Arts Engagement & Outreach: May 2026 News

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. Our Arts Engagement & Outreach team look to provide more opportunities for our communities to watch, take part and benefit from arts and cultural activities where they live.   

 This month we are celebrating support received from Somerset Community Foundation and Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP) who have generously supported both our Octagon Memory Choir and summer activities, from our summer schools to our PlayDays. The support from SASP for our summer activities enables us to offer fully subsidised places for young people in receipt of Free School Meals as part of Happy Healthy Holidays Somerset over the summer holidays. Where funding from Somerset Community Foundation has enabled us to increase the provision of our Octagon Memory Choir, with sessions throughout the year. Plus, we are celebrating the support received of the past year from our wonderful volunteers, who have generously donated 6,272 hours of their time in support of our shows, events and participation classes.

Read all about it and more below…

Creative Learning & Education

Providing schools with a range of performing arts experiences

Following on from the success of our funded in-school performing arts workshop offer which reached over 655 young people last financial year, we have been able to offer more schools across Somerset the opportunity for the Summer and Autumn Term 2026. This offer aims to provide access to workshops run by specialist teachers in Drama, Dance and Singing, to both Primary and Secondary schools, and enables young people an increased experience of arts education by bringing it directly into their classrooms. 27 Somerset Schools have already signed up and with many reporting the need for a wider range of arts specialists within their settings.

'The students really enjoyed it, and as a school which has limited Dance provision, it was great to be able to offer this opportunity. It would be great to have more like this!' Teacher

Raising career aspirations of young people in Somerset

In May we attended the NextGen Networking Event at Richard Huish College. This event offered young people aged 16-18 years an opportunity to meet local employers and discuss ways in which they can prepare, gain skills and experience within their choice of work. We spoke to 22 young people about the Creative Arts Industry and the roles within it. Where we promoted the vast opportunities across the growing arts sector, dispelling any preconceptions and helping young people identify career pathways depending on their interests.  This event enabled us to raise career aspirations of young people and help to promote the viability and integrity of the creative careers industry. 

'I didn't realise that there were so many other jobs within the industry, I thought it was just about performing but there are lots of other roles which are linked to other subjects too' Student

Talent Development

Creating opportunities to develop skills and experience for emerging creatives

Over the past couple of months we have been working in partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and supporting UWE’s Professional Volunteering Scheme, which has connected us with 4 creative students.  The scheme is run by UWE’s Civic and Community Engagement team and is designed to support Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise organisations, with students bringing fresh perspectives, creative energy and practical support to help us enhance our outreach and engagement, communicate our impact more effectively and strengthen our community connections. We have been working with Freddie, Charlie, Pijush and Mack, creative students studying film, media and marketing at UWE, on the creation of a film that tells the stories of our community and the impact exposure to the creative arts through our venues have had on peoples lives. Filming has now finished, where 9 people from our community spoke on camera and told their stories and told us why access to the arts and theatre is so important. The editing process is in full swing, and we look forward to sharing with you all the final edit!

Participation

Volunteers generously give over 6,200 hours in support

From April 2025 to March 2026 volunteers at the Octagon & Westlands dedicated a staggering 6,272 hours of their time in support of our shows, events and participation classes. The volunteers who support our venues and activities are the heart of our success, helping us deliver inspiring programmes and creating unforgettable experiences for our audiences and participants. We couldn’t do it without them. Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers, from our Foyer Club, who handle Front of House duties, to our Participate volunteers, who actively support our participation classes and events.

Summer Activities made accessible for all thanks to funding

The Arts Engagement & Outreach team are delighted to have secured £13,730 of funding through the Happy Healthy Holidays initiative, delivered by Somerset Activity and Sport Partnership (SASP).  This funding will enable over 100 young people to access our summer programme, with funding supporting those in receipt of benefits-related Free School Meals to take part in high-quality creative activities during the holidays.  Across five activities and delivered over 13 days, participants aged 7–16 will have the opportunity to explore singing, dancing and acting in different formats - from week-long performance workshops to one-day creative experiences.  Families eligible for funded places will receive information directly via their schools, with paid places available to book through the Westlands website.  All activities offer SEND support, ensuring a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment where every young person can take part, build confidence and enjoy being creative this summer.

Arts for Health & Wellbeing

Funding Boost for Octagon Memory Choir

Thanks to funding from Somerset Community Foundation, we are delighted to be expanding our Octagon Memory Choir, delivered in partnership with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and the Alzheimer’s Society. This support is enabling us to deliver more sessions throughout the year, reaching more people living with dementia and their carers with consistent, high-quality provision. Led by professional music practitioners, the choir offers uplifting sessions featuring familiar songs, gentle vocal exercises and social connection in a safe, welcoming space. These sessions support emotional wellbeing, reduce isolation and help stimulate memory, creating moments of joy, confidence and connection. The Octagon Memory Choir was developed in response to the growing need for accessible, community-based activities that support people living with dementia and their carers. It demonstrates the powerful role specialist creative activities play in supporting health and wellbeing, and this funding enables us to deliver more sessions, creating bigger impacts, throughout the year.

‘It brings back memories and lifts our spirits – we always leave feeling happier.’ Participant & carer

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 Take Part page which will link you to all our projects and upcoming opportunities.