How can culture make Medway a great...

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How can culture make Medway a great place? Open Space session 18th January 2020 Medway cultural consultation GJG

Transcript of How can culture make Medway a great...

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How can culture make Medway a great place?

Open Space session 18th January 2020 Medway cultural consultation

GJG

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How can culture make Medway a great place? Open Space session 18th January 2020 GJG Consultancy supported by evaluation and research specialists Ruth Melville Research (RMR) and The Audience Agency (TAA) are working in partnership with Medway Cultural Partnership and Medway Council to co-develop a new Cultural Strategy for Medway for 2020 – 2030.

On a sunny Saturday morning in Rochester, at the Corn Exchange, almost 150 people turned up to take part in the Open Space workshop. The overarching question for the morning was “How can culture make Medway a great place?”

The Open Space session was hosted at the Rochester Corn Exchange as an opportunity for deeper engagement in the cultural strategy theme setting. The session was designed for wider and less formally linked parts of the cultural sector, which includes more engaged members of the public, to engage in the theme setting for the Medway Cultural Strategy 2020 to 2030. The workshop used Open Space Technology (OST). OST is a way for groups to think, talk and take action together. It can work for as few as five people, and as many as 5000.

Participants self-organise to create their own agenda on the day, allowing a dynamic and immediate response to the issues at hand. The OST process allows free-flowing conversations about the things that really matter to the people in the room.

Open Space Technology can shift cultures both towards a more responsible and more pragmatic outlook. Over the last 25 years OST has been used across the world in an incredible range of contexts: to design aeroplane doors, resolve land disputes, address economic, environmental, social, political and artistic issues of every kind. Harrison Owen invented the process.

GJG Consultancy will use the Open Space to help develop a hierarchy of needs that will be addressed through the themes of the new Cultural Strategy. We hope that those who attended will use the energy and passion from the day to develop their ideas, find partners and initiate new schemes, plans and ideas of their own.

Thank you to everyone who came and gave so generously of their time, passion and belief that together we can use culture to make Medway a great place.

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Dot survey of attenders. We asked: In one word tell us what is unique about Medway’s culture

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A rough sketch of what happened on the day: There were nearly 150 people in our convening circle. It was hard for everyone to hear at the start. A microphone was found that made it easier for most people to hear.

The theme for the morning session was restated - ‘HOW CAN CULTURE MAKE MEDWAY A GREAT PLACE?’ - with the reminder that everyone in the circle was there because they care about some aspect of this theme, and have chosen to be here, to learn from and contribute to the work at hand.

The big empty wall was explained as the agenda. Within less than half an hour, the agenda was filled with discussion topics. The discussions were broken into two sessions with 15 topics to discuss in each session. These breakout topics were proposed from the people who were sitting in the circle. The topics discussed were the burning questions, passionate issues, or great ideas of those in the room on that day. The notes that follow are the ideas and the questions of those involved in the discussions.

For those who did not attend the Open Space, we hope these notes will give a flavour and an idea of the issues and concerns on the day and will spark your own thoughts. For those who did attend, we hope these notes re-ignite the thoughts and passions that you expressed on the day and that the notes are an aide memoire to the conversations and ideas that you had, the connections you wanted to make, and the plans you started to hatch. If you don’t feel the notes capture what was discussed - please share your notes with us and we can update this report.

The Four Principles of Open Space explained:

“Whoever comes is the right people” acknowledges that the only people really qualified or able to do great work on any issue are those who really care, and freely choose to be involved.

“Whenever it starts is the right time” recognises that spirit and creativity doesn’t run on the clock, so while there we keep a vigilant watch for great ideas and new insights, which can happen at any time.

“Whatever happens is the only thing that could have” allows everyone to let go of the could haves, would haves and should haves, so that we can give our full attention to the reality of what is happening, is working, and is possible right now. And finally, “When it’s over, it’s over” acknowledges that you never know just how long it will take to deal with a given issue, and reminds us that getting the work done is more important than sticking to an arbitrary schedule.

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The one law of Open Space is The Law of Personal Mobility. This states that you, and only you, know where you can learn and contribute the most to the work that must take place today. So if you need to move or join different topics, do so.

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The Closing Circle and Next Steps What followed the agenda-setting was two and a half hours of conversation, planning ideas exchange and much much more. At the end, we all gathered back in the circle. A few people gave their impressions of the day, and we talked about next steps. 

It was noted that there were not very many young people present – this led to a discussion on how to get young people to contribute in future. GJG are following this up initially with Medway Youth Council and Raising Youth. 

Somebody talked about how to capture ideas and thoughts from other types of audiences as well, maybe housing associations or similar. GJG are reaching out to community groups across Medway as part of their work, but we are interested to hear about possible other opportunities. 

Someone pointed out how unique it was “to have this many people in the room’ in this way. She wanted to point out that it was terrific for culture to have this momentum and that we need to hang n to that. 

There was a discussion about big strategic projects happening in the region. A question was asked about why we don’t always know what’s going on? There was a sense that cultural organisations are asked to ‘chip in’ at the end instead of being informed at the start. If we don’t know about it, it is impossible to prepare. This is something we need to address in any strategies going forward. 

And we ended the day with a real desire for people to stay in touch and keep communicating so GJG have asked for attendees permission to share contact details and we will share those soon. 

Thanks to everyone who came. You can stay in touch with us and follow the progress of the cultural strategy at  www.medwayculturalstrategy.co.uk or email: [email protected]

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Agenda topics for session 1:

A Neuro-diversity workshops/reminiscences/creative writing

B More Than Dickens

C Use our river for cultural tours – art and wildlife

D How can we make the council acknowledge and properly support and work with Medway artists?

E A world class arts centre with a permanent collection of Medway’s best artists (past and present), cinema and theatre space and performance venues

F Year-round funding for live performances (in streets!). Give us the funding, the space and the support and we will do it

G How can we collect/celebrate/capture Medway writing – past/present/future

H Medway Fashion Week to showcase Medway fashion designers

I Extend the ‘tourist zone’ for culture throughout Medway

J TRANSPORT/SIGNPOSTING/MARKETING - original provocation unknown.

