The Octagon Theatre

Arts organisations we support and fund annually include Take Art, Somerset Film, Actiontrack and Somerset Art Works. These organisations are well-established within Somerset and help us to increase access for all to art and cultural opportunities across the district.

Take Art is an arts development agency serving Somerset. It is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee and is recognised by the Arts Council England as one of its National Portfolio Organisations. Its purpose is to promote performance and participation in the arts in Somerset, supporting professional artists and arts in the community.

The aims of the organisation:

• Present and promote memorable live experiences to individuals and communities;
• Create life-changing opportunities for people of all ages to take part in high quality arts experiences;
• Play a leadership role in shaping, resourcing and sustaining theatre, dance, early years, Rural touring and participatory music sectors;
• Build a resilient, healthy and sustainable organisation.

Visit the Take Art website.

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Somerset Art Works is a registered charity and membership organisation, Somerset's only countywide agency dedicated to developing the visual arts. The aim of the organisation is to develop opportunities for artists to work here in Somerset and for the community to experience high quality visual arts at a local level.

The aims of the organisation:

• To invest in artistic excellence by making professional development for artists an integral part of all our work, promoting imagination and risk in presenting the arts.
• To engage with people of every age and ability within our communities and enrich their appreciation of the arts through participation and learning new skills.
• To continue to grow and embed learning throughout all our activities.
• To enhance the artistic, cultural and economic benefits for artists as well as their communities.
• To develop partnerships at regional, national and international level.

Visit the Somerset Art Works website.

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The Engine Room is Somerset’s accessible community media centre and the base for the services of registered charity Somerset Film and Video Ltd. From the Engine Room, Somerset Film supports digital media production and training for both the amateur and professional sectors across the county. They offer a programme of outreach activity and projects that encourage and facilitate the use of digital media by all sectors of the community. They provide learning opportunities through schools based projects, bursary schemes and training for all abilities. Somerset Film is recognised by the Arts Council England as a strategic arts organisation and receives their funding as part of their National Portfolio.

Their vision is to exploit the capacity of creative film and media to:

• Encourage creativity and innovation
• Build media literacy and confidence with technology
• Engender debate and critical thinking
• Reduce the digital divide
• Raise aspiration and self-esteem
• Reduce social isolation
• Strengthen cohesion

Visit the Somerset Film website.

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Actiontrack works collaboratively to deliver opportunities for individuals and groups to access practical involvement in music, drama, dance and the visual arts. The organisation develops and delivers wholly accessible projects, predominantly with children and young people and often with marginalized groups.

The organisation operates from their studio in Taunton Deane on an outreach basis to the county and beyond. Actiontrack is a delivery partner for Sound Foundation Somerset, the county’s hub for music education.

• To continue to develop and deliver music and other arts activity with hard-to-reach groups
• To increase the reach with individuals accessing creative art projects across the county
• To develop new and existing partnerships with regard to participatory arts delivery

Visit the Actiontrack website.