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About Us

Our Vision

‘Culture and Creativity for All’

Our vision is for everyone in rural communities to be entertained, inspired and supported by the arts, through access to high quality, thought-provoking and diverse live performance without barriers. We want to be part of a world where creativity is enjoyed by everyone.

Our Mission

Valley Arts exists to inspire and delight audiences by delivering high quality live performance and participation in local spaces for the people of the Chew Valley.
We listen to and collaborate with local artists, audiences, volunteers, partners, venues and organisations – to bring a wide range of exciting creative events and opportunities to our amazing rural venues.
We aim to be a creative hub for the region, supporting people of all ages to take their next step in the arts – as audiences, participants or artists. We want to programme and co-create new work that is grounded in a sense of place and belonging, that inspires conversation and sparks ideas.
By bringing people together to watch, participate and create, we support the wellbeing of our community to become happier, better connected and more fulfilled.

 

 

‘A wonderful evening, awe-inspiring! We need more local events which make us think about our world’. Audience member

Benefiting the Community

The arts are a perfect medium to address societal barriers, by bringing people together to share a collective experience. Exposure to different cultural influences inspires creativity, improves cultural knowledge. It is particularly important for young people in isolated rural communities, where opportunities for diverse cultural engagement are so limited.

‘Rising Waters’ was Valley Arts first large-scale community project and took place January – July 2024. It involved the creation of a community play, documentary film, writing competition and creative community workshops. 2419 people from 1 – 102 years old participated in the project and/or came to see the show.

Rural isolation and loneliness have long been identified as concerns in the Chew Valley Neighbourhood Plan. We work with several community partners to co-create events and activities that aim to increase social interaction and overall well being:

The benefits of the Arts on mental wellbeing and society have long been recognised:
‘There is strong evidence that participation in the Arts can contribute to community cohesion, reduce social exclusion and isolation, and/or make communities feel safer and stronger’ 

Poor transport links across the Valley also mean many people are less able to get out and enjoy live performances for themselves. By hosting our performances in multiple villages and venues across the valley we can bring our shows directly to local residents.

Valley Arts varied programme of events and activities brings the positive benefits of culture into our local community – enabling everyone to have access. By doing so we also support local businesses and venues. And by bringing events here, we help reduce the environmental impact caused by travel to Bristol, Bath and beyond.

 

 

 

‘It was lovely to see such a quality performance without having to travel into Bristol or Bath’. Audience member

 

 

 

The charity began life in 2015. Since then it has grown a regular programme of professional  performances, workshops and community activities, bringing cultural enjoyment and new experiences to over six thousand people to date. 

Currently, we use a range of venues in the Chew Valley for our performances, fitting the venue to the event:

  • Chew Valley School Hall
  • Village Halls
  • Local pubs
  • Valley events, like Valley Fest
  • The Community Farm
  • Online streaming – e.g. our Lockdown Liberation film; Sherlock in Homes

If you have an idea of a community project or how Valley Arts could work with your group or organisation, we are always interested in hearing from you. Speak to our Creative Producer; kate.mcgregor@valleyartscentre.co.uk.

 

Community engagement

Valley Arts annual Fringe Festival delivers a packed programme of events each Autumn. We host live music, theatre and comedy with free participatory workshops for children and adults alike. It has proved hugely successful, and is firmly embedded on the local cultural map.

We have an extensive schools network and programme of workshops that we run in local primary schools twice a year. If you’re interested in engaging with us in future projects contact our Education Coordinator; Laura.davies@valleyartscentre.co.uk.

Our recent ‘Rising Waters’ community project allowed us to connect with 2419 people locally. We are committed to developing our accessibility within the community and reaching those who may not think that the arts is for them. We regularly consult and evaluate engagement throughout the year and allow this to influence our ongoing creative offers. 

The interest from local communities in our yearly programme is proven to be strong and our performances in local venues, churches and village halls are often sold out. 

 

 

 

 

‘Thank you so much for organising the excellent contemporary dance workshop with Deep Raj Singh, my daughter had a great time’.
Audience member

‘Of all sectors, the arts must be where diversity and inclusion should be taken most seriously. Works that explore, challenge and reflect contemporary society are naturally richer if they are informed by a wider range of social perspectives and experiences’. 


Nik Miller, Chief Executive, the Bridge Group (leading cultural organisation supporting social equality)

Artist Development

 

 

 

 Our Long-Term Objectives

To increase community connection, fulfillment and wellbeing.
To reduce barriers to accessing and participating in live performance in the Valley, increasing the range and diversity of audience and participants.
To enable people to take their next, or first, purposeful step in the arts.
To increase opportunity for artists to co-create new work grounded in a sense of place and belonging.
To continue to reduce our carbon footprint through our inclusive rural arts methodology.
To increase sustainability of organisation and become more financially viable through ethical management.
To raise our profile and be seen as a creative hub that is integral to life in the Valley

We support local artists by commissioning new work for our annual Fringe Festival. In 2024 we supported local poet Beth Calverley and musician Beth Roberts to create ‘The Awkward Guide to Friendship’ in partnership with Theatre Royal Plymouth.

We promote several local networks and host a local musicians group and theatre-makers collective. We also run a regular adult performance company for ages 18 and above. These groups inspire our programming, participate in our projects and increase our community engagement. They are also a place where artistic individuals can meet each other, learn new skills and share ideas.

If you would like to join any of our artists groups contact kate.mcgregor@valleyartscentre.co.uk. You don’t have to have any qualifications to take part. They are open to everyone who creates artistic work in the Chew Valley, Mendips and surrounding areas.

‘Take Notice’ was an evening of spoken word, delivered to a small live audience in a Covid-safe environment. It was live streamed, and featured the refreshing talents of Beth Calvery, Malaika Kegode and Caleb Parkin.  

Incredible talents with Beth, Malaika and Caleb. Such a balm in this time and such a pleasure to attend, thank you’. Audience member