K Engagement in community increases protective factor against adverse childhood experiences/trauma

L Original provocation: Leaving a Creative Legacy (Debbie)

M Holding annual Festival of Culture and Faith to celebrate our diversity (Faran)

N Support grass roots music across Medway. How does the council do this? (Mo)

O Medway Fringe

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AGENDA NOTES - Session 1 A MEDWAY WRITING Neuro-diversity and creative writing Original brief: Neuro-diversity workshops/reminiscences/creative writing

Want to offer creative writing/making writing fun. Barriers include funding issues, need for outreach events and marketing to create awareness and community engagement through arts. Particularly interested to support the neuro-diverse and the city culture of a population that is diverse Bigger issues include the need for a cultural study – how would you do this? important to nurture talent despite barriers of neuro diversity and level of education. Helping with public health (better Medway/health/free courses/workshop, support for domestic abuse issues – would like Medway to become the leader in creative writing/creativity for Medway’s mental health. Need funding to do this.

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B More Than Dickens Medway shouldn’t just be about Dickens and the Dickens Festival. Enthusiasm for bringing back FUSE Festival and for advertising other cultural activities more widely such as the Chinese New Year celebrations in Rochester/Chatham. The Dickens Festival is not locally owned by residents Want events that appeal to large coach trips (tourists) and locals and bring in repeat visitors The What’s On magazine produced by the council is too council-focused: the council website could show other cultural offerings – could it have an independent leaflet folded in? Looking for a mix of activity aimed at different age groups and a programme spread out throughout the year. Issues:

• Need for parking for other festivals/events • Engineering work on the railways • Too Rochester-centric. There are other towns in Medway. • Dockyards don’t integrate: work in isolation • No advertising in train stations/ on trains • Theatres in Medway face low profile and visitors • Need to join up transport links between major venues and to smaller communities • Shops not geared towards local people • Radio advertising/partnerships needed as well as with local newspapers and

publications

Festivals currently running: • Dickens Festival • Sweeps Festival • Christmas Dickens Festival • English Countryside Festival • Castle Concert • Medway Open Studios • Litfest • Heritage Open Day • Medway River • Paint the Town Festival x 2 times a year

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C The River Original brief: Use our river for cultural tours – art and wildlife This session addressed the following aspects or interests offered by the river: Ecological/Art/ Travel/ Culture/Festival and Friends of the River

For the ecological element, the group discussed a walk along the river from Rochester to Chatham -some land is owned by private individuals so could council open up access? access to islands? a wildlife corridor along river, an organisation set up to link to Kent and the south coast, possibly joining up with a green spaces project – need to ensure green spaces linked up and not developed.

What are the management plan(s) by the council? People and wildlife need access to a green corridor – the Thames Estuary Protection corridor? A boardwalk along the river if access isn’t possible? How much info does the council have about the river – could we do an FOI request? – ask them to spend money on the river, not fireworks In relation to art, want to encourage other artists to use the river as a resource (in Gravesham (St Andrews Centre) funds artist-in-residence) and to show that river is a key focus for artists applying for funding, possibly make the river the theme that links the city of culture bid #the river runs through it. Culture links Medway, but the river is a perfect way to demonstrate this, to bring positivity to the name of Medway. Could have a floating venue e.g. prison ship on Medway. Want to encourage film-makers to Medway. The river is the link that binds Medway towns together. Gravesham values the Thames and supports its access.

re travel and the river, infrastructure is needed e.g. a pier in Rochester, a river bus, to re-open piers along Medway.

Need ownership of river (currently owned by LPA!) - needs appropriate maintenance e.g. dredging – must be able to access the river safely. Medway and Swale boating association has tried to be an umbrella organisation. Could we have something similar to Medway green-space forum? Culture/tours/history and the river: could have a guided walk along the river bank, with funding for hidden gems along the river, not just for the historic dockyard etc. (there are lots!) River festivals could include the Tall ships race procession, a boat festival to connect all Medway towns possibly as part of a bigger festival with events to echo what the dockyard does but not inside dockyard i.e. free

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Starting a Friends of the River group are:

• Sarah Tranter – chair of city centre forum • Stewart Tucker – a councillor, who feels the River is a cultural centre, feels council

are missing this and an entry on the bridge • Robert Tucker Film-maker London to Medway. Really wants discussion. Met lots of

‘do-er’ contacts [List of emails of those signed up is recorded separately]

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D How can we make the council acknowledge and properly support and work with Medway artists? We need

• a large art gallery for local artists (reasonably priced/free) • promotion of local artists and art groups: a publication: online forums; Medway

artists website; value and use local artists for local festivals and events • Funding! e.g. to afford local galleries/studios and a marketing budget • Support for artists • Articulating the economic value of what we are doing, and contribution to enrich

people’s lives in the area • Local recruitment of local artists, curators, etc. for cultural events • a creative consortium to have a group, single lobbying voice • Facility for bids to be made to council by artists and groups • Council to facilitate regular meetings like this for local artists to all meet and plan

together, rather than in many disparate groups so everyone could add to the narrative and formulate a legacy from which we would all benefit

• Empower artists – we’re stronger together • Engagement with Council . . . argue the economic value of cultural

interventions . . . regeneration • More opportunities for young people within the cultural sphere • Political pressure; write to local councillors etc. – what are we lobbying for? USP? • NEW MODEL TO BRING FUNDING SUPPORT TO THE ARTISTS COMMUNITY

WHERE A BID INCLUDING ALL PROJECTS IS WRITTEN BY COUNCIL WITH NARRATIVE FROM ARTISTS PROJECTS and match support from council

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E Venues Original brief: A world class arts centre with a permanent collection of Medway’s best artists (past and present), cinema and theatre space and performance venues Arts centre in Rochester CTF Affordable and free venues for music, performance, community events and affordable art spaces for all

Need a directory/audit of available /affordable venues with ‘bottom-up’ information so e.g. a Facebook page where people upload the info – FACILITATED BY THE COUNCIL and local ambassadors Want the Council to subsidise venues Opportunities for venues that the group identified include:

• Re-using the spaces in Debenham’s stores – for arts/small businesses/presentation

• The Unitarian Church by Chatham station could become an arts centre • Francis Iles space • Castle gardens – music/bands • St Johns Church – Chatham • Connections with Dockyard for venue space • Kings School Hall • Huguenot Museum • Mountbatten House • Pentagon offices

