Y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, y Gymraeg a Chwaraeon

Adolygiad Polisi: Cyfraniad y Celfyddydau a Chwaraeon at Adfywio Cymunedol

Caerphilly CCBC

As an Arts Development Officer (for Caerphilly CCBC) I have used arts projects to great effect to help with community regeneration schemes. One of the projects I would like to highlight is the Arts Council of Wales' "Night Out" scheme - a partnership with local authorities that enables small community groups to stage professional touring arts performances in a local venue - at no risk to the promoters. I work very closely with our Communities First officers and understand that sometimes community confidence is so low that it is difficult to generate enthusiasm for serving on a local partnership group. Staging arts performances can be a "soft" approach to help bring a community together and prepare the ground for the development of a partnership board. In my spare time, I am the Vice-Chairman of the Llanhilleth Partnership (in Blaenau Gwent). The Llanhilleth ward has four distinct communities that do not work very well together. Central to our community plan is the development of a new school and the refurbishment of the Llanhilleth Institute as a community venue. In order to help generate interest in the work of the Partnership and to develop community use of the new facilities, we are staging "Night Out" performances in each of the communities, co-promoting the events with local voluntary organisations. This has included a performance for very young children in Llanhilleth (Pinocchio by the Sherman Theatre Compan) in collaboration with Brynhyfryd School; a show for young families in Brynithel (Paddy the Clown) in collaboration with the Rugby Club and a show for adults and older children in Swffryd (Green Ginger's puppet show "Frank Einstein") in collaboration with the Community Centre. A further show aimed at an older audience ("An Evening with Isla St Clair") is planned for Aberbeeg later this year. The events have been very well-attended and have given us the opportunity to display Communities first promotional material and to distribute questionnaires helping with research into local needs. This has given us access to many more people than the ones who would have attended a public meeting. The events also generate goodwill and a feeling that something is happening in areas that have often felt neglected. The success of these events has also helped raise community confidence. The Night Out scheme is an excellent example of how the arts can reach the most isolated and economically depressed communities. It is one of the best (and most democratic) schemes promoted by the Arts Council of Wales, but one that is still underused in many areas. Kate Strudwick
Arts Development Officer, Caerphilly County Borough Council