Sara Bullimore, Cultural Programme Co-ordinator, Newark Cultural Consortium
Newark Creates is a cultural and heritage programme that originated as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone, with aims to animate the High Street and town with an engaging community led artistic programme, interventions and high quality events.
1. How much support did you receive from the SO Festival team throughout the project/s?: The IPC (International Programming Consortium) is very supportive and means a lot to have that cultural infrastructure in place with peer support – from marketing, to best practice to skills development.
2. What impact, both short and long term, has partnering with SO Festival made to:
a. Your organisation: The Go sees has enabled us to share new ways of working and high quality outdoor arts with members of the wider consortium – this has been invaluable for those who would not have experienced this.
b. Your teams and the way that they work: It has helped within our project meetings to share ideas and inspiration.
c. Your own stakeholders: Bringing high quality international arts on their doorstep. Increased positive perceptions, especially with more deprived communities.
d. Your network/contacts? This has increased and I feel less alone.
e. Social impact on your town or community: Events created have increased the feeling of community within the town, providing strong social experiences that we can now build on.
f. Your organisations commitment to environmental sustainability: We have built this into our future funding bids and plans
g. The artistic quality of your project/programme/festival: The connections has ensured that we can programme and increase cultural excellence.
h. The profile/status of your project/programme/festival: Profile has increased, alongside audience figures and social media followers.
i. Is there increase in local residents valuing the and feeling pride in the festival: Yes absolutely
3. What are your honest perceptions of:
a. The quality of the SO Festival performances: All of the ones I have seen are excellent. Sometimes they are not always relevant for our communities but we can work together to ensure we get good fits.
b. The way that the SO Festival team and Magna Vitae work: A lovely team!
4. What are your intentions for:
a. future engagement with the arts and SO Festival. If Newark Creates continues we would love to continue working together. In addition to joint programming, tours, Go Sees we particularly enjoyed the opportunity for the conference and networking.
b. future partnerships: We would be keen to see how we can develop things, joint fundraising etc.