Other needs expressed A recording studio and a live lounge – for other models of music performance in community Through Medway Council – more collaborative working with unis, promoters etc. Affordable art studios – subsidised venue hire – maybe supported by an entry charge More ‘walkabout’ venues Support for South East studios/Medway Open Studios

Opportunities for supporting these needs included: • Local do-ers/creatives, city interest to sit on Medway council arts/culture/meetings/

developments • Balance of local and outside of Medway artists/performers • Arts – development of website • WOW – database and collaborative

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F – FUNDING Original brief: Year-round funding for live performances (in streets!). Give us the funding, the space and the support and we will do it Want to see promotion/collaboration of local artists in the content of the Dickens Festival - not just local dance schools and burger vans How about an art walk? To link Rochester High Street and Dockyard? An art bus? Take people to the art! Guardianship of empty buildings could be a solution - doesn’t have to be long term lets – could be short term ‘pop-up’ residences Culture isn’t about burger bars Bridge over Troubled Water Collaboration is essential - in physical and virtual spaces

Asking council for: • Regular open spaces for artists to find each other • Creation of portal for link-up • ‘Administrative’ education for Medway artists – understanding how to access public

or private spaces • Clauses/policy in landlords ‘freeholds’ from councils – ensuring uninhabited/

unused properties MUST be let to artists for minimum rent and guardianship 1.

Where are the councillors? Suggestion: a public meeting between artists/councillors/landlords List of interested artists was attached – held separately

Money issues Message given is that culture brings monies in Cultural returns are MORE than money – wellbeing/ fulfilment/peace Medway brings in artists from outside – why? Medway is amazing and inspirational and that is why they choose to stay here. But are not recognised and encouraged. Two reasons:

1) There is as yet no economic buying group here 2) Some artists lack skills/ knowledge to speak to money

There are buildings not being used – could these be assigned to artists? Peppercorn rents for artists and artisans could be offered in return for guardianship of spaces

The Challenge

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How to monetise AND give qualitative value to artists’ endeavours An artists co-operative? Lo-cost space Abandon business rates Time is of the essence Get out of our way!

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G MEDWAY WRITING Original brief: How can we collect/celebrate/capture Medway writing – past/present/future (Opportunities for community engagement) Want to incorporate Medway writing past/present/future with a properly funded archive of Medway writers, including their correspondence that is more easily accessible to public – in a separate building to the present one? Needs:

• more publicity about what the MALSC has and where it is • to foreground the council website section about local writers – it exists but nobody

knows it’s there! plus directory of writers who will go into schools and colleges • larger writing community website e.g. library workshops/what’s going on but

overall, Medway also needs a website which captures all the arts listings • Better publicity and more spread out knowledge to let public know what is going

on – people do not read What’s On Medway/council website listings (sorry!) • what about a multi-disciplinary meet-up event? several used to happen • a writers’ room facility – free. Quiet space for writers to access to sit and write • create a Medway anthology series – yearly • a snapshot of writing being done – document the changes in who is writing • a black box theatre facility – above pub, boat? need a cheap/free/subsidised

space - can we make links with local universities to use the rehearsal facilities as a venue? Huguenot auditorium – could we use that gratis?

• a communications hub of some sort • active network • people to go round promoting it • a literature officer post? • could we use something like a Kent cultural baton to go round for a monthly open

shop/surgery to promote all writing activities coming up • arts/cultural section of Medway Messenger on web/in paper

The Medway literary festival – what about the other genres?! Could an alternative be set up that’s not so crime focused? The past/present/future of Medway boat people is an individual project How can we get students involved in local writing activities? Can we introduce writers to the universities for enrichment workshops? maybe a creative writing/journalism crossover – journalism students to review

Funding – we need money to make creative writing happen Why should writing be part of a Medway cultural strategy?

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• to communicate what is important to people? • how that relates to Medway • one of Medway’s unique features is a legacy/history of writing from Dickens

onwards/Medway poets/writers today • writing/literature is part of culture • creative writing leads to wellbeing and life enrichment • are writers self-censoring (e.g. novel/article about homeless people?)? writers may

write about topics the council don’t want to acknowledge? • are people in Medway too insular? writers give us an outlook onto other people

and their views Writing is a bridge with 2-way traffic

• writing/authors about Medway and outside Medway • needs more of a platform for modern writers – not just Dickens • a timeline of other writers with a local link • build on Dickens-mania • a communications hub of some sort to celebrate the achievements/books/etc. of

writers to encourage more people to get into writing • more of a media link to local press • Medway Messenger e.g. is not keen to cover writing stories • want more people to get into writing • bridge between different towns

Issues: • How do we make our footprint bigger? • How do we encourage further diversity? • How do we link up with people/groups? • Should be doing other things e.g. playwrights and poets and novelists • Need a forum/space/meet up - could the council do a quarterly cultural meet-up

event of some sort (like this event!) • needs to be connected: Council > press > writers > people who want to write >

school children >uni students What comes after city of culture – what legacy?

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H MEDWAY FASHION Original brief: Medway Fashion Week to showcase Medway fashion designers (Eddy)

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Medway Fashion

5 designers already Get in touch with cultural fashion shows

Grant Prize

Nucleus arts Designers

Medway fashion week > Facebook Emerging designers Models (aspiring and INCLUSIVE) Make-up artists Hair Photography

Percentage to GOSH

Student designers Showcase their work

Medway fashion week • Charity • Involve young children/students • Why go to London?

UCA make-up students?

Venue? Brompton Academy 22.2.20 6-8pm

Schools in Rochester/ wider Medway

DJs? local bands? gospel groups? comedians?

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I EXTEND THE TOURIST ZONE THROUGHOUT MEDWAY Original brief: Extend the ‘tourist zone’ for culture throughout Medway Audiences > tourists >local towns

Issues Suggestions Commentary

Council website too confusing

One main site needed Medway Matters misses a lot of big events

Transport and signage Coach parking needed

Signage e.g. car park at station to Rochester High Street

Improve tour bus

Chatham traction – could be High Street hop-on/hop-off

Students don’t live locally to Unis

Promoting to under-35s > comms > involvement > events oriented to young people

Marketing to local people • What’s online • The net • Facebook • What’s on where? • Village Voices

Things are happening; the council could just promote these things more OR subsidise existing things e.g. What’s On

Partnerships needed, sense of not feeling included

Medway Swale Estuary partnership

Birdwise

Mid-Kent college (e.g. GlassBox Theatre)

Will Adam Society/Foundation Colony

Students as resource

Local artists and groups > lots of them e.g.

