis of an exhibition in the summer of 2014.

Professional artists Ali and Richard have been commissioned to lead this autumn project for the Cranborne Chase AONB. They have just finished leading the Walking Wiltshire’s White Horses project http://whitehorsewalk.co.uk/ with Wiltshire Museum and Devizes Carnival.  

Attendees are welcome from art groups and individuals of all ages over 16 years.

Outline of workshops:

SATURDAY 23rd NOVEMBER: Tisbury, a day themed around the rural economy and sustainability 11.30am – 3.30pm

Local businesses with international or local markets all welcome. Meet at 11.30 in Tisbury.

Contact: Linda Nunn lindanunn@cranbornechase.org.uk or Creative Wiltshire creativewiltshire@gmail.com for more information.

SUNDAY 24th NOVEMBER: Down Farm, Sixpenny Handley a day exploring the historic landscape and related issues. 10am – 4pm

Farmer Martin Green will lead a walk over his highly famed farm where archaeological works have taken place and showcase his historic inspirational finds. Afterwards the group will retire to the classroom to work on individual ideas and artworks. Materials are provided although please bring any preferred art supplies with you.

• Please bring a packed lunch, tea and coffee will be provided.

• Don’t forget to wrap up warm, wear suitable footwear and bring your waterproofs! 

To book: outstandingart.eventbrite.co.uk

MONDAY 25 NOVEMBER: Broad Chalke, a day thinking and making art about rural communities. 

We have hired Tisbus for the day and can pick up 2 or 3 volunteers from each shop at the approximate times below and return them at the approximate times below.
　
Start times                         Return times
9.30am  Tisbury car park        4.45pm
10.00am Wren’s Shop East Knoyle 4.15pm
10.30am Hindon Village Stores   4.00pm
11.00am Ansty PYO and Farm Shop  3.45pm
1.00pm  Chalke Valley Stores    3.30pm
　
The bus journey is part of the process but if the times do not fit in with pick ups from school for example please feel make your own way to the afternoon session at Chalke Valley Stores, Broadchalke, High Rd, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP5 5EJ from 1pm – 3.30pm

Join the team for a working lunch at Chalke Valley Stores in the old Congregational Church.

Contact: Linda Nunn lindanunn@cranbornechase.org.uk or Creative Wiltshire creativewiltshire@gmail.com for more information.

TUESDAY 26th NOVEMBER: Win Green to Larmer Tree

Join us for a 10 mile walk looking at the working landscape and the natural environment, fields, coppicing, wildlife 9.30am – 4pm

The walk begins at Win Green, continues along the Ox Drove before dropping down to Chase Woods to hear about and look at woodland management on the historic Rushmore Estate. We hope to visit the Larmer Tree gardens (subject to confirmation) to work on individual ideas and artworks. Materials are provided although please bring any preferred art supplies with you. Those preferring a short walk can meet at Win Green and rejoin the group later.

• Please bring a packed lunch and something to drink, tea and coffee will be provided at the workshop in the afternoon

• Don’t forget to wrap up warm, wear suitable footwear and bring your waterproofs!  Note this walk can be muddy and slippery if wet. The walk difficulty is considered ‘moderate’ with one steep accent.

To book: outstandingart.eventbrite.co.uk

About the artists
Ali Pretty is a British textile artist and carnival designer, best known as the founding member and artistic director of Kinetika, an international outdoor arts company. Ali’s independent practice looks deeper, towards a more personal approach, combining creative walking with conceptual textile design and writing. www.alipretty.com

Richard White is a digital artist and producer with an extensive career in participatory arts work. He leads Creative Wiltshire for Wiltshire College and contributes to the Heritage Management degree programme at Bath Spa University. 

Community artists, writers, illustrators and photographers needed

Raising Awareness and Understanding of the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Community artists such as writers/illustrators/photographers are needed to work closely with a number of community groups and members of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) team to produce a range of texts and illustrations which will be used to bring a statutory document to life. The community artist/s engaged will hopefully draw out and capture people’s creative responses to the elements that make up the natural beauty of the special area, through participatory work. It is envisaged that this will be a collaborative commission between two or three community artists e.g. writer/illustrator/photographer who will work closely with a number of community groups and members of the AONB team to produce a range of texts and illustrations which will be used to bring a statutory document to life. Outputs There are three elements to this commission: 1.              Artist/s to produce a ‘Statement of Significance’ or ‘what makes this area special’ in conjunction with the AONB team (one – two A4 page/s, mainly prose). 2.              Artists working with community groups to produce creative material that will form an introduction to each section of the Plan (2 A4 pages for each section - 10 in total).  Chapter headings are as follows: landscape, natural environment (wildlife and natural resources), historic environment, rural land management, rural economy, planning and transport, viable rural communities, awareness and understanding, involvement and learning, access and wellbeing. 3.              An exhibition of all work produced to help significantly raise the profile and awareness and understanding of the AONB and to help ‘launch’ the new Management Plan in May/June 2014.  The team proposes a ‘rustic feel’ for the exhibition regarding venue, setting and display of contributions. Download the full creative brief here: AONB Artist Brief for Management Plan Deadline for applications is Wednesday 25 September 2013. Interviews will be held w/b 30 September 2013. Copyright: www.augustdesign.co.uk