News
Nutkhut & The Mela Partnership
Strategic Touring Bid confirmed: Mela Advocacy Document
Nutkhut will once again be undertaking a programme of strategic development with Melas across England in 2017, following a successful Arts Council England Strategic Touring bid; worth £100,000 over the next year.
sam-culture was commissioned to support writing the bid and the subsequent production of an advocacy document (with Mel Larsen) that set out a future for Melas. This will launch in Spring 2017. Ajay Chhabra at Nutkhut wrote to sam-culture ‘Thanks so much for your patience, advice and input, we really couldn’t have done it without you’.
Little Green Pig Goes East
Little Green Pig is a writing and mentoring charity for young people in Sussex. They believe in the right to write, and that this vital form of self-expression builds confidence, communication and literacy skills.
sam-culture is undertaking an evaluation of three highlight projects both in and out of school, alongside an overview of the academic year. We will be considering the impacts of participation for young people from different backgrounds, the involvement of volunteers and mentors and the longer term outcomes and achievements of writing projects.
Culture Plus: be creative!
Evaluation of the Culture Plus project for Royal Opera House and CBC. CulturePlus aims to increase the cultural opportunities, participation and engagement of vulnerable learners aged 11-18 years through working with key partners to develop and deliver a programme of arts and cultural activities.
We are particularly interested how a wide cross section of young people can benefit from engagement in the arts. sam-culture are working with Sarah Bedell
Heritage Centre Stage
Reawakening the Royal Pavilion Estate
Combining a royal palace and Regency garden, a museum and art gallery and three performing art spaces, the Royal Pavilion Estate is Brighton & Hove’s cultural heart, and the Royal Pavilion its internationally recognised icon and a symbol of Brighton’s unique eccentricity.
The Vision: Since 2013, Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival, the Royal Pavilion & Museums and Brighton & Hove City Council have been working together on a plan to continue to protect and restore this rich heritage. Phase one is a major refurbishment of the nationally important Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre, alongside essential conservation work. The transformation of the Corn Exchange will restore and reveal original heritage features of the former Prince Regent's Riding House as well as provide increased capacity seating and a magnificent new viewing gallery. Major improvements to the Studio Theatre will include balcony seating, a new artists' creation space, new bar facilities and a café opening onto New Road. sam-culture worked with Tricolor Associates on content planning and delivery of a themed open day providing opportunities for local reminiscences and project engagement.
Re:Imagining Melas
The Mela Partnership 2016 included six Melas in London, Luton, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Sandwell and Birmingham and (Tunbridge Wells) Kent. Three interconnected strands of development - artistic, professional and audience focussed - aimed to transform the artistic quality of Melas in the UK and provide contemporary audiences with new experiences within this traditional festival format.
Over 300,000 people enjoyed a Mela in 2016 with exciting new artistic work from companies such as Khoi, Navrattan and 4x4 Dance.
Pam Jarvis and Mel Larsen have produced a 2016 evaluation report and continue to provide consultancy and programme support for the Mela Partnership.
SMASHfestUK 2016
SMASHfestUK 2016: evaluation of Wellcome Trust funded arts and science festival focused on the policy context for STEM subjects in education and how this project addressed critical issues in the career progression of disadvantaged BAME young people in formal and informal education.