• Kent Creative • Friends of Medway

Archive

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Making more of local festivals

e.g. Will Adams Festival – big in Japan The Chatham School of Artists

Incentives • Local currency

(Medway pound) • Local passport • Time credits for

volunteering

Highlighting local locations of interest in towns/villages

• e.g. Brook Pumping Station

• Upnor • Aircraft builders’

shorts • Admiralty Gardens

in Gillingham (Wardroom)

• Wildlife (RSPB Bird reserves) – car access only

Improving visibility and support for local heritage

Downplayed local heritage – lack of government support

Is this to allow more local development?

Diversifying use of current sites

e.g. events at Dockyard/ Castle Gardens

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J TRANSPORT/SIGNPOSTING/MARKETING

Use description ‘Easy to ignore’ instead of ‘hard to reach’ of potential audiences There are the big festivals – but we need smaller, more regular engagement events: need programmes that lead into festivals and vice versa How do we signpost these? We need to be making use of what we’ve got and create a joined-up approach to youth groups/ cultural groups etc. Also need to be clear that YP arts projects don’t have to address issues Together we have a collective vibrancy Hope – aspiration – world foods What (if any) are £££ benefits of City of Culture Housing companies?

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K ACCESSIBILITY EVENTS Original brief: Engagement in community increases protective factor against adverse childhood experiences/trauma Need accessibility in arts (economic and for ability). Make cultural activities more accessible to families who work but are on low incomes and have little time

Needs include: • Accessibility for those with hidden disabilities e.g. Autism/learning difficulties • Outreach to elderly • More free ‘groups’ – sewing, knitting, art – in cafes/with creche facilities/bars/

community centres • Venues? in the street? schools? going into businesses who buy in, to deliver ‘arts’

workshops to staff – perhaps target more businesses who have a higher proportion of low income learners - follow-up with signposting

• Transport and food and drink – additional costs some can’t afford. Needs consideration

• Signpost > link programmes • Hoo Peninsula needs more [provision] • Physical and accessible needs might include height of performance/door widths • Childcare/access needs for audience AND artists •

Suggestions: Spread the word – there is good practice going on but how to publicise and reach the ‘hard to reach’? Recruit volunteers – people from different backgrounds to assist in running workshops >breakdown of elitist barriers Encourage crossover of diversity events including people from different communities e.g. religion Involve churches, mosques etc. Frame event around things/culture people know Go where people feel comfortable in community If you can’t see it, you can’t be it – highlight inclusivity of artists Rather than trying to cause division, unite all needs – BSL, language, accessible buildings – inclusive

Individual artist’s ideas: • Art sessions for poorer families to be on offer; helps with wellbeing/behaviour

needs/learning/communication about events • Access – not just daytime

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• Going to audiences • Outpatient core support • Common language that resonates • Venues that are accessible to all – incomes/timings/ physical • Geographical spread • Outreach and promotion network • Medway Disability network • Inclusivity • Social prescription • Pentagon empty spaces • Street theatre • Medway art theatre

Care navigators and social prescribers need to be given info on local provision such as knowing MVA directory exists Street theatre enables all to see there is a culture locally and find out how to connect to it - put more on the high street Collaboration can support word of mouth People are nosy – so create a space (public) that is accessible, that brings attention and conversation People with disabilities shouldn’t be segregated Build on what people already know i.e. panto! All work in culture should include outreach as part of the programme i.e. taster days – MCH, schools, youth clubs, care homes, heritage sites, libraries Council to distribute more info – something like the homelessness leaflet printed quarterly – therefore there can be rules[sic??] followed by submissions – organisations can print themselves Mental health – environments support wellbeing Reduce barriers by reduced tickets for those with lower incomes or from families on lower incomes An App that supports carpooling (future codes could be developed) Improving access – attitudeiseverything.org.uk >> charter of best practice >> access >> ticketing without barriers

Key points for accessibility in the arts • About cost of time, not just financial • Take creativity to people – mobile art, taster sessions, hospital galleries • Common language used that resonates • Schedule of events to include evenings • Spread word of good practice and what is going on • Workshops should not have to be specific to a need – but accessible to ALL • Use models – opportunities to see role models/mentoring • Opportunities to showcase ‘amateur’ and production in public/common places • Marketing through ‘appropriate’ channels including languages

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• Opportunities for ‘social mixing’ >> weekends

Vision Capital of diversion, inclusion, intersectionality

• Day-to-day • Through Festivals • Attract ‘industry’ – specialist/businesses around [??] topic > money/funding • It’s important, it’s getting more and more attention in society – Medway would be

the first and only such ‘capital’ Individual with specific concern: lack of access for those who are deaf:

• British Sign Language • Deaf awareness • Deaf culture • Medway Council website has no BSL film • 1 in 6 > deaf/hearing impaired • Captions • Deaf artists/BSL interpreters • BSL guide tours, family activities, events - more deaf-led • See and create www.seeandcreate.org.uk • Deaf arts festival – deaf-led • BSL art club • Young deaf people • New families for newborn deaf child • Art team to support deaf and disabled artists as Medway and Kent i.e.SHAPE arts

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Elitist art – overcoming it Get the message/word out what do we have to offer? physical disability work together share findings with whole of Kent

accessibility CIC Facebook groups >supportive of arts inclusivity of others confidence is a big thing signposting doing/running workshops going into business with providers ‘If they can do it, I can do it!’ Connecting with social media deaf culture listen – talk to others unemployed able-bodied people engage in non-abled physical activities tidy up Luton Arches street theatre disabled theatre – normalising it mixing doesn’t take place battling to get entitlement from the council raising disability awareness community cohesion > common language > visual sign > other sharing skills helps with wellbeing/behaviour issues/learning needs art sessions for poorer families specific group knit [??] deaf – part of programme subsidised/free art accessibility affordability deaf families hard to promote arts access/childcare for audiences/actors schedule of events including evenings go to people – outreach arts spreading the word of good practice pentagon empty spaces full space for chairs

