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Durham City Arts develops, supports and promotes the arts as a key element of the creative, social, economic and environmental development of the North East.
The core business of Durham City Arts is:
1. Creative Thinking
2. Devising, Curating and Programming
3. Project Delivery
4. Fundraising
5. Risk Taking
6. Imaginative Approaches
Durham City Arts works in a number of ways, such as:
- We develop and deliver our own diverse arts development projects programme
- We work with a range of partners to develop bespoke programmes which help them to deliver against their aims and objectives through the arts
- We work with groups and organisations who want to engage with the arts; bringing our specialist knowledge to the delivery of their arts programming
- We tender or apply for contracts offered by other organisations and Local Authorities
The core business of Durham City Arts will be achieved through partnership working, networking and collaborations on local, district-wide, regional, national and international levels. The main focus of all Durham City Arts work is the development of creative programmes which place the arts at the centre of our society. Many Durham City Arts programmes have brought artists, groups and projects together in new contexts; involving groups and artists working together, often for the first time. This work has created new alliances, enabling participants to share work in enjoyable and stimulating contexts. Our work has also created exciting new opportunities and commissions for artists working across all disciplines. Integral to all our work is support for the development of the arts and artists, and furthering the value of the arts in today's society.
When devising our own projects and programmes our four priority programme areas are :
- Arts Festivals and Events
- Art in the Public Realm
- Community Arts Programme
- Regional and Sub-Regional working: Helping to ensure the North East is a more artistically vibrant place to live, work and visit.
Durham City Arts' work across its four priority areas will:
- Encourage participation in the arts and critical thinking of the arts
- Introduce new audiences and participants to the arts
- Challenge, surprise and help Durham develop vibrant communities
- Actively encourage and celebrate diversity
- Seek to work internationally (inwards and outwards)
- Help build and sustain a creative local and regional economy.
Durham City Arts would welcome approaches from any groups, organisations, services or Local Authorities interested in discussing new projects or considering Durham City Arts within a contract/ tendering process.
Durham City Arts is happy to enter into formal procurement agreements and contracts with Local Authorities and other organisations to manage arts development programmes with and on behalf of the contracting body. Via this approach Durham City Arts will ensure strategic development and deliver upon service priorities, aims and objectives.
Durham City Arts are:
Alison Keeper - Director (maternity leave)
Esther Salamon - Acting Director (freelance)
Becca Pelly-Fry -Operations & Events Manager
Richard Hollinshead - Public Art Officer (freelance)
Please contact the Durham City Arts office for information on our current programme and projects under development