Y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, y Gymraeg a Chwaraeon

Adolygiad Polisi: Cyfraniad y Celfyddydau a Chwaraeon at Adfywio Cymunedol

Theatr Fforwm Cymru

The contribution of Arts and Sport to Community Regeneration.

Theatr Fforwm Cymru is an educational charity that has been working in Wales for the past 10 years. It was established in response to a gaping gap in the arts provision available for young unwaged people in West Wales during the early 90’s, and well before the inception of the Lottery! Throughout the past 10 years, call for work and projects from the charity has multiplied hugely, as word of mouth has spread from community group to community group, particularly in relation to the impact that the work has on individuals and groups. However it seems that what "grassroots" groups and individuals recognize as being relevant, accessible and honest, is miles apart from the policy being set by the powers that be. The copious evaluation undertaken by arts groups like ourselves seems too often to fall on deaf ears, with continuing demands for "hard outcomes"; the insinuation being that the arts are in some way soft and therefore have little or low impact on the potential for change. Anyone who thinks the arts are soft should dare to engage in any number of challenging projects that exist! Equally the other argument seems to be that because the arts are in some way subversive, they are too dangerous to touch. For example, forum and legislative theatre (the art form we predominantly work with), is designed to help people identify problems and blocks to their fulfillment, and then to explore possible solutions. Sometimes these problems arise from within the individual themselves, but often the cause is external with potential repercussions for local councils, authorities and/or policy makers etc. Unless there is a commitment for change at this level, these bodies are reticent to engage with organizations like ourselves and certainly reluctant to provide any funding. Examples of how arts projects can contribute to community regeneration abound. Francois Matarrasso’s well-quoted report "Arts, Use or Ornament" is full of documented evidence of the impact of many arts projects. The arts seem to reach the parts that other activities can’t quite manage. We know from our own experience that our work gives people a taste of community in the full sense of the word, a taste that they take with them, a taste that won’t go away. It lubricates the imagination, metaphorically speaks to the heart and soul and ignites a desire for real change……. "The audience became totally engaged in Tony’s story". "Do you leave lights switched on wherever you go."? "Theatr Fforwm is to me - using all the negative things in my life (past and present) positively." "This is the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life so far. It just could have saved my life (really)." "There’s a uniqueness about the techniques that Theatr Fforwm Cymru use. It works." "How can we have this for our organization all the time?" "Your presentation was both powerful and provoking we have received some very positive feedback." "One of Theatr Fforwm Cymru’s strengths is their ability to address issues in a direct, accessible and inclusive way." Your work, "found me and pulled me out of my safety net by making me realize that there is a time to play and it doesn’t lead to humiliation, that there is a time to confront things and this doesn’t lead to aggressive response and attack, and there is a time to be yourself and let go of constraints that have held you in an uncomfortable limbo. In a way it was my knight in shining Armour that let me out of the tower and now I want to let everyone else know how good it is. This does take time though as a lot of people aren’t ready to accept themselves yet and so we have to nurture them slowly until they feel empowered enough to carry their own banner." "I would just like to say that I feel there is a huge potential to explore theatre as a capacity building technique, and as part of our capacity building plan and strategy for the communities of Gurnos, Galon Uchaf and Pennydarren. We will seriously consider theatre and drama as a medium for building the confidence and self-esteem of local people and others involved in the Communities First Programme." Support is needed in a number of ways, the most obvious being resources. The concept of a community that requires regeneration, implies that the inhabitants are in some way atrophying. It takes time, money and creativity to re-ignite the imagination and provoke the desire for change. People will not be "moved" to change, to be motivated, unless we are prepared to engage with them on an emotional level. The arts dare to do that, but there are no quick fixes. The support for projects needs to be sustained in order to promote sustainable, inter-dependant communities. This means risking investment now, knowing that savings will be made later on as individuals within communities begin to take responsibility for their health, their well-being and their capacity to live a sustainable life-style. Examples of best practice already exist and can be shared and utilized within future projects. Mechanisms for bringing artists together would greatly help and could be a rich resource for the creation of further innovation and for identifying and sharing best practice. Further investment in monitoring, evaluating and researching arts projects would also help to measure the long-term gains of involvement with the arts as well as identify examples of best practice. Organisations that already exist, such as Voluntary Arts Wales and Arts Training Wales and the Wales Association of Community Artists, could become key players in helping to co-ordinate this research. On a final note, the evidence is actually already there! so in the words of Augosto Boal, the originator of Forum Theatre, lets "have the courage to be happy!" Gill Dowsett Theatr Fforwm Cymru