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wheelchair accessibility mobile art

page 2 Elitist art (overcoming it) Join in the ice rink! Take notice Gardening installations work advertising will encourage others Art can’t be accessed due to deprivation# Many workshops/signpost > outside workshops central website, not council-run but council-funded! websites can be overwhelming food recommendations more pressing – how time is spent and related language is important/accessible some people not on social media – use radio/ papers/ flyers through doors shared theatres work with excluded families gallery in a hospital or brought to beds GP database put info into people’s hands you> extending profiles awareness more street theatre if people can see themselves in the artist – can connect have to come here – barrier Theattre 31 – shared theatre Shepway/Kent authenticity middle classes not responded to social prescription interaction with others hospitals good place to target people > help – lunch and lego – free access – parking – social

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L Creative Legacy Original brief: Leaving a Creative Legacy Culture – includes dance/art/music/literature/in schools and should be apolitical – need to be able to recognise it – PRIDE Needs:

• Galleries in libraries (again – bring ‘em back, please) • Cultural magazine – funded/ online publications • Permanent space – physical/experience/energy/interactive/across Medway/online • Place-making – the museum has a big role • Create a legacy capsule • Community cohesion – support and nourish Medway creatives to feed this

Culture should include: • Music/songs/writing/film/visual arts/books/memory • Shared language(s) • Legacy celebration • Maintaining partnerships • Cultural entitlement – via museum

There could be a commitment to give every Medway primary pupil high quality cultural engagement at least twice a year (museum, arts, theatre, music, learning, opera, grime – the full gamut

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M ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND CULTURE Original brief: Holding annual Festival of Culture and Faith to celebrate our diversity This could celebrate the diversity of the different communities in Medway promoting inclusion (arts, music, dance, food, customs etc.) Location? – multi locations Move around different areas, including those less visited Maintain community engagement by follow-up events e.g. workshops and other events to promote continuity of dialogue and engagement Central signposting to other organisations and events of interest to promote this inclusive ethos

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N HOW CAN MEDWAY SUPPORT GRASS ROOTS MUSIC? Original brief: Support grass roots music across Medway. How does the council do this? (Mo) Instead of funding headline events (Castle Concerts) could funding be diverted to support similar efforts? Support for young people’s musical tuition – inside/outside of schools. How can this be prioritised across Medway? Ask of Medway Council

• what venues exist from Council or that Council can facilitate? • are the Council willing to work with local organisations to use Council facilities for

local venues? • a central Council contact would be useful for organisations to work with – ‘can do’

attitude and help with logistics/regulations etc.? There is little or no advertising events that are put on independently - could there be a website to upload events (similar to Kent online) for music events? Need a process for production and display of advertising banners and are currently stopped from advertising non-Council events at libraries etc. – why not accept posters, fliers etc. and could there be an opportunity to include local events in What’s On – either directly or as an add-on? (inset etc.) Could RAFA Club be used for local gigs? Good location and basic facilities that could be improved. Making this available for use would be good for event organisers. This is all a lot less about ‘funding’ and more about ‘attitude’

Music contact from Careful Now attached

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O MEDWAY FRINGE Medway Fringe Festival would need:

• Funding Opportunities • Venues • Venues with infrastructure i.e. PA • Match funding • Sponsorship

Would/could include: • Music • Comedy • Speech • Political edge? Social aspects of Dickens underrepresented

Need support to make things happen – facilitators to encourage networks and support grass roots, with communication about opportunities and support. Help to join things up and connect people who organise/deliver music, stand-up etc. Support communication on events/organisation/programming so less will clash Support things that are less cosy –there are two sides to Dickens – dressing-up and Victorian look versus social issues and difficult topics in Dickens’ work

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Agenda topics for session 2:

A Redeem carbon emissions by 2030. How?

B Make ‘five a day’ a regional/national initiative. Facebook – search for ‘five a day’

C 1 Create spaces for artists (especially young ones) to work and show their work – using empty shops in the High Street. 2 Use and promotion of heritage sites for dance music, performance etc Studios reasonably priced (Trish, TF)

D Change Chatham Unitarian Church to Community Centre Interfaith library, gallery space and rehearsal space. (Beryl)

E 1 Trail similar to SNAIL SPACE in Brighton – but use lions (a Rochester symbol) = TRAIL of model snails PAINTED BY LOCAL ARTSISTS self guidedself-guided walk, leaflet/website 2 How can we connect the Medway towns with a cultural trail?

F Expand festivals from Sweeps to folk festival, and Dickens to a theatre festival

G 1 Developing arts across Medway beyond Rochester. 2 A ‘Turner’ style gallery in Chatham

H Preferential rates for green/recycled, re-use shopkeepers for food, clothes, furniture etc.

I Supporting independent retailers and making Rochester for local people and not just tourists e.g. pop up shop for artists, similar to Faversham (Claire A)

J Actively support and acknowledge that Medway has sister city partnerships with Ito and Yokosuka in Japan

K 1 Diversity in culture – ethnicity, BAME etc (Natasha) 2 Improve BAME strategies in Medway inc BAME groups for young people.

L How can ‘culture’ be used to build social capital and trust? (Chris)

M Combined display outside and multi-cultural art exhibition including children across Kent

N WHAT GETS MY GOAT

O Financial support for local artists and art groups (Trish F) Large gallery free to local artists (Trish F)

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AGENDA NOTES - Session 2

A Sustainability, carbon reduction - Redeem carbon emissions by 2030. How? Sheet 1 How do we change peoples’ attitudes? Campaign to re-install tariffs re. solar panels and installation, plus overview and scrutiny - committee Making areas national parks and eco-housing - including science labs, unis Link with architecture – get rid of plastic cups Universities and MPs involved in initiatives Council must be plastic free Could be used on the peninsula Greenwich Village – there’s eco-housing technology there (https://www.greenwichmillenniumvillage.co.uk/masterplan) Use bars of soaps to effect change. Get? activists? over – Talk to LA councillors To connect Youth Parliament pressure collective working groups, linking concerned organisations – inc charities, RSPB, dockyard works, Watts Meadow – campaign groups. Pensions investing in fossil fuels Become a member of Climate Rebellion! Revitalising formal heritage sites plus overview and scrutiny Energy plan – using river to generate power – in small ways. Ecology/ local action plan to produce sustainable energy for 2020/2030. Happened in Romania To stop building – public opposition.

