- Arts-Engagement-And-Outreach-February-News-2025
Arts Engagement & Outreach: February News 2025
Here’s a taste of what our Arts Engagement & Outreach team at The Octagon & Westlands have been busy working on this month…
Our Arts Engagement & Outreach team develop and deliver programmes and activities that benefit health and wellbeing, enrich learning and education in and outside school, inspire and celebrate talent. Creating work that will support local artists and tell “local stories”. In everything we do and programme we will seek to improve inclusion and remove barriers, whatever they may be, so that everyone is able to enjoy and benefit from the creative arts.
This February we have been all over the South of Somerset with our Winter PlaysDays in Yeovil, Wincanton, Langport and Chard which saw over 1,470 children and their families enjoy music-making workshops, creative crafts, circus skills, face painting and African dancing. Plus, the start of our Time Together spring programme; an 8-week project that delivers sensory and creative based music activities for new parents and their babies to enjoy the magic of live music, read more below…
Over 1,470 people get creative, play and keep active during the school holidays
Our Winter PlayDays ran during February Half-Term, with the aim of offering families free opportunities to participate in the arts on their doorstep. Play Days are a national initiative that celebrates children’s right to play – usually run in the summer in outdoor community settings, we wanted families to be able to access free activities in warm indoor community spaces during the winter months. Our Winter PlayDay events were held in Yeovil, Wincanton, Langport and Chard, attracting families from the town and surrounding area to come and take part in the free creative activities on offer. Over the four Play Days events we ran in each location, children and their families, had the opportunity to take part in African dance workshops, learning a different dance style and movement, with songs and cultural moves explained; music-making workshops which gave participants the opportunity to play different musical instruments from around the world. Circus workshops gave young people the opportunity to learn different skills, try juggling, stilt walking, plate spinning etc. improving balance and coordination. Also on offer was various arts and crafts activity from woodcraft where children made and carved pencils, to air-dry clay, mask making, fabric mosaics, colouring and working on collaborative artwork pieces across all four events. When asked what people enjoyed most about the day some responses included: 'being able to keep the kids warm and occupied' and 'the activities and smiles on the children's faces'.
We were also thrilled to work in partnership with the library service, plus community organisations including the Balsam Centre in Wincanton and The Community Hub in Chard, who in turn were able to promote the activities that they run on a regular basis. The Arts Engagement team supported each event working alongside 13 local arts facilitators, engaging over 1,470 children, young people and their families over the four PlayDays.
Through feedback received on the day where we asked those attending to express what was most important to them, we received 100% positive feedback across the board, with children and parents alike agreeing that it was important the activities were free, enabled children and young people to get creative and try new activities, that it was important the events were held on their doorstep in community venues local to them, and they valued the opportunity to be able to meet and play with family and friends. The events clearly improved access to the arts regardless of social circumstances for young people, alongside the obvious benefits to the reduced isolation during the holidays to them and their families.
"It was nice to have the opportunity to access free activities during half term, especially activities you would not always find e.g. circus skills. My daughter was chuffed with her face paint! She proudly showed everyone the rest of the day." Parent
Providing children the opportunity to create imaginative puppets
Nine children had a fantastic time learning about and creating their own puppets from scratch over a six-week period with puppet-maker and artist, Holly Miller. Holly Miller is a freelance artist who has also worked with world renowned theatre company, Stuff and Nonsense, for over eight years, designing and creating both puppets and sets for their stage productions. The children involved have been learning about the process from start to finish, from materials to creating a character and shaping techniques using simple, easily accessible and recyclable materials including newspaper, carrier bags and cardboard. These are held together with masking tape, glue and kitchen roll. Each week the children added more and more features and were excited as they slowly saw their puppet come to life. In the final week, the children created a small showcase using their puppets and were able to take their creations home with them.
"They have been coming home and telling me all about their puppet and creating little shows for us" Parent
Local artists offered space to develop their artistry
We are thrilled to report that in 2024, we were able to provide 185 hours of free rehearsal space to local artists and practitioners, to support them to develop their work as freelance creatives. Our ‘Space To Work’ initiative has given 10 local artists free space to work collaboratively, grow and create new work. Some highlights from 2024 include Caroline Rees, James Bamford and Chhavi Gautam all of which have developed their work as freelance creatives in dance and education by using our free studio space.
“It’s been so helpful to have your support – I couldn’t have done it without you.” Artists
New mums’ feeling uplifted through the power of music
The beginning of February saw the start of our Time Together Spring Programme; an 8-week project that delivers sensory and creative based music activities to new parents and their babies aged 0-12months. The Octagon Theatre are working in partnership with Bournemouth Symphany Orchestra (BSO) and The Balsam Centre to deliver this project in Wincanton, aimed at parents feeling low after the birth of their child. Musicians from the BSO are guiding 9 mums and their babies through high quality and accessible music making, singing and bonding exercises, that are being met with smiles, laughter and happiness from both the babies, and the mums. With time to chat and connect with the other local parents over teas and coffees at the end of the session, everyone is leaving each session feeling happy, calm, connected, and ready for the week ahead.
"What a wonderful group with lovely people! Great confidence booster. It sets me up for the week." Participant
Over 340 young people were captivated by BSO live performance
This February, working in partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) we saw over 340 secondary school students from across Somerset and Dorset come to watch live orchestral repertoire at Westlands. Presented by BSO Associate Musician Patrick Bailey, this concert was designed specifically for a KS4 audience, featuring an ensemble of musicians from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) performing pieces from the GCSE music syllabus. The students also contributed to the performance by creating musical compositions which were featured in the concert. Some students had the opportunity to perform in the concert, playing instruments such as the violin, flute, clarinet and other orchestral instruments. The concert traced the development of music from the baroque period to the present day and looked at how styles vary from genre to genre, from Beethoven’s Symphony No.1 to Fowler & Curry’s Little Orpheus, it was an eclectic musical delight. Students left feeling uplifted, happy and proud.
“The students and teachers who attended were very positive about the whole experience. They all left very inspired” Secondary School Teacher
Making theatre accessible to all
Our Accessible Ticket Scheme transported over 20 people on low-income back to the fabulous 50s and swinging 60s with an exhilarating evening watching Rave On, with lots of toe-tapping, sing-along to iconic classics, vibrant vintage costumes and colourful staging, it was a musical experience like no other. Our Accessible Ticket scheme supports individuals of all ages to attend shows at The Octagon & Westlands, who might not be able to afford the opportunity otherwise. We are thrilled to see our Accessible Ticket Scheme continuing to grow and enabling members of our community the opportunity to enjoy the magic of live performances.
“Due to both my own and my husband’s disabilities causing us to change our lives dramatically we are trying to restart lives and access our community, enabling our son to be able to experience the theatre (and other opportunities) that he hasn’t been able to before due to health and financial restraints. This will support this and make such a difference.” Accessible Ticket Scheme Member
Find out more about the scheme here: Accessible Ticket Scheme
Exciting opportunities for young people to join our Work Experience Programme
Our Work Experience applications are now in and next month 12 students from years 12/13 from across Somerset will join us our week-long work experience programme. If you have missed the deadline but are interested in our Work Experience Programme, Email Anthony.kosky@somerset.gov.uk to see if we can accommodate you.
“It was interesting finding out about all sorts of job opportunities, and I learned a lot about the sort of jobs that I may be interested in when I'm older. Thank you so much!” Work Experience participant 2024
To keep up to date with all the activities coming up head over to the What’s On section on our website or check out our Participate page which will link you to all our projects and upcoming opportunities.
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