Arts Engagement & Outreach: July News

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.

July has seen the return of Yeovil Together, a community event which saw over 1,200 people come to celebrate cultures from all over the world. Plus opportunities for talent development, as we supported a week-long internship in partnership with Exeter Uni and received 11 work experience students, read more below…

Octagon Academy: Participate

Celebrating culture at Yeovil Together

The 14 July saw over 1,200 people enter Westlands Entertainment Venue to join together in a celebration of cultures from all over the world. From stalls offering delicious traditional dishes, to wonderful cultural dances and songs, there was colour and delight everywhere you turned, with lots of creative and cultural activities for all ages to take part in. Our team ran an arts and crafts activity with 150 people making their own ‘Magic Bean’, taking inspiration from our upcoming panto Jack and the Beanstalk. Plus, we ran a ‘Career Treasure Hunt’ that took 50 participants and their families on an adventure around the venue to discover different career opportunities in the arts! We also held a free ‘Creative Career Hunt’ activity, that took nearly 50 people and their families on an adventure around the building to discover different career opportunities in the arts. Yeovil Together 2024 was yet again, a vibrant celebration of togetherness.

“It’s so special to see everyone coming together… and seeing how much our town has to offer… Diversity … Equality … Togetherness”

Incredible and empowering opportunity for the Octagon Junior Choir at The Royal Albert Hall

Our Octagon Junior Choir, young people aged 7-12, has grown in numbers and confidence over the 6 months since its launch. All the hard work and dedication culminated in a concert at The Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday 9th July. Partnering with the renowned classical ensemble Armonico Consort, the 19 young members formed part of a 2000 strong youth choir from across the UK who had all learnt a vibrant mix of songs in several different languages!

The experience for the young people was immense from their very first glimpse of the venue, to them hearing the rapturous applause at the end of the concert, it will be a day they will never forget. Confidence grew, friendships strengthened and the positive impact on everyone involved will remain for many years to come. Our choir is made up of young people from across South Somerset, so it was wonderful to bring many new families together to share the experience and the feedback from the parents and grandparents reinforces the positivity perfectly.

“Incredible and amazing experience last night, thank you again for organising such a mind-blowing experience for our young people.” Parent

Talent Development

Placement gives student insight into new possibilities

A University of Exeter second-year History student recently joined the Octagon & Westlands Arts Engagement team on a four-day internship. During an action-packed placement, she shadowed our Movement Through Cancer dance sessions; helped with key research for our Creative Learning Programme and supported two of our Creative commissions, most notably Listen Dance by Little Bulb Theatre. Alongside this, she learnt about Arts Council England’s funding principles (including meeting with an ACE Senior Relationship Manager); developed an understanding of our monitoring, evaluation & data collection work; and wrote several blogs about the impact of our programmes. Offering internships for undergraduates is an important part of our work here at The Octagon & Westlands because it provides practical opportunities to build experience, knowledge and cultural capital for young, aspiring & emerging practitioners.

“Thank you so much to you and the team at Westlands for having me this week, it's been really great to get involved with so many different projects." Intern

Read our Arts Engagement & Outreach Intern's Blog here

Students get an insight into Westlands Entertainment Venue during Year 10 Work Experience Week

11 Year 10 students from schools across Somerset & Dorset spent the first week of their summer holidays taking part in our Work Experience Programme. The students were able to see how each department works and have hands-on experience to deepen their knowledge and understanding in a professional working environment. The week culminated with the students pitching a performance idea to the management team, incorporating all the different elements they had learnt over the course of the week such as programming, technical elements, arts engagement and outreach, marketing and front of house.

If you would like to find out more about our Work Experience Programmes, please head to the Participation section on the Westlands website or click here.

“I have learnt so much about different parts of the industry I wasn’t aware of. It’s been a really great week” Student

Artist Support

Acoustic Afternoons showcase local talent

This month we launched our first Acoustic Afternoon at Westlands! Alfie Evans played an eclectic range of songs from across the eras, including some of his own material, in our Lounge Bar for audience members. Alongside our Piano Nights, our monthly Acoustic Afternoons showcase local musical talent while providing free access to relaxing entertainment in the heart of Yeovil. You can catch Jack Saunders at the next Acoustic Afternoon on 31 August.

“It was so wonderful to hear live music on a Saturday afternoon.” Audience

Award-winning Little Bulb pilot new show at Westlands – hundreds come to watch

Somerset-based Little Bulb Theatre are a national touring company and Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (like The Octagon & Westlands). This month, they piloted their new experimental dance music theatre project Listen Dance in The Ballroom at Westlands. What’s more, we commissioned them to involve the Bollywood Dance group who meet at Westlands on a weekly basis in the show, through our Creative Commission programme. Little Bulb were resident in Yeovil for two days, at the end of which the world premiere of Listen Dance was shared with an audience of 200. As well as being a unique experience for our audiences, this partnership represented an opportunity for Little Bulb to test a new concept that they plan to promote at other venues across the UK between 2024-2026. Commissions like this are a crucial part of our contribution to the local, regional & national cultural ecology, and puts Yeovil on the map as a place where great ideas can be born.

“We had such a great time in Yeovil, thank you so much for all of your support” Little Bulb Theatre

Arts for Health & Wellbeing

Health & Wellbeing Projects are enriched through the support of Assistants

Our Parkinson’s Dance and Movement Through Cancer projects have finished their second term of classes as they break for summer. The success of both projects has been amplified with the support of Assistant Facilitators, Hollie Wiggins and Chhavi Gautam. Their assistance in the weekly classes has enabled participants to get the most out of the projects, as they offered individual help and support to participants, as well as a kind, friendly and supportive voice before, during, and after each session. The Assistant Teacher roles have also provided a unique opportunity for Hollie and Chhavi to further their own development and career through receiving mentorship by experienced Dance in Health practitioners over the last 6 months.

“This opportunity has enabled me to flourish personally and professionally. Being a part of something so special and seeing the impact these sessions are having on participant’s health & wellbeing has been a privilege.” Assistant 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.