Sheet 2 Reduce common emission by 2030. How - positives Collected into theme lists: Brownfield sites could be used for wildlife. A lot of land for planting trees. Diverse woodlands tree planting. Does Medway have a tree preservation officer? Trees help with pollution Links with mental health Nightingale community at Chatham station

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River taxis

LA should take control of buses/electric – other European cities: bus stops link areas. Trams/electric connect town centre – climate emergency Train services – bus cars between Medway towns, shuttle. Recycling areas everywhere – flats have one, streets have one. LA should not charge to collect mattresses and fridges. Swiss – only use electric car. In Lille buses, LCD (?) advertised and turn up. Ban combustion engines Medway plastic waste reduction – talking to businesses Reduce the number of cars, cheap local transport.

Plastic can be used as flower pots Sheet 3 Reduce common emission by 2030. How – negatives Air pollution high on pollution scale. Power 16. Unitary authorities Veto new builds if not in line with environment. Medway Council planning in connection with carbon emissions Landfill emits methane – global warming, gas flammable. How is plastic recycled? Can’t use it for initial purpose – it gradually biodegrades. Housing stick – not got proper bins or storage. Trees are chopped down in Medway.

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Plastic bins problem. Buses, cars, lorries, and congestion causing pollution, linked to geography. Terraced housing – no recycling facilities. Nitrogen oxide turns in to nitric acid. Rubbish strewn everywhere Council disconnected Urban foxes, cats afraid to go out. Sulphur dioxide turns into sulphuric acid in lungs

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B ‘Five a day’ initiative Save the planet from plastic waste

Ideas to diffuse the scheme 2. Make cleanliness pay by upscaling the demonstration project on the Great lines

which contributed £10000 to the Council’s purse in direct costs plus ££ in opportunity/waste/indirect costs.

3. Make litter picking sexy – ‘altruism does not work’ 4. ‘Chat and pick’ – making it social 5. Specific leaflet or inclusion within existing council comms from Medway Council. 6. Cut the cost of dumping by small commercial vehicles. 7. Spread the concept of ‘five a day’ via social media, the big screen at Chatham, on

bins, on recycling bins, Facebook 8. ‘Feed me’ on the recycling bins. 9. Encourage better practices by working on the supermarkets directly. 10. Reduce consumption of plastic generally. 11. ‘Crazy frog’ on recycling bins. 12. Link with ‘plastic free Medway’ 13. All festivals in Medway to be plastic free. 14. Extend Girl Guides good practice ‘plastic promise’. Agenda Briefing ‘five a day’ Ideas Obstacles Pragmatism

Obstacles to adoption/diffusion Families and culture ‘if mum and dad do it it’s okay for me to do it’ ‘Can’t afford it’ Habits – dump and run, laziness Commercial activity – we must impact the supermarkets, packaging obsession Confusion over recycling labels – ignorance about labels, how does it affect me? ‘Too difficult’

Practical actions to move faster/more effectively 15. ‘The fish rots from the head’ – show leadership by starting with Council by ‘making

plastic history’ 16. Provide other opportunities to recycle other plastics so it’s not so difficult to make a

decision. 17. Start early with schools – needs to be on an individual academy basis.

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18. Improve awareness and availability of drop-off points. 19. ‘If it’s not easy it won’t happen’ so make it easier to act environmentally in every

way. 20. Increase Nicola Moy’s ‘litter picking’ experiment. 21. ‘Keep Britain Clean and Green’

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C2 Affordable spaces for artists 1 Create spaces for artists (especially young ones) to work and show their work – using empty shops in the High Street. 2 Use and promotion of heritage sites for dance music, performance etc Studios reasonably priced (Trish, TF)

Original brief: Free venues for arts events/rehearsals e.g. orchestras Need more blue sky thinking Different venues hosting cultural activities e-mail subscription list to promote events/opportunities/offerings in one clear location More council support needed.

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D2 Create community arts space in Unitarian Church Non-designated heritage status Architectural oversight of graveyard Underfloor insulation Rehearsal space, exhibition space, events and workshops, holiday activities for children, concerts, WEA, U3A, poetry readings, after school activities, NHS use, social activities

Unitarian church • Create lay-by for drop-offs • Sloping zigzag path for disabled • Remove gravestones to boundary wall • Community garden • New heating and lighting • New flooring • New disabled lavatory • New roof (to lavatory?) • Secondary double glazing • Inner wall insulation • Solar panels, heat extraction, wind power.

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E2 Cultural trail connecting Medway towns

Connections/infrastructure Open top bus (hop on hop off) River walks, part of coastal walk (Natural England) consultation Board walk along river River bus Reopen local piers and ramps Thematic tours Use lighting e.g. waterfront bridge Safe pedestrian access City of culture project – could be part of this Trails using smart phones e.g. bar code/QR code like walls and gardens app in Fort Amherst Better publicity for what’s on Use social media/online media Need a way to publicise non-Medway Council events Connected with public transport Publicity and information so you might have info at stations

PROBLEMS 1. Accessible 2. Safe 3. Lack of information and awareness GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 4. Tree planting to enhance streetscape and green the environment 5. Urban greening, green walls 6. Need to engage all of Medway’s communities and to include marginalised

communities

Types of tours History/architecture Dickens tour Great lines/lower lines/Fort Amherst tour 7. Command of the…. Green tours – wildlife. Celebrate Green Flag parks, link via green corridor along Luton Road to Chatham centre through Millennium Green Horstead Valley trails More interpretation/signposting (like London’s Jubilee walks)

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Local arts and artists Tall ships Medway walking festival – see Old Chalk New Downs website Food and drink festival Music festival Night/evening open studios – use lighting, use empty shops and display space. Digital apps to give info about what’s on. ‘Alternative’ maps to look at smaller spaces/trails. Eg. Rede Common. Green spaces map, something to link up and promote the green spaces.

Snail trail like ‘snail space’ in Brighton, connecting tours Lion train – sculpture Local artists paint sculptures e.g. of lions (an emblem mascot of Rochester), placed around Medway Trail based on these Will introduce people to less ‘touristy’ parts of Medway Local schools can take ownership of a sculpture/lion to decorate it Create a sense of identity and ownership of local communities.

