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  • Arts-Engagement-And-Outreach-January-News

Arts Engagement & Outreach: January News

posted 07 Feb 2025
Arts Engagement & Outreach: January News

Arts Engagement & Outreach: January 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.

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The start of 2025 has seen residents of all ages from across Somerset supported to take part, benefit be inspired by the creative arts. From our free Time Together concert in Wincanton where new parents and their babies enjoyed the magic of live music by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, to our Creative Careers Day inspiring the next generation of producers, directors, actors, stage managers and technicians, read more below…

Arts for Health & Wellbeing

Connecting new parents with their babies through the power of music

This month, Wincanton Memorial Hall was brought alive by the sound of music as we hosted a free magical relaxed concert for 26 new parents, and 24 babies (0-12 months). Led by professional musicians from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO), mums, dads, grandparents and their babies were guided through this magical sensory music-making session, on a fun journey of beautiful songs and music designed to support new parents and their babies. The relaxed concert ended with tea and coffee, and an opportunity to connect with other new parents from their community. All attendees enjoyed the wonderful live music and their time together, leaving feeling uplifted.

‘Loved the concert, it was very welcoming and relaxed. It is wonderful to have this opportunity and listen to beautiful music without the stress of having to keep the babies quiet. Thank you!’ Parent

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Talent Development

Educating students about different jobs in the Creative Industries

January saw the return of Creative Careers Day, an event inviting local secondary schools to join us at Westlands, to experience and learn about a range of creative roles within the theatre. Creative Careers Day saw four secondary schools (Stanchester, Holyrood, Preston & King Arthur’s) join us, totalling 60 students. Over the day these students got to experience a variety of roles within the theatre, enabling us to inspire the next generation of producers, directors, actors, stage managers, lighting and sound technicians. Our Creative Career Day enables the students to understand what is required to work on a professional production, through experiencing the key roles behind the theatre making process. As part of the workshop, students put together a short 5-minute performance, they bring this together as a team working across the six areas listed. 

‘A fantastic afternoon you and the team delivered today.  I thought all the students in attendance gave 100 percent in whatever they were involved in, the whole team were great with all the students.’ Teacher

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Creative Learning & Education

Future composers in the making

Six primary schools and two secondary schools have been working with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) in the lead up to the KS1 and KS4 concerts respectively. 

Primary students have been looking at the theme of New Adventures and coming up with lyrics and melody lines which have then been arranged by BSO Associate, Neil Valentine, and will have its debut performance, as performed by BSO’s Musicians, to primary schools live at Westlands Entertainment Venue on 13th May 2025. 

KS4 students from Holyrood and Huish Episcopi Academy have focused on composition techniques which are a key element in GCSE and BTEC exams. Over two workshops, BSO Associate, Patrick Bailey, inspired students to collaborate using their existing talents to create their own original compositions.  Patrick, together with the students, composed and created an arrangement which will be played by members of the BSO and the students at the KS4 concert on 5th February.

The opportunity has enabled students to gain new skills, home their talent and work alongside professional musicians. Teachers have also had access to specialist CPD training where they have learnt new skills and techniques based around music and composition to embed them into their own teaching practice.

‘I really needed help as I was struggling to see where I could start with my GCSE composition but this really helped me.’  Student

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Participation

Encouraging people to take part, get creative and get fit!

In January we hosted our annual Octagon Academy Taster Day, where teachers from our weekly participation classes led taster sessions for new and regular participants, with the aim of encouraging participants to try something new.  With 18 classes on offer all for just £1, from early-years dance to ballet for dancers over 50, with taster sessions for our Octagon youth programmes and Octagon Choir, plus many more opportunities in between.  The day was a great success with over 130 participants attending throughout the day and, as a result, we have seen an increase in weekly attendance across all our classes.  Feedback from the day highlighted that many saw the day as an opportunity to 'increase their physicality', alongside gaining 'an increased sense of wellbeing'.  

"As an older person having the opportunity to learn new skills has taken me out of my comfort zone which has given me confidence and helped my mental and physical health. The Octagon and Westlands has become part of my life. I shall be 80 on my next birthday." Participant

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20 young people stage a ‘Play in a Day’

The last day of the school Christmas holidays saw 20 young people aged 7-12 come together to create their very own 'Play in a Day'.  Using the New Year as a theme, our young participants used their imaginations to predict what might happen in the future, and working with our very own creative team, created their own unique performance.  Full of dancing, singing and improvised predictions, they performed for families and friends at the end of the very busy day.

Thanks to funding from Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP) and the Happy Healthy Holiday scheme, we were able to offer free places to children on free school meals. SEN Support ensured the activity was fully inclusive for all. Funding enables young people the opportunity to take part in arts activities that they might not have previously been able to and, most importantly, new skills and friendships were made. When asked how the day made the participants feel, we had responses such as “happy, excited, all good feelings”, “happy, I want to come back” and “very happy but worn out”.

“X always feels welcome and included here. Westlands is her safe space. Thank you for running this activity during the holidays” Parent

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Access & Inclusion Schemes

Embedding inclusivity at the heart of our organisation

This month, The Octagon & Westlands staff and volunteers took part in Disability Confidence & Access Awareness training delivered by Nick Goss Consultancy. Nick Goss works with organisations to ensure they are as diverse, accessible and inclusive as possible in the way they employ people, develop policies and deliver services. This supports us as an organisation to identify good practice, deepen our knowledge of disability, equality, inclusion and how we can best support members, participants, volunteers, staff and visitors. Staff expressed that the training was very beneficial and highlighted additional ways we can improve access and inclusion within our venues. We want everyone to feel listened to, valued and included within our venues and across our programme of activity.

 ‘Nick was very knowledgeable and helped us identify more ways we could support patrons, staff & volunteers with access requirements’ Staff member 

If you or someone you know would like to discuss how we can support you when visiting our venue, you can call the box office: 01935 422884, who will be able to assist you with your requirements. 

 Additionally, click here for our online Access Guide 

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Artist Support

Showcasing local talent

Here at Westlands, we host monthly Piano Nights in the Lounge Bar, a free event offering some of the best local piano players the chance to perform. Caroline Wallis-Newport is one of our regular pianists. Caroline features in our January blog which highlights the benefits of music and learning to play an instrument. Find out more here - Celebrating Somerset’s Creative & Cultural Practitioners - Caroline Wallis-Newport

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

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