Arts Development
The Team
The arts development team in the Vale
is a small team of two consisting of the arts development officer
and the Art Central gallery assistant.
The arts development officer works
across all art forms supporting, developing and promoting arts
events, activities and opportunities with arts organisations,
groups and individual artists in the Vale.
Some of the key areas of strategic
development are; managing Art Central, the Vale's prestigious art
gallery in the centre of Barry, the gallery assistant attending to
the day to day needs of the venue. Developing Public Art
projects, organising literature activities and workshops, working
with schools to enhance their arts programming. Engaging with
National arts festivals and events such as the 'Vale of
Glamorgan Contemporary Music' and 'Beyond the Border'storytelling
festivals and promoting and providing arts activity and
opportunity in the local community to engage,
attend and praticiapte in the arts.
Melinae
Palmer Force Ceramic & Glass
Contact:
Email: tcharding@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk Tel:
01446 709805
The Arts
The term ‘arts’ encompasses
and represents a wide range of activity, including the visual arts,
crafts, dance, drama, music, literature, film, theatre, festivals,
other events to clarify a few. The arts give us pause to
think and reflect; they encourage us to question and challenge our
perceptions.
The arts contribute to community
development, social cohesion and community regeneration, creating a
sense of belonging and well being. More than three quarters of
adults (76%) in Wales support the view that access to arts and
culture makes Wales a better place to live (Source: Arts in Wales
Survey 2005).
Research into the craft industry in
rural Wales identified over 2500 craftspeople working in Wales,
twice the proportion in the rest of the UK. The arts and creative
industries are important employers; one in every 40 people is
earning a living from the arts economy or the work it creates.
Arts and cultural industries are
fundamental to developing Wales as a dynamic and forward-looking
country. The arts sector is an increasingly important part of the
economy, offering a valuable export, a creative industry that plays
a positive role in the economy, the arts attract tourists to the
area, creating a positive profile and image. The arts make a
lasting contribution to improving the local environment through the
provision of public art, one of the more recent key developments in
the arts for the Vale of Glamorgan.
Supporting the 'Arts'
The Council supports the
arts and cultural activity because it believes that the arts can
enhance the quality of life for residents who live, work in and
visit the area. The support and promotion of existing
and opening up new arts experiences for people to enable
opportunities to learn new skills, discovering creativity and
contributing to personal development, plays an important part in
our education and throughout our lives.
The arts help us to
appreciate what is unique and valuable about the time and place in
which we live. By encouraging participation in the arts
as audience members, art workshop participants or
volunteering we can contribute to creating a sense of pride
and place for the area in which we live.
The arts help us to express
our different cultures and ideas and enable us to communicate these
to others. It can lift us beyond our day-to-day existence, engaging
our emotions and provoking new ideas. The continued
development of the arts and sharing of skills with others
increases the creative learning capacity for all.
Our Vision
The Council supports the
arts and cultural activity because it believes that the arts can:
support and increase access and opportunities for residents and
visitors to participate in or view and enjoy the Arts. Wishing
to focus on improving the cultural, tourist
and economic rejuvenation in the Vale.
Promoting Arts Opportunities
Access and Participation
In the Vale we want local
people and visitors to the area to have access to the arts, both
for general appreciation and to help to define and communicate our
cultural identity. We would like to achieve an increased
participation in and enjoyment of arts and cultural activities,
with all age groups and sections of the community to be able to
enjoy and participate in the arts and cultural activities.
Support for the local economy and environment
Cultural industries and
tourism are an important part of the local economy. The arts form a
large sector of the local economy, with many artists living and
working locally. We see the arts as a tool for regenerating and
supporting the local economy and environment.
Excellence
A focus on excellence helps to draw regional
and national attention to the extraordinary work already taking
place in the Vale. Working with high quality arts professionals, we
want to strive for excellence in the experience that people receive
when they participate in arts activities. Combined with good
quality venues and well trained and qualified staff the whole
package contributes to creating the best possible cultural
experience.
Engaging All
The arts and cultural activities can play a leading role in
attracting people to visit the Vale. We encourage
participation in and celebration of the creative process, achieved
by developing participatory arts projects, events, exhibitions and
other activities that encompass the whole community. Aiming
to provide popular activities, we also provide challenging
experiences with new and innovative provision.
"Art is not made for anybody and is, at the same
time, for everybody".
Piet Mondrian