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F2 Expand festivals to Sweeps – folk festival, Dickens – theatre festival

Next steps Co-ordination Joining dots of festivals Respecting the flavour of each festival but expanding these Expanding festivals geographically Reflective of a collective voice Shared knowledge collaboration focus on culture

Dickens Fringe festival same weekend of Dickens festival

Heritage/culture Strat (?) – civic society Bill Philip Cain – sweeps Jay – Rochester lit festival, critic genre Assan – Dance alley, Chinese assoc. Nikki Price – photographer, Medway open studios Jo Henderson – lecturer in cultural com festivals

What’s on – no idea what is going on Nobody pulls everything together Medway music global Homespun music festival – 4 years running, Rob, 72 local bands over a weekend Medway Music festival – Billabong, Theatre Royal Loss of good intent Working groups with council Loss of Fuse Festival Lots of small events but lack of support in scaling up Medway Champions Mentoring – enabling people to stop up to participate WOW magazine

Table F second session Expanding current festivals. In a nutshell, this table was an amazing team of people who organise events and festivals with no input from the Council. Just thing what you could do TOGETHER!

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G2 Developing arts beyond Rochester 1 Developing arts across Medway beyond Rochester. 2 A ‘Turner’ style gallery in Chatham

P1 Take arts to the whole of Medway e.g. across Hoo Peninsular/Upnor Live music e.g. Oast House Rainham – tradition/lack of venues > station towns, possible extension Community outreach – replicate All Hallows Church Project P2 Art and culture event Rochester – satellite elements to other towns/communities across Medway.

Promotion: Possible Cultural Centre in Chatham e.g. Turner Margate style venue for non-theatrical arts e.g. top floor Pentagon. P3 – Why Medway wide: • Improve wellbeing • Develop local economy • Inclusivity (even this workshop is in Rochester). Richness ACROSS Medway. Build on what got and make more accessible e.g. • Cultural trail • Improved communication • United Medway • Perception of engaging with the ‘arts’

P4 Link in with Universities UCA – UK/Greenwich, Christchurch 40.Artist studies across Medway, not just Rochester Infrastructure to support artists Transport accessibility – cost… Arts – riched (?) – regular attendees at events Idea of street theatre to raise profile Local champions for sharing across social media – networking.

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P5 improve identity of Medway rather than ‘5 grubby towns’. The area is changing – needs an infrastructure to bring together and extend cultural identity. Build on existing non-Medway Council festivals ie what communities already do eg Rainham Beer Festival. Change culture of Medway so that Rochester person identifies self as part of Medway. Take what belongs to 1 community to another community in Medway – raise profile.

P6 Identify any other locality that has closely located towns like Medway and see how they make a unified identity work. Improve Medway reputation – Medway is defined as developed (kids get lower Uni offers because of this) Ebbsfleet Development Corp (building 7 communities and remit is to build community identity) – they’re doing interesting community consultations.

Funding e.g. creative ideas fund – facility for it to be easier for small organisations to apply for money. Redistribute Castle concerts money locally.

P7 Brook Theatre – increase use of space The Alternative Wigmore Lectures e.g. aimed at younger people, e.g. located at University site – widening participation agenda Use the High Streets – dockyard area, dockyard outlet area Will Adams festival – increase anticipation of something happening in High Street – USP

USP for Medway as a city of culture Replace mass produced retailers that are failing with – Artisan led retail opportunities across ALL Medway. Artists and being sustainable across Medway. Live performance. Local arts – visual and performing Being successful and sustainable locally Lower business rate would encourage business success

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H2 and I2 Preferential rates for recycling in retail and support independent retailers, not just through tourists

Preferential rates for green/recycled, re-use shopkeepers for food, clothes, furniture etc. Preferential rates for supporting independent retailers. Would promote a more diverse hight street that would enable a more artistic community. Green retailers could get discounted rates if they could demonstrate greenness. Council could encourage landlords to give shorter leases – similar scheme in Chatham where council takes head lease and then sublets on better terms. Encourage diversity. Can council change level of rates? Involvement with innovation – hub in high St?

Problems Solutions

Rochester High St isn’t the best destination for local shopping

Reduced rate (Chatham High St model) for local businesses for local residents (for Indi new types of biz, not barbers etc)

Ends of High St needs regeneration Reduced parking fees for Medway residents (or reduced)

Lack of useful services Understand how central gov can keep funding (small biz minister is local MP)

Shops not open when people are around Or compromises for younger generation/new entrants

Lots of charity shops, barbers and estate agents

Council supported CIC shop that allows pop ups for artists (Tamsin already wants to set this up, wants council support)

Traffic order on low lane not enforced on Xmas Dickens festival

More cash machines (free cash withdrawals)

Local currency card eg love Rochester

Encourage Sunday opening by shows and a late night shopping night

Free Sunday parking all year round

More part and rides (more locations)

Incentivise midweek shopping

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I Supporting independent retailers and making Rochester for local people and not just tourists e.g. pop up shop for artists, similar to Faversham (Claire A) Cultural development fund 4.3 million • Whistable Biennial, Cement Field • Metal • University of Kent • Medway Council

Innovation centre – start ups. To help revitalise retail in High Street.

I Taylor Made

Rochester retail week – market stalls, late night, café offers.

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J2 Japan partnership – sister city, build on.

Actively support and acknowledge that Medway has sister city partnerships with Ito and Yokosuka in Japan Susan Haydock Letters of support from officers – who? Advertise tours of ITO and Yokosuka designed for Medway residents. Making contact with Japanese in Medway.

