Arts Engagement & Outreach: August 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.

Our Arts Engagement & Outreach team look to provide more opportunities for our communities to watch, take part and benefit from arts and cultural activities where they live.

This August we have been all over the South of Somerset, with our Creative Play Days taking us into Yeovil, Wincanton, Langport and Chard which saw over 4,700 people enjoy circus skills, music making workshops, creative crafts, face painting and live theatre performances. Plus, our venue was alive with 110 young people taking part in our series of 3 week-long Performance Summer Schools, read more below……

Arts for Health & Wellbeing

Planning full steam ahead for the Somerset Wellbeing Orchestra

After a successful pilot in Spring 2024, we are excited to share the news that these transformative weekly sessions will be returning to Somerset this Autumn. The Octagon & Westlands are working in partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO), ARK at Egwood and W.A.T.C.H. Project Chard, to deliver weekly music making sessions led by musicians from BSO. Sessions are open to adults facing mental health challenges, and are a chance to learn new skills, make new connections and friendships, and improve confidence and overall wellbeing - all through the power of music.

“This project has been a magical, life changing experience for me.”  Participant

Octagon Academy: Participate

Creative Summer Schools make an impression to over 80 young people

This August, Westlands Entertainment Venue played host to 3 incredible week-long Summer Schools.  10 practitioners from ZooNation Dance Company, Castaway Theatre Group and Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company spent a total of 95 hours providing a safe creative space for 88 young people to make puppets, write songs, learn dances and develop shows to perform to family and friends. 

Participants came from across Somerset, leading to opportunities for them to forge new friendships and work together to gain confidence as each week developed. Additional SEN staffing was provided meaning that every young person that attended got the support that they required. Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership’s (SASP), Happy Healthy Holidays Somerset Fund enabled 32 young people to attend free of charge, making the activities totally accessible to all regardless of any barriers that they may face.

Feedback voiced from participants, parents and carers proved that the activities on offer were a great success, with participants expressing they felt inspired, positive and challenged.  Family members were amazed with the quality of work produced in just one week, along with the gratitude of their loved one being so supported during the week.

 “Thank you to all of the team for making me feel, relaxed, motivated, confident in doing two shows and for making me feel I can be me.” Participant

A summer of creative fun for all the community

Magic beans, giant 13ft puppet, circus performers, face painting, fire juggling, a moving shed and a puppet rat living in a giant pink wheelie bin were just some of the highlights from our summer of Creative Play Days. This summer has seen over 4,700 people from across South Somerset come together to have a day of full of creative fun and entertainment all for FREE!! Our Creative Play Days took place in parks and community settings within Yeovil, Wincanton, Langport and Chard. Families spent the day together learning circus skills, attending music making workshops, designing magic beans, golden eggs, golden paper plate geese and clay beanstalks. Families could also watch live theatre provided by four different theatre companies: Tit for Tat Theatre Circus Co., The Last Baguette Co,, AkA Dance Theatre, and Autin Dance Theatre. Members of the community commented on how it was great to have an event that brought the community together.‘

Lots of fun – a lovely variety of activities – Thank you’ – Community member

Access & Inclusion Schemes

Giving everyone the opportunity to experience the joy of the arts

We are delighted to have launched our Accessible Ticket Scheme for those in the community on low income who might not be able to attend performances otherwise. We have partnered with Abri housing to be able to offer their customers as well as the wider community £3 tickets to selected performances at Westlands Entertainment Venue. From comedy to music, from plays to dance, and not forgetting our legendary pantomime, we will be offering hundreds of affordable tickets and unlocking the magic of live performance. This initiative enables residents from across the South West the opportunity to have new experiences, whilst bringing people together, combating loneliness, changing perceptions of place, positively impacting mental health and wellbeing, all through the joy of the arts.

“I can't thank you enough for the opportunity to take my grandchildren to see the pantomime. We all had a great time and made special memories, I couldn't have afforded it on my own."  Abri customer

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.