Stevenage Arts Strategy 2007-2010
An Arts Strategy ensures planning and management of arts development work. Through the identification of gaps and opportunities, the strategy ensures we can evaluate our activities.
This strategy builds a case for the arts as a major contributor in meeting key policy objectives, such as improving the quality of life for the people of Stevenage, and improving the social, economic and environmental well-being of Stevenage.
Stevenage’s Cultural Strategy was launched in July 2002. The Government’s subsequent changes to the planning framework in Autumn 2003, meant that local councils were no longer required to produce Local Cultural Strategies but that these would be subsumed with Community Plans. It is important that the Arts Strategy is aligned with the Creative Town theme from the community Strategy “Stevenage 2021 – Our Town Our Future” and contributes to the town’s creative Town priorities:
- Improving and developing the infrastructure for culture and leisure: buildings, facilities, spaces or sites (indoors and outdoors), including those which are not purpose built, such as community centres or schools
- Increasing participation levels from all sections of the community. More people taking part in more activities
- Ensure fair access to culture, sport and leisure for all sections of the community
- Recognise and celebrate diversity through culture
- Supporting excellence: in amateur, voluntary and professional achievement in all forms of culture, sport and leisure
At a National level, arts are becoming recognised as an essential part of people’s lives. Arts Council East, the regional arts board are tasked with funding and developing the notion that arts an enrich the quality of life through fostering and developing partnerships with local authorities and other regional and national organisations such as the Arts Council, England.
The Arts Council, England’s “Ambitions for the Arts” 2003-2006 also present opportunities for Stevenage:
- Prioritise individual artists
- Work with funded arts organisations to help them thrive rather than just survive
- Place cultural diversity at the heart of our work
- Prioritise young people and Creative Partnerships
- Maximise growth in the arts
- The roles, responsibilities and strategies of bodies such as the Arts Council, and Heritage Organisations, together with local arts organisations will all have an impact on the emergence of Stevenage’s Arts Strategy.
The emerging Stevenage Arts Network was to ensure a strategic alliance of all arts organisations and individuals within the town, providing support and encouragement for the development of the arts. The delivery of services for the local arts community will be through a rich mix of providers, whether from the council or organisations in the voluntary or private sectors. The network aims to shape and determine local needs and aspirations and be prepared to stand up and champion the cause of arts development in Stevenage.
The aims and objectives of the Network are set out below:
- To facilitate the implementation of the Art Strategy action plan for Stevenage
- To develop effective consultation mechanisms with colleagues, partners and other agencies
- To assist with the production of a plain English consultation document
- To facilitate dialogue and collaboration across all arts areas of activities
- To ensure that arts priorities are identified and achieved
- To identify priority actions in relation to:
- Resources
- Existing and potential service delivery
- Partnership arrangements
The strategy gives a sense of priorities and direction for the arts over the next 3 years, in line with the Cultural Strategy and the Council’s Community Strategy. It sets out the framework for managing arts in Stevenage through a partnership approach. It outlines action plans to deliver the strategy over the next three years, enabling the evaluation of the development of the arts in Stevenage.
What do we mean by the Arts?
For the purpose of this strategy, the “arts” include all events, activities, performances and presentations of all types of:
- Music, dance, theatre
- Visual arts, crafts and public art
- Media arts, digital arts, photography, video and film
- Poetry-writing, story telling and literature
- Live art, Street/carnival art, performance art and circus.
The diversity of the arts is reflected in the kinds of activities which people currently participate in or attend in Stevenage, such as:
- 1 Book for Stevenage initiative
- Attending and participating in Rock in the Park
- Attending and participating at the Stevenage Festival
- Watching a drama production at Gordon Craig Theatre
- Art event at Digswell Farmhouse
- Youth Theatre production
- Learn Flower arranging at Community Arts Centre
- Cheer Leaders participating at Stevenage Town Show
- Creating a piece of art work during Summer Fest in the parks
- Playing in a Rock Band
- Attending an exhibition on Body Art at the Museum.