Support for Japanese links Commitment from councillors Adult ed language course Further ed – improve links with Japanese Society in local universities. Does not have to cost money. Utilize willing volunteers – local businesses Joined up thinking with existing contacts Visit Kent – tourists encouraged to come to Medway Information in Japanese Attract businesses – get financial help Resurrect art exchange – schools Art groups – dementia groups Council links businesses, Japan, tourism, schools and artists together. 2020 practitioners, 400th anniversary of death of William Adams

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K2 Diversity including improved young people/BAME provision

1 Diversity in culture – ethnicity, BAME etc (Natasha) 2 Improve BAME strategies in Medway inc BAME groups for young people. Do not prescribe what culture is – for some it can be meeting in a park and getting to know your community – better holistically for communities anyway. Ensure educators understand the culture of the area Explore improved engagement in diverse cultures within schools and government Support children to have a voice and talk about their own culture and background Explore people’s identities and celebrate them. Support organisations to open spaces in diverse areas ie make it easier to use empty shops and rent them out so grassroots orgs can make things happen in places like Luton. Call outs to be specific (commissions) Understand not everyone reads English! Or can read. Use children’s centres, parks, libraries Picnics are cultural and embrace all Diversity does not mean black! Support a framework that enables people to organise provisions that are truly diverse. Celebrate the richness of the culture. The story of migration in Medway – people who left to do amazing things, and people who came to do amazing things. Don’t try to change – embrace. Culture is something we engage with every day. More value put on connection through culture Make culture relatable. Culture can celebrate the unique history of Medway Culture should include everyday life – food, dress, humour. Bring shared history together. Culture should include nourishment and food. Great way to engage individuals. Focus on what we have in common Should not be one off events Medway is not just Dickens festival Young people do not identify with Dickens Events are not representative of the younger population Historians should tell the true history and culture of Medway Recognise the future of culture – diverse population More opportunities for people from other cultures to create Everyone has their own culture and cultural history

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C should be about people, all should be able to identify This creates a holistic view on how people are viewed Promoted in ‘non-cultural’ places like train station, hospitals etc Cross cultural Also should include awareness of others ad backgrounds To include health Real changes, not tokenistic.

Celebrate the culture of Medway Things you didn’t know about Medway? Defining Medway culture?

Culture should not be dipped in and out of, it should be in the fabric of list Community inclusivity Educate rather than judge Event – great cultural bake off – music, food from different cultures and people are invited to come along and try other culture foods – farmers market Reaching out to local communities • Not all have access to social media 41. Not all speak English Crap dinner club Culture is much more diverse than face value and arts Should be about the people (and language) not arts! Holistic view Offer a group to connect No assumptions Inclusiveness -disability, connect and understand Intersectional Non-cultural Connecting rather than isolating More than ticking a box or filling a quota, these groups are people, not numbers/statistics Where are BAME outlets More than white mans Dickens festival Not telling the true story of the diversity De-centralisation of Rochester, we need to hear their stories and support them Rich culture of Medway being forgotten Immigration/migration – toxicity > get it gone Stigmas

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L2 Culture > social capital How can ‘culture’ be used to build social capital and trust? (Chris) Culture and social capital

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M2 Outside/multicultural/children’s exhibition

Combined display outside and multi-cultural art exhibition including children across Kent Art as expression of self Good for mental health and wellbeing Art as therapy, prevents isolation and depression Nurturing creativity – creative people are problem solvers Creativity builds confidence Cross generational co operation can be extraordinary! Large space – need halls for bad weather Heart Space in Pentagon fully inside Preference fully inclusive across Kent What is art? Who can be included – everyone Why don’t people come to see art in Medway? We need to start small, the big idea will come. Where is the money coming from, how will we fund it? Street based art – access to young people bringing in contemporary art Linking up with youth clubs – Exhibition Space to allow art displays (rec) Chatham – near library – Brook Green Spaces – Paul Carol Making art visible – health and safety – make links with others High St? – Shopping points – pop up festival

Day event in streets works well. Participation events work well. Art trail? Information – publicity – Schools, youth service, social media, funding for Arts magazine? Local media Run by a young panel of people to shape it – they should be able to direct how it looks Overarching theme? What should it be? Talent needs to be brought together, music poetry photography, painting, sculpture etc.

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N2 What gets my goat The relentless focus on Rochester People whinging without actually doing anything to help themselves Culture of negativity e.g. ‘the downer on Chatham’ Council only advertising and supporting their own events/ideas – not for non-council events/ideas Emphasis on building new properties about anything cultural Dickens Festival – no innovation – more of ‘sausage machine’ every year Cultural Partnership meetings – why are they secret? Andy who gets to go on it? How do you get to it? Need clear focus. Access to historic buildings Lack of music venues and joined up ways for live music to happen Emphasis on bringing residents from London into Medway to the detriment of existing Medway residents. Disrespect of MC for its citizens Rochester and Dockyard only ‘Parachuting’ art and culture from outside Medway Undervaluing Medway’s culture and heritage except when MC want to increase brown envelopes Make art accessible to all, not just financially better off.

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O2 Art gallery for local artists Financial support for local artists and art groups (Trish F) Large gallery free to local artists (Trish F) New art gallery purpose build Permanent exhibition of notable local artists’ work, past and present (see blue ink sheet) Free exhibition space for local artists Exchange visits/exhibitions for artists and art groups, collaborating with other parts of the country Coordinator for local venues (audit required) Could be part of a large cultural hub for the area, including music, dance, drama facilities e.g. between the Dockyard and Outlet Could utilise the empty structure opposite the ‘ship and trades’. Hang a ‘tent’ from the structure, not damaging it, which could be a work of art in itself, and use it as a gallery in which more art would be hung.

Blue ink sheet A competition for architects to design and iconic building, a cultural hub, to house an art gallery, theatre, concert venue, creative workshops etc. A building such as this would put Medway on the map as a place to visit and spend money. It would also help to regenerate our High Streets and attract more commercial enterprises such as retail outlets or other quality enterprises. This gallery would also be a showcase for established artists of repute such as Evelyn Dunbar (well known WW2 artist), Billy Childish, Turner, Zandra Rhodes, Tracey Emin (KIAD UCA) and many others, at the same time as supporting local artists.

Funding for local artists Council needs an officer to coordinate what is in the area already and fund. Utilise empty spaces and properties for studios/galleries – cost free! Or for a reasonable cost. This would rejuvenate the High Streets. Free gallery space for up and coming local artists. A strategy for renovation and rejuvenation for the benefit of artists and the whole community

Large theatre spaces where ‘West End’ shows can be tried out before moving to London… Would include workshop space so local artists can work with first class professionals.

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and finally… (a note that appeared out of session)

Could a similar event be held for school teachers (of art, music, dance etc) so that they can encourage their pupils to be involved in ‘community arts’. Kids love being arty and musical etc at school but it so often stops at the school gate. Then in 10-20 years time the age profile of those involved in activities, in audience, in meetings like today will be more evenly spread (i.e. including more young adults). Andy Millest

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