• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Waveney & Blyth Arts

Creatively connecting people with place along the Norfolk/Suffolk border

Accessibility Tools

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Area
    • Opportunities
    • Constitution & Policies
    • Membership
    • Resources
    • Archive
  • Events
    • Arts & Eats
    • Two Rivers Book Fest
      • Two Rivers Book Fest
      • Book news
      • Booker prize 2019
        • The longlist
      • Independent and Second-hand Bookshops
      • Libraries
    • Bugs & Blossoms
      • BioBlitz Arts
    • Celebrate Programme
    • Early Bird Sound Map
    • Sculpture in the Valley 2021
    • Thrilling Thursdays
    • Walks
    • Workshops
  • Blog
  • Members
    • My account
    • Sculpture in the Valley Artists
    • Creative Members Directory & Member Events
    • Newsletter Form
  • Join us
  • Shop
    • Basket
    • Checkout
You are here: Home / Blog / Growing through Adversity
a packed audience at The Cut

Growing through Adversity

23rd January 2018 By Nicky Stainton

Over 50 organisations were represented by around 70 delegates at Waveney & Blyth Arts first workshop-conference exploring how we can work together at grass-roots to promote, support and grow arts in this region.

We overcame adversity right from the start by battling through Storm Georgina to reach Halesworth and our venue, The Cut. Further adversity when we discovered there was no power but, as with all opportunities created by challenges, we held the meeting in the foyer which was more intimate and perhaps enabled more interaction than the theatre style seating in the auditorium.

So what was it all about? Waveney & Blyth Arts recognised that cutbacks in arts organisations and less available cash for our customers, create challenges for arts activities within the region. But, as an entirely volunteer led group, we have never turned away from challenge and resource constraints. We believe that by working together, sharing ideas, practice, knowledge of funding sources and audience reach, we can weather the storm.

We called first of all on key arts representatives to outline the current situation. Claudia West, from the Arts Council, reflected on the specific needs of rural and coastal arts provision. Jayne Knight, Suffolk County Council’s Arts Development Manager, explained the regional ‘Culture for Growth’ strategy. To end the keynote session, a double act of Genine Sumner, from StartEast and Mary Muir, from Norfolk County Council, talked about opportunities for regional collaboration.

Then it was over to the grassroots organisations for a full and lively discussion about what needs to change, what resources would help and how can we grow forward.

Sustained by the Cut’s hearty soup and chocolate cake, the meeting continued in a series of workshops designed to build bridges and reach new audiences.  Three key themes focused the debate: The Role of Heritage – providing arts spaces and advancing heritage knowledge and participation; Tourism – how can the arts be used to grow tourism in this region, and Sense of Place – how we can create a cultural identity and explore, practically, the landscape in this micro-region.

Powered by the return of electricity, an energetic Ideas Buzz networked people from different backgrounds and localities and, hopefully, led to some synergies, new partnerships and ideas for action.

W&BA has been enormously encouraged by the response to the conference and will be looking at how we move forward. All participants will receive a report of the event.

Huge thanks to Arts in Adversity originator and compere, Simon Raven, to Nicky Stainton for all the organisation, and to Kasia Posen for the flyer graphics and of course to all who spoke, contributed or provided the excellent food.

18 January 2018, The Cut, Halesworth.

Photo: Simon Raven

 

Filed Under: Blog

Primary Sidebar

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Join Us

Waveney & Blyth Arts relies on membership to fund its programme. We welcome new members from any individual or organisation that supports our aims. Become a member today to join our likeminded community of creative individuals and organisations.

Join Us

Events Calendar

February

March 2021

April
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
SU
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Events for March

1st

No Events
Events for March

2nd

No Events
Events for March

3rd

No Events
Events for March

4th

No Events
Events for March

5th

No Events
Events for March

6th

No Events
Events for March

7th

No Events
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Events for March

8th

No Events
Events for March

9th

No Events
Events for March

10th

No Events
Events for March

11th

No Events
Events for March

12th

No Events
Events for March

13th

No Events
Events for March

14th

No Events
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Events for March

15th

No Events
Events for March

16th

No Events
Events for March

17th

No Events
Events for March

18th

No Events
Events for March

19th

No Events
Events for March

20th

No Events
Events for March

21st

No Events
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Events for March

22nd

No Events
Events for March

23rd

No Events
Events for March

24th

No Events
Events for March

25th

No Events
Events for March

26th

No Events
Events for March

27th

No Events
Events for March

28th

No Events
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
Events for March

29th

No Events
Events for March

30th

No Events
Events for March

31st

No Events

Follow us on Twitter

Tweets by @waveneyblyth

Promote your events

Remember, if you’re a member of W&BA as an artist or arts organisation, you can promote your events, exhibitions, talks and shows through our weekly newsletter, website and social media.

Submit Your Event

Footer

Contact Us

Waveney & Blyth Arts
W&BA Secretary postal address: Field House, Thrandeston, Diss, Norfolk, IP21 4BU

Get in contact via email
info@waveneyandblytharts.com
general enquires about W&BA

newsletter@waveneyandblytharts.com
newsletter and marketing, bookings, membership and payments

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Local Co-Ordinators

Diss – Brian Guthrie
brianguthrie45@gmail.com

Harleston – Nicky Stainton
nmstainton@gmail.com

Bungay – Ann Woolston
woolstonann@aol.com

Beccles – Netta Swallow
netta.swallow@btinternet.com

Lowestoft – Michaela Hobbs
info@ferinimedia.co.uk

Southwold – Ian Lomas
ian@threshershall.uk

Halesworth – Simon Raven
simon@thefen.org

Newsletter Sign-Up

To promote your activities on this website and get all the other benefits you need to become a member – see Join Us – but if you just want to be kept informed about Waveney & Blyth Arts activities join our free mailing list below:







    Site Map / Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions
    Copyright © 2021 · Site by Mustard

    MENU
    • Home
    • About Us
      • Our Area
      • Opportunities
      • Constitution & Policies
      • Membership
      • Resources
      • Archive
    • Events
      • Arts & Eats
      • Two Rivers Book Fest
        • Two Rivers Book Fest
        • Book news
        • Booker prize 2019
          • The longlist
        • Independent and Second-hand Bookshops
        • Libraries
      • Bugs & Blossoms
        • BioBlitz Arts
      • Celebrate Programme
      • Early Bird Sound Map
      • Sculpture in the Valley 2021
      • Thrilling Thursdays
      • Walks
      • Workshops
    • Blog
    • Members
      • My account
      • Sculpture in the Valley Artists
      • Creative Members Directory & Member Events
      • Newsletter Form
    • Join us
    • Shop
      • Basket
      • Checkout