Arts Engagement & Outreach: April 2025 News

Arts Engagement & Outreach: April 2025 News

Here’s a taste of what our Arts Engagement & Outreach team at The Octagon & Westlands have been busy working on this month…

Our Arts Engagement & Outreach team develop and deliver programmes and activities that benefit health and wellbeing, enrich learning and education in and outside school, inspire and celebrate talent. Creating work that will support local artists and tell “local stories”. In everything we do and programme we will seek to improve inclusion and remove barriers, whatever they may be, so that everyone is able to enjoy and benefit from the creative arts.

This April, we partnered with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) to deliver creative music workshops to over 340 students; 36 young people unleashed their creativity and imagination through our ‘Play in a Day’ and ‘Drama for All’ sessions; over 280 people of all ages lit up our stage through the power of voice; with our Work Experience Week inspiring the next generation of industry leaders! Read more below…

Participation

Unleashing Creativity

During the Easter holidays, with support from SASP’s (Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership) Happy Healthy Holidays scheme and funding from the Somerset Inclusion Fund, we ran two inclusive activities supporting 36 young people to explore the imaginations.

On Saturday 12th April we hosted a day of drama workshops, led by experienced inclusivity champion and facilitator Donna Osmond. The workshops were perfect for those wanting to try a drama class for the first time, great fun was had with three different age groups and enabling, for some, their first experience of working in this way. Thanks to the Somerset Inclusion Fund, we were able to promote these workshops widely and keep them affordable.

On Wednesday 16th April, we delivered another popular ‘Play in a Day’ workshop for 7–12-year-olds. To the theme of ‘Fairy Tale Villains Take Over!’, young participants of varying experience and abilities worked as a team to create a fun, animated piece of theatre, which they proudly shared with family and friends at the end of the day. Funding enabled 18 young people to attend free of charge, positively impacting them and their families.

'Good behaviour management, nice bunch of kids, facilitators very skilled and excellent warm inclusive energy.  Excellent.'  Parent of participant

Bringing the community together through the joy of singing

The annual A Festival of Song returned to Westlands Entertainment Venue on Wednesday 2nd April, bringing together choirs of all ages for a joyful celebration of singing. This year’s event featured 280 performers from local schools and community choirs, including: The Octagon Choir, St Michael’s Academy, The People’s Choir Yeovil, Kingfisher Primary School, Phoenix Voices, Neroche Primary School, The Ilminster Belles, Milborne Port Primary, South Somerset Community Choir, and Octagon Junior Choir. This much-loved community celebration offers local groups the chance to showcase their talents and enjoy the performances of others.

'It is always such a joy to take part and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute! We were so impressed by the efficient organisation, attention to detail and the level of support you provided to all groups. This made us feel looked after, respected and valued and of course, helped our singing!' Choir Leader

Artist Support

Showcasing and celebrating local talent

Over the past 12 months, our Piano Nights and Acoustic Afternoons have grown into much-loved fixtures in our calendar. In the past year, we have hosted 20 events, featuring 14 outstanding musicians from Yeovil and beyond. Audiences have enjoyed a rich mix of genres, from classical and jazz piano to soulful acoustic sets, performed by talented local and emerging artists. These events provided a welcoming and intimate setting in our Lounge Bar at Westlands, strengthening connections within our community and offering a supportive platform for performers.

‘Those Piano Nights are more than a bit special. A straightforward yet brilliant concept; set up a grand piano in Westlands' Lounge Bar, & while away a relaxing evening with good drink good food & good company. Against a backdrop of, well, as the Westlands website itself puts it...musical elegance. What a treat, on many levels’. Audience Member

Arts for Health & Wellbeing

Music-making in the heart of the community

The Octagon & Westlands are working in partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO), ARK at Egwood and The WATCH Project in Chard, to bring this wonderful music making opportunity to Somerset. Before our summer term sessions commenced, we held a three-hour open session at Chard Rugby Club alongside the WATCH Project open support sessions for isolated adults needing support. These sessions invite anyone to come along, who may need support and empowers them to fulfil their potential through group-led activities. These sessions are the perfect marriage for our open Somerset Wellbeing Orchestra sessions, which enable individuals to try the group and learn more about this uplifting initiative. A total of 10 participants attended, making joyful music together, learning new skills, and forming new connections. The session fostered creativity and significantly boosted participants’ confidence and energy. We are all looking forward to an energising summer term of weekly sessions, accentuated by the exciting possibility of visiting a recording studio this term! 

‘This has been the best few hours today, I feel so much better, I would really like to join the weekly ones. I loved this.’ Open Session Participant

Talent Development

Inspiring the next generation of industry leaders

This month, we were proud to host Work Experience programme for 8 Year 12 and 13 students from across Somerset, offering them a hands-on introduction to the world of theatre and live event management. Running daily from 10am–4pm, the programme gave students a unique opportunity to engage in all areas of venue operations. From front-of-house and technician roles to marketing and venue management. Participants gained valuable insights into the day-to-day running of Westlands and a broader understanding of the UK theatre industry. When we surveyed students at the end of the week, 90% of year 12 & 13 students were more confident about a career in the creative industries after completing our week-long work experience programme.

'I feel the ability to explore so many different areas of a venue I had not considered before' Participant

Creative Learning & Education

Bringing music into schools

Our schools engagement initiative includes collaborating with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) to deliver workshops that introduce children to the various sections of an orchestra, allow them to experience classical music in their own environment and gain a deeper understanding of orchestral music and its components. This month, in partnership with BSO we have brought professional musicians into six primary schools in Somerset, visiting and collaborating with 340 students, collecting imaginative ideas and lyrics to create and compose a brand-new song. Through workshop participation and an online video, students have learnt, practiced and rehearsed the newly composed song, titled ‘Life with a Smile’ which will have its debut at the BSO KS1 Schools Concerts at Westlands on 13th May. Students who have been working with BSO to compose the new song will perform alongside a 14-piece orchestra, where they will hear their musical ideas come to life. This project with BSO has enabled us to strengthen our community partnerships, introduce students and teachers alike to a live orchestra and increase the confidence of the students taking part.

‘The students have loved having the orchestra visit the school. Listening to the music and learning the song has been a really unique experience—they’re so excited to perform at the concert.’ Teacher

To keep up to date with all the activities coming up head over to the What’s On section on our website or check out our Participate page which will link you to all our projects and upcoming opportunities.