What is Arts Rising Collective? The future for the arts in the UK
Sally Bigwood and Sophie Clausen
Monday 20 May - White Swan
Arts Rising Collective (ARC) is a social enterprise created in February 2021 by a group of local artists and creatives, to develop a multi-artistic hub in the town of Stratford upon Avon. Our mission is to support local artists and creatives, as well as connecting communities through the arts, including the provision of an Arts hub, and to develop the local creative economy.
Sally Bigwood, BA(Hons), DipLaw, MBA, grew up in the USA and has lived in England since the 1960s. She worked in a variety of public and private sector organisations and ran her own consultancy business for 15 years. Since retiring she has been a trustee for several voluntary sector organisations. She and her husband moved to Stratford in 2017 and live in glorious Bridgetown.
Sally Bigwood, BA(Hons), DipLaw, MBA, grew up in the USA and has lived in England since the 1960s. She worked in a variety of public and private sector organisations and ran her own consultancy business for 15 years. Since retiring she has been a trustee for several voluntary sector organisations. She and her husband moved to Stratford in 2017 and live in glorious Bridgetown.
Sophie Clausen was born and grew up in Elsinore, Denmark. She went to London to study Fine Art at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and later earned an MA at Chelsea College of Art and Design. Currently she works for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust as an Events Officer. She paints and founded the Arts Rising Collective with a group of other creatives in 2021.
Lots more information is given in their presentation slides
Report of the talk
The strapline for ARC is ‘Create, Liberate, Celebrate’.
Sophie told us how the project began in the pandemic lockdown, with the sad sight of empty buildings in the town. Sophie had an artist friend who wanted to use the windows to show some art work. Sophie got 60 signatures on a petition and the Herald published it. The Art Rescue Campaign began with an article in September 2020 and received support. ARC was incorporated as a Community Interest Company (registered at Companies House) in February 2021 and the name was changed to Arts Rising Collective. A business case was put to the Town Trust in July 2021 for the creation of an arts hub. 200 people supported the idea in a survey – it had become a popular movement!
ARC has 5 directors – Sally Bigwood, Sophie Clausen, Vince Herbert, Manuella Perteghella and Lisa Yardley. Its objectives are to provide a hub for creatives of all sorts, with studios etc., and classes, talks, learning new skills, meetings and collaboration with investors, building on Stratford’s cultural reputation. Membership is free and it is advertised as widely as possible. It is run entirely by volunteers and has no funding.
ARC’s first event was in September 2021 - ARC in Conversation. In June 2022 there was a Midsummer Gathering, including a concert in a garden, with many different arts groups. ARC has had a Creative Drinks gathering on the first Wednesday of every month since October 2022, and now meets at the One Elm. There was also an Arts and Crafts Fair at the Playhouse, and stalls in the Rother Street market. Photograph your Artwork was held in March 2023, and there was a Meet the Author and Illustrator fair in the Town Hall in November 2023. ARC also came to the Marie Corelli Exhibition in May 2024. It also achieved one of its original aims with a window display in Henley Street in 2024.
Sally concluded the talk with examples of other successful creative hubs around the country to encourage us. Wakefield has The Art House, started 15 years ago. It was a new building, then the old library next to it was added. It includes a café and shop as well as studios. It also has an Arts Council grant.
Frome has Black Swan Arts in an old pub, with studios etc. Chichester has the Oxmarket Gallery. This town is closest to Stratford in its profile in that it also has a strong theatre presence and reputation. Hereford has the Courtyard Arts Centre, a renovated old building, which also receives local grants.
The audience felt that this was a clear, interesting and informative explanation of the project. The question of funding was raised. Arts Council grants and funds from charities are hard to get at present. Regarding empty buildings, the problem is that the Council does not own most of them and rents are too high for this sort of organisation. The Town Trust owns a number of buildings but also has limited funding. Funding from private individuals and companies may need to be explored.
The hub would be good for tourism and the local economy, and there is a strong local movement in favour of a museum too. In four years, the project has grown a lot and there is much potential. Another survey will be undertaken to establish local views.
Report by Helen Elliott.
Sophie told us how the project began in the pandemic lockdown, with the sad sight of empty buildings in the town. Sophie had an artist friend who wanted to use the windows to show some art work. Sophie got 60 signatures on a petition and the Herald published it. The Art Rescue Campaign began with an article in September 2020 and received support. ARC was incorporated as a Community Interest Company (registered at Companies House) in February 2021 and the name was changed to Arts Rising Collective. A business case was put to the Town Trust in July 2021 for the creation of an arts hub. 200 people supported the idea in a survey – it had become a popular movement!
ARC has 5 directors – Sally Bigwood, Sophie Clausen, Vince Herbert, Manuella Perteghella and Lisa Yardley. Its objectives are to provide a hub for creatives of all sorts, with studios etc., and classes, talks, learning new skills, meetings and collaboration with investors, building on Stratford’s cultural reputation. Membership is free and it is advertised as widely as possible. It is run entirely by volunteers and has no funding.
ARC’s first event was in September 2021 - ARC in Conversation. In June 2022 there was a Midsummer Gathering, including a concert in a garden, with many different arts groups. ARC has had a Creative Drinks gathering on the first Wednesday of every month since October 2022, and now meets at the One Elm. There was also an Arts and Crafts Fair at the Playhouse, and stalls in the Rother Street market. Photograph your Artwork was held in March 2023, and there was a Meet the Author and Illustrator fair in the Town Hall in November 2023. ARC also came to the Marie Corelli Exhibition in May 2024. It also achieved one of its original aims with a window display in Henley Street in 2024.
Sally concluded the talk with examples of other successful creative hubs around the country to encourage us. Wakefield has The Art House, started 15 years ago. It was a new building, then the old library next to it was added. It includes a café and shop as well as studios. It also has an Arts Council grant.
Frome has Black Swan Arts in an old pub, with studios etc. Chichester has the Oxmarket Gallery. This town is closest to Stratford in its profile in that it also has a strong theatre presence and reputation. Hereford has the Courtyard Arts Centre, a renovated old building, which also receives local grants.
The audience felt that this was a clear, interesting and informative explanation of the project. The question of funding was raised. Arts Council grants and funds from charities are hard to get at present. Regarding empty buildings, the problem is that the Council does not own most of them and rents are too high for this sort of organisation. The Town Trust owns a number of buildings but also has limited funding. Funding from private individuals and companies may need to be explored.
The hub would be good for tourism and the local economy, and there is a strong local movement in favour of a museum too. In four years, the project has grown a lot and there is much potential. Another survey will be undertaken to establish local views.
Report by Helen Elliott.
