Culture Swindon has many creative forums.

Artsminds

A network and forum supporting artistic and creative growth in Swindon engaged with over 250 creative practitioners. £1.4 million was generated through income and external sources towards the delivery of high quality arts across Swindon. Artsminds

Artsmad

The children and young peoples arts agency was awarded £1 million from the Treasury to pilot a unique action research project based in North Swindon. Artsmad

Create

The film and digital media centre has now moved to exciting new studios at the Wyvern Theatre. 82% of customers at Create Studios rated their experience as excellent. Create

Mobile Media

The outreach arm of Create studios has been in residence in parks and worked with 1,600 children and young people. Mobile Media

The Arts Centre

The Arts  Centre has an exciting packed season. Arts Centre

In addition to all these exciting activities, Arts Services partner with a number of innovative and groundbreaking arts organisations in Swindon.

Swindon Festival of Literature

Swindon Borough Council provides an annual grant to the Festival, which is organised by Matt Holland. www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk

Swindon Mela

Swindon Borough Council’s Festivals and Events Officer co-ordinates the Mela, in partnership with the community organisation Swindon Mela.

Reach Inclusive Arts

"Accessible opportunities for disabled people in Swindon and Wiltshire"

REACH Inclusive Arts develop and deliver exciting and innovative arts projects with disabled people to give everybody a voice and a choice. Swindon Borough Council provides regular funding to REACH

Sticks and Stones Tour Report

Tour 6 – 17 October 2008, 17 - 19 November & Gala public performance 21 November 2008 at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Company of disabled performers produce dynamic anti-bulling drama performed in Swindon schools.

Partners Theatre Company are group of performers who have learning difficulties and sensory loss and considered to be Wiltshire’s foremost company of disabled performers; their work exemplifies accessibility and inclusion.

The company has completed a three week tour of schools and professional venues, including a Gala performance at the Wyvern Theatre, as part of Swindon’s Anti bullying celebrations week, with their show Sticks and Stones.

This was a powerful production that addressed issues of bullying, especially homophobic and cyber bullying.

Young people in schools and members of the public gained a unique theatrical experience through their engagement with this dynamic production. This show was produced by members of the company through extensive workshopping and team scripting facilitated by committed and experienced artists.

Following the success of this tour Partners were invited back to Isamabard School during their Arts Blast week at the end of January 2009 and our visit included four performances and three days of workshops.

Reach Inclusive Arts create professional opportunities and training for disabled people throughout Swindon and Wiltshire.

Comments from the shows:

"It showed the truth about bullying"

"It was very powerful"

"I thought Sticks and Stones was the best show I’d ever watched. The reason I liked it so much is because at the end we got to actually help the problem and people could come in and impersonate the characters’…‘You rock my socks off’."

Coments on Reach's work:

"RIA makes a big difference at our school as it gives the students the chance to work with instructors and theatre companies and thus highlighting the issues around disability." - Josie Williams Arts Education Officer, Commonweal School, Swindon.

If you or your organisation are interested in Reach’s work please feel free to contact us and arrange a meeting:

Some photos of artwork and people at Reach.

Contact

Yvonne Chamberlain: Operations Manager

Helen Whelehan: Arts Project Coordinator

Reach Inclusive Arts, Wyvern Theatre, Theatre Square, Swindon SN1 1 QN

01793 520318

Reachinclusive3@btconnect.com

Charity No: 295535

For more information please see the Reach Inclusive Arts website

Sixth Sense Theatre for Young People

Sixth Sense Theatre for Young People are nationally acclaimed for the quality of theatre work provided for schools and young people. Swindon Borough Council provides regular funding to Sixth Sense to enable them to deliver a wide range of theatre activities including primary and secondary schools tours. Sixth Sense Theatre Company worked with over 40,000 young people in the last year, in over 90% of Swindon Schools.

Contact

Sixth Sense Theatre for Young People
c/o the Wyvern Theatre
Theatre Square
Swindon
SN1 1QN

Tel: 01793 - 614864
Fax: 01793 616715
E-mail: sstc@dircon.co.uk

For more information see their website (www.sixthsensetheatrecompany.co.uk).

Swindon Community Radio

SWINDON 105.5 is a new non-commercial radio station for Swindon, launching on Saturday 15 March 2008 under a community radio licence from Ofcom.

This is an accessible and inclusive service with programmes presented by volunteers who receive training and support. Keen to support the local Arts and Music scenes, working with Education though schools, colleges and Youth Services, Literature with short stories, poems, plays and features, Community through training initiatives, programming and participation.

The main studio is at Swindon Town Football Club.

Recording and training studio is at Youth Services, Plus One Centre, Princes Street.

Volunteering opportunities in a wide range of areas.

Use your skills or develop new ones.

Phone: Swindon (01793) 612517
E-mail: swindon105.5@talktalk.net

Artsite

Artsite Ltd is an artist collective dedicated to providing studio space, exhibition facilities and education programmes to enhance the cultural life of Swindon. Artsite has been in existence since 1999 and incorporated as a company limited by guarantee & became a charity in 2008. Based in the Post Modern Gallery (an old post office) in the heart of the proposed cultural quarter Artsite wants to provide a base for the community to engage in, understand & appreciate contemporary art & culture.

Contact: artsite.ltd@gmail.com

Swindon Artists Forum

Members of the Swindon Artists Forum are a mixture of professional and non-professional artists. The primary aim of the 'Forum' is to encourage appreciation of art in any way possible and to give local artists a way of promoting their work locally.

The Swindon Artists Forum has a gallery/shop in the Brunel Centre, Swindon, in which it sells paintings and other works of art. The Gallery Manager is Richard Naylor. Please note that a percentage is made to the Prospect Hospice on all sales.

Contact

Swindon Artists Forum
Unit 49 at The Brunel Centre
Swindon
SN1 1LL

Telephone: 07946 060583

Swindon Recital Series

Swindon Borough Council is funding this group for a period of two years. The group organise and programme both concerts and music workshops at the Arts Centre in Devizes Road, Swindon.

Contact

Tel:  01793 612775

Wyvern Theatre

Swindon's main theatre has been refurbished and has new shows lined up.

Contact

Wyvern Theatre
Theatre Square
Swindon
SN1 1QN

Website of the Wyvern Theatre (www.wyverntheatre.org.uk).