Arts Engagement & Outreach: June 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. 

June saw the celebration of our much-loved annual community platform SHiNE, where we invited over 300 participants from the local community take to the stage. Highlights also included a teaching network event supporting cross-school collaboration, our Somerset Wellbeing Orchestra’s visit to a professional recording studio, and the launch of an exciting new project with Lufton College.  

Read more below… 

Participation 

Over 300 people stepped into the spotlight  

SHiNE is more than just a performance showcase—it's a joyful tribute to creativity, confidence and community spirit.  Held on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June at Westlands Entertainment Venue, this annual event brought together over 300 performers for two unforgettable evenings of entertainment. Audiences enjoyed a vibrant mix of routines from soulful singing and rhythmic tap to dazzling Bollywood and elegant ballroom. With the evening hosted by our marvellous Octagon Youth Theatre. 

An incredible range of groups lit up the stage, including: Octagon Street Dance, Silver Swans, Octagon Tappers, Octagon Junior Choir, Octagon Choir, Jazz Dance, Somerset Graduate Dancers, Bollywood Dance, Somerset Youth Dance Tinys & Juniors, Heels Dance, Yeovil Dancentre, The Dance Factory, Keri Hill Dance, and Castaway Theatre Group. A dedicated team of 27 teachers supported the performers, helping to create an uplifting, inclusive, and inspiring celebration of local talent. One young street dance performer summed it up best when they shared that they felt “on top of the clouds” after their moment on stage—proof that community theatre has the power to uplift, empower and make a meaningful difference. 

Enabling every child and young person the opportunity to join in this summer 

We’re thrilled to share that the Arts Engagement & Outreach team has secured over £10,000 in funding through the Happy Healthy Holidays initiative from Somerset Activity and Sport Partnership (SASP). This will provide 98 free places for young people receiving benefits-related Free School Meals to get creative this summer. With something on offer for anyone aged 7–16 this year’s Summer Holiday Scheme offers an exciting variety of activities. From summer schools in dance and musical theatre, our Play-in-a-Day and introducing our Create-an-Escape-Room-in-a-Day, we have plenty of opportunities to get creative and stage incredible performances. From stage lights to puzzles, the possibilities are endless! Families eligible for a free place will receive information via their schools, with fee-paying places also available via the Westlands website. Creative outlets like these are more than just fun—they’re vital for confidence, wellbeing, and self-expression during the long summer break. 

Growing connections with the community 

As part of our ongoing commitment to community engagement and creative outreach, the Arts Engagement & Outreach team took part in the Chard Community Hub and Holyrood Academy PTFA Car Boot & Family Fun Day. Our stall offered a mix of hands-on creative activities and information about our arts engagement programme, inviting families of Chard to discover upcoming events and opportunities on offer to them. Throughout the morning, we welcomed over 40 adults, children and young people to take part in craft activities. They learnt how to make paper roses and decorate character faces, inspired by our festive Beauty and the Beast pantomime. The event featured a wide variety of community stalls, alongside games and dance performances from local groups. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with families in a relaxed, fun environment, raise awareness of our work, and celebrate the positive way that creativity brings people together.

'Working within the community is a powerful reminder of how important it is for us to bring creative activities to people on their doorsteps. It gives us a chance to listen, connect, and share the work we do—right at the heart of where it matters most.' Octagon & Westlands Arts Engagement Assistant

Creative Learning & Education 

Fostering collaboration amongst Somerset Teachers 

As part of our Creative Learning & Education Programme, we’ve developed our Teacher Network to encourage cross-school collaboration, support and the sharing of best practices. In June, teachers from eight schools came together to discuss regional challenges and opportunities in creative education. Topics included transport and access barriers, as well as innovative ways to share resources between primary and secondary schools. These termly, after-school meetings offer an informal space for educators across year groups to connect, exchange ideas, and showcase creative learning case studies, strengthening partnerships and enhancing educational experiences across Somerset. 

‘It has been really positive to meet with other teachers, often it can feel quite isolating working within a school and not having the opportunity to talk to other teachers in the arts sector, thank-you for putting this session together and for the tea and cake!’ Teacher 

Arts for Health & Wellbeing 

Lasting impact through the power of music 

This month marked a milestone for the Somerset Wellbeing Orchestra and we’re still riding the wave of excitement! A couple of weeks ago, our incredible group, led by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra musicians and supported by our project partners ARK at Egwood and WATCH Project Chard, had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step into a professional recording studio and record their very own original track. The day was nothing short of magical. From stepping behind the mic to watching the recording process unfold, it was an experience filled with creativity, confidence, and pure joy. For many participants, this was a long-held dream come true — and a powerful reminder of what’s possible when music, wellbeing, and community come together. A heartfelt thank you to Echotown Studio and Grinning Dog Records for your warmth, generosity, and for helping bring this experience to life. This opportunity has made a lasting impact on all 14 members of our Somerset Wellbeing Orchestra. 

‘I never imagined I’d be in a real studio, let alone recording something I helped create. It’s a day I’ll never forget. Being a part of this group has to be the number 1 thing you can do for your mental health – I’ve never been a part of anything like this, I love it, and just feel so happy now!’  Participant 

Access & Inclusion Schemes 

Creating space for expression, learning and creativity  

We are delighted to be working in partnership with Lufton College to create a social story film that will be hosted on our website — supporting patrons who may feel anxious, nervous, or want to know what to expect when visiting Westlands. To kickstart the project, we welcomed 5 students from Lufton College for a behind-the-scenes tour of Westlands Entertainment Venue. The students explored the Ballroom, stepped onto the main stage, and had hands-on backstage experience with our technical team. They experimented with stage lighting and created vibrant, colourful displays that lit up the Ballroom. Following their first visit the students have since returned to begin their creative filming journey, bringing their ideas to life and helping us make Westlands even more welcoming to everyone.  

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.