Year: 2019

Job Opportunity: Creative Engagement Officer, Highlights

Highlights is a thriving arts organisation based in Appleby, Cumbria.  We work with over 65 village halls and volunteer promoters bringing professional arts to rural communities.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Creative Engagement Officer
to join our busy team.

If you have experience of running creative learning activities and an enthusiasm for the arts in rural areas, we’d love to hear from you.

The post is 2 days a week based in Appleby. Flexible hours.

Closing date: 14 April
Interviews: w/b 29 April

For further details please email info@highlightsnorth.co.uk
or visit www.highlightsnorth.co.uk

NOTES

2019 conference & Rural Touring Awards

NRTF CONFERENCE 2019! Hi-Vis: Value, Impact & Success of Rural Touring
Welcome to NRTF 2019 Conference
Hi-Vis: Value, Impact & Success of Rural Touring
2nd – 4th July 2019 Pontio Centre, Bangor, Wales.
https://www.pontio.co.uk

The conference will be a mix of conference sessions and showcasing with the theme of the value of Rural Touring. This is a conference for Schemes, Promoters and Artists of the Rural Touring sector. #HiVisRuralTouring

More information and costs coming soon.
In the meantime SAVE THE DATE!

CYNHADLEDD NRTF 2019 ! Hi-Vis: Gwerth, Effaith a Llwyddiant Teithio Gwledig
Croeso i gynhadledd NRTF 2019
2il – 4ydd Gorffennaf 2019 Canolfan Pontio, Bangor, Cymru
https://www.pontio.co.uk


Bydd y cynhadledd yn gymysgedd o sesiynau cynhadledd ac arddangosfeydd gyda’r thema o gwerth Teithio Gwledig.
Cynhadledd ar gyfer Cynlluniau, Hyrwyddwyr ac Artistiaid y Sector Teithio Gwledig yw hon #HiVisRuralTouring

Mwy o wybodaeth a chostau i ddilyn.
Yn y cyfamser Cadwch y Dyddiad !

National Rural Touring Awards celebrate the breadth, passion and professionalism prevalent in the rural touring sector. The awards recognise the quality of the arts, the promoters, venues and wider industry. It is our opportunity to draw attention to the quality of performance and performing companies as well as to collaborations and the network of individuals who go above and beyond on behalf of the health and cohesion of their local community. The awards reward not just the winners but everyone who has performed, organised and taken part in Rural Arts & Touring.

You are invited to vote for what has stood out for you in rural touring last year in 2018!

Click here to see the full list of awards and to place your nominations.

Vaccancy: Touring Development Officer, Creative Arts East

Creative Arts East are recruiting for a full-time Touring Development Officer, on a one year contract. Please see attached the Job Pack and Application Form.

The post holder will work with the Community Touring Manager on the implementation, delivery and administration of a range of touring development projects as part of the Creative Arts East Live! Rural Touring Scheme, including a Southeast Libraries Touring initiative, Inn Crowd pub touring and new promoter development.

Northern Consortium & NEADN Rural Touring Development Programme

Northern Consortium & NEADN
Rural Touring Development Programme
for artists and companies new to rural touring


The Northern Consortium and North East Artist Development Network (NEADN) are looking for up to six artists and companies to take part in a development programme to create new work suitable for rural touring, which includes training, mentoring and a showcase event.

The programme provides professional support for artists and companies new to rural touring, working in conjunction with the North East Artist Development Network and six rural touring schemes:

• ArtERY Live: East Riding of Yorkshire
• Arts Out West
• Cheshire Rural Touring Arts
• LiveLincs: North Lincolnshire
• Highlights North
• Rural Arts North Yorkshire
• Spot On Lancashire

The programme includes:

• A half day training session on pitching and presenting your work (Mon 8 Apr 2019)
• Presentation of an excerpt of your work at a showcase for rural touring promoters (Mon 29 Apr 2019)
• Opportunity for follow up mentoring from rural touring scheme managers

The aim of the development scheme is to support artists and companies new to rural touring to prepare, pitch and present their work for selection by rural touring scheme managers and promoters, leading to touring opportunities in autumn 2019 and beyond.

Following the showcase, a number of companies will be selected to receive follow up mentoring, which will include advice from scheme managers as well as opportunities to meet experienced rural touring companies and volunteer promoters.

Why rural touring?

Rural touring offers a fantastic platform for artists and companies to reach audiences who, due to their geographical location, may not be able to experience their work in traditional theatre and arts centre settings. The importance of this platform should not be underestimated.

“Bringing art to people in this way makes theatre more accessible and affordable for outlying communities who may otherwise not have the means to travel to theatres further afield, or have the confidence to visit them. It has enhanced our community greatly, improving community engagement whilst also enriching people’s live.” Chris Bridgman, Artistic Director, Kirkgate Arts & Arts Out West

“It’s like I’ve started a new life, I’m doing more and not just sitting at home” Geoffrey, aged 84 who attends both performances and workshops in Thirsk through Rural Arts


Who can apply?

We are looking for companies who:

• have never performed through a rural touring network
• are interested in engaging with rural touring venues and audiences
• have an adventurous, engaging, distinctive piece of work that will be available for booking by rural touring schemes in autumn 2019 and beyond
• believe that their show can be presented in rural venues
• are based in the UK
• are able to attend a training day on Mon 8 Apr 2019, and perform an excerpt of their work as part of the showcase on Mon 29 Apr 2019

Applications can be for new or existing shows of any genre, suitable for adults or children.

As part of our commitment to the Creative Case for Diversity, the selection panel will prioritise artists and companies with protected characteristics including artists of colour and/or who identify as LGBTQ and/or disabled which are currently under-represented in rural touring.

The showcase will take place on Mon 29 Apr 2019, at Theatre Hullabaloo in Darlington. Each company will have the opportunity to:

• Give a 5 minute presentation on themselves and their work
• Perform up to 15 minutes worth of work
• Engage in direct conversations with the rural touring scheme managers and volunteer promoters


Expenses

Selected companies can claim up to £100 to pay for expenses towards attending the training day and up to £150 towards attending the showcase day.

Companies selected for mentoring will receive a bursary of £375 towards travel costs.

How to apply

Before applying, we strongly recommend you read this guide to rural touring provided by Highlights North: http://www.highlightsnorth.co.uk/practicalities-for-rural-touring.aspx

If you are interested in applying, please download an application form and equality & diversity monitoring form here and return both to artist.development@arconline.co.uk by 10am, Mon 25 Feb 2019.

If you need to submit your application in an alternative accessible format please contact us in advance so that we know to expect it.

Vaccancy: Communications Officer, Highlights Rural Touring Scheme

Communications Officer (2 days a week) 12 month Contract

Highlights Rural Touring have an exciting opportunity for a Communications Officer to join our busy team.

If you are a great communicator with a passion for the arts, They’d love to hear from you.

The post is 2 days a week based in Appleby. Flexible hours.

Click here for the job description

Letters of application and a CV should be emailed to info@highlightsnorth.co.uk

Closing date: 3 March

Interviews: w/b 18 March

If you would like to discuss the role phone the office on 017683 53954

Village Halls Week 2019 Poem

National Rural Touring Forum are celebrating Village Halls week by commissioning a poem by well-known UK Stand-up poet Kate Fox. Kate has written a piece amusingly encapsulating the breadth of events and happenings you might take part in during a week at your local Village Hall. She will premiere the poem by performing it live on BBC radio stations Monday 21st January and via NRTF website.

Village Halls Week is the brain child of national charity Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE). NRTF is a part of their week-long campaign to celebrate England’s 10,000 Village Halls. Village Halls are an integral part of rural communities but are often overlooked. This year we think about how Village Halls provide a space for communities to come together, something ever more pertinent with the rising number of people affected by loneliness.

Rural communities are seeing diminishing services and social areas, such as the closing of pubs and shops. When these community spaces disappear, it becomes harder to connect, meet new people and have that much needed interaction. ACRE & NRTF believe Village Halls play a huge part in tackling these issues, for example providing community shops, performance spaces and pop up pubs where there are none, as well as social groups for older and younger people alike.

Kate Fox is a British poet, author and comedian. Her solo comedy shows have toured from the Edinburgh Fringe to the Southbank Centre and been broadcast on Radio 4. She lives in North Yorkshire and has recently made two comedy series for BBC Radio 4 called ‘The Price of Happiness’.

“Some of my best gigs in the past have been rural touring in village halls. The homemade cakes! The friendly & surprisingly diverse audiences! It’s been lovely to be asked to write a poem in celebration of spaces which are more precious now than ever as community spaces are eroded.” Kate Fox
NRTF support Rural Touring programming and development organisations called Schemes to bring professional performance to rural audiences. Village Halls are widely used in Rural Touring for theatre and dance spaces.

From the 22 January to the 28 January 2019, every county will see a series of events to bring people together and celebrate these crucial rural spaces.

Village Halls Week: 22nd – 28th January

A celebration of rural communities

National Charity Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and their 38 member organisations are running a week long campaign to celebrate England’s 10,000 Village Halls.

Village Halls are an integral part of rural communities but are often overlooked. Think back over the years; birthday parties, christenings, weddings and funerals. Key moments in our lives – all treading the boards of our Village Halls.

This year we think about how Village Halls provide a space for communities to come together, something ever more pertinent with the rising number of people affected by loneliness.

Rural communities in particular are seeing diminishing services and social areas, such as the closing of pubs and shops. When these community spaces disappear, it becomes harder to connect, meet new people and have that much needed interaction.

ACRE believe Village Halls play a huge part in tackling these issues, for example providing community shops and pop up pubs where there are none, as well as social groups for older and younger people alike.

From the 22 January to the 28 January 2019, every county will see a series of events to bring people together and celebrate these crucial rural spaces. The campaign is supported by Defra with an appearance in the week from Lord Gardiner of Kimble.

Events include performances from Ian McMillan, renowned poet and broadcaster and children’s author and illustrator Steve Antony.

In addition, the NRTF has commissioned stand-up poet Kate Fox to write and perform a piece celebrating village halls.

For a full list of events visit the ACRE Website.
www.acre.org.uk