Arts and entertainment

Creative Communities : the Arts Unit's new newsletter

October saw publication of the first issue of the Arts Unit's newsletter, eight full-colour pages of words and pictures reporting on our recent and current projects. It's available as a download on this page. Let us know what you think of it. Next issue will be out in April 08.

District of Easington Music Festival 2008

This year's Festival will run from Saturday 4 October until Sunday 16 November. The programme is now complete and will be published as a brochure on 1 September and on or about that date will also be available on this website. To obtain a copy of the brochure by post please contact Bryony Broughton on (0191) 527 4803/ bryony.broughton@easington.gov.uk (Monday to Wednesday midday) or Helen Ferguson on (0191) 527 4535 / helen.ferguson@easington.gov.uk  (Wednesday afternoon to Friday.)

District of Easington Music Festival 2007

The Festival ran from Monday 1st October to Saturday 17th November 2007 and was co-ordinated by the Arts Development Unit of District of Easington.

There were 55 events of various kinds (see below) in 15 of the district’s towns and villages. There was a total audience (including 180 workshop participants and 510 competitors in contests) of 4,369.

Of the 55 events, 22 were concerts, 12 were music workshops, 11 included audience dancing to live music (ceilidhs, tea dances, rock, line dancing etc), 8 were music theatre performances and 2 were regional brass contests.

The genres of music featured included brass bands, choirs, folk, traditional jazz, 50’s rock, indie rock, pop, soul, C&W, world music and music theatre. Those performing were a mix of full time professionals from Scotland, Holland, India, Wales and England; semi-pros; amateurs; and young people.

While most performances were for general family audiences, some were tailored to particular sections of the community. These included nine concerts by the Scots folk artists, Angus Lyon and Ruaridh Campbell, for groups of adults and young people with physical and learning disabilities; four tea dances for the users of warden controlled centres; an indie rock event for young people with bands from the region and from abroad; and one "Grimm Tales” performance for children by Cardiff’s Theatre Iolo.

In addition to performances for specialist audiences there were also music workshops for children and young people. Ten took place during half term week at ten different venues and dealt with African percussion, samba drumming, rock music and DJ skills. Two others – in brass playing and folk music – ran on Saturdays.

Sizes and types of venues were as varied as the types of concerts. Of the 55 events, 15 were in Peterlee, 7 in Easington, 6 in Seaham, 5 in Blackhall, 4 in Wheatley Hill and 3 in Horden while 9 other villages had 1 to 2 each.

Most events were organised by local community organisations but regional organisations which played a role included Elements, the County Durham Drama Initiative; the North of England Brass Band Trust; Durham County Brass Band Association; Live Music Now North East; and The Sage Gateshead.

What's On in Easington District?

For details of what's on in Easington, including arts and entertainment events and a range of other types of activities, access the council's what’s On Guide. Click on Leisure and Culture on this website, then Tourism and finally what’s On Guide. If you are organising an event and would like it listed in the Guide please contact either Melanie Lowes, Tourism Development Officer on 0191 586 3366 or Dave Clarke, Arts Development Officer on 0191 527 4738.

Introducing the Arts Unit

District of Easington Council acts as the Arts Development Agency for the district. It is part of the region - wide network of such agencies funded jointly by local authorities in partnership with Arts Council England North East.

Easington's Arts Unit is staffed by two full time arts development officers. The two officers are, respectively, a visual arts specialist and a performing arts specialist. In addition the section has access to the services of two half-time Administration Assistants who are shared with the Sports Development Section.

Working in partnership with district, county, regional and national groups and organisations, the Arts Unit aims to pursue the following goals:

• increase opportunities for local people of all ages and abilities to participate actively in the arts.
• increase access to high quality arts performances and exhibitions for all sections of the community.
• increase the range of arts facilities and venues in the district.
• provide advice to the voluntary sector on the development of arts events and sustainable arts organisations including sources of possible funding.
• provide advice to locally based artists wishing to develop their professional practice within the district.

Additionally, the Arts Unit:

• co-ordinates an Annual District Music Festival during October/November,
• provides arts input to school holiday programmes and community carnivals
• operates a guarantee-against-loss scheme for local promoters
• and manages the 3,000 images within the People Past and Present historic photo archive

A number of documents are available online including the Council's Cultural Strategy. Details of our Guarantee - Against- Loss scheme are given below. If you are considering making an application for a Guarantee-Against-Loss you are advised to have an initial talk with an Arts Development Officer who will provide you with an application form.

About this service

Guarantee-Against-Loss Scheme

One of the aims of District of Easington’s Arts Development Programme is to increase the availability, range and quality of live performances for the people of the District.

To reduce the risk of financial loss to promoters and thus encourage the staging of live performances, the Council may be able to provide some financial support for one-off events in the form of a ‘Guarantee – Against - Loss’.

Venues and organisations presenting new types of events and/or creating opportunities for disadvantaged groups to participate in the arts will be given priority.

The Guarantee offered will never be more than 50% of a promoter’s estimated expenditure and will often be less than this. 

Any decision on whether a Guarantee is made available and on its monetary value is strictly at the discretion of the council

The money available for this scheme is limited.   The award of a Guarantee for an event is subject to its meeting the following criteria:

1. All events must be in line with Council policy.
2. Events must feature one or more professional performer(s).
3. Events must be organised for the benefit of the people of Easington and be open to the general public.   Events organised for profit by professional promoters will not be eligible.
4. Events must be subject to an admission charge and – through ticket sales, refreshment income, sponsorship or other income - be potentially capable of covering the promoter’s costs. 
5. Provision of complimentary tickets for events should be restricted to, say, 10% of total attendance unless agreed in advance with District of Easington.
6. All publicity for events in receipt of a Guarantee – Against - Loss (including posters, flyers, media releases and press adverts) must include an acknowledgement of the Council’s assistance.   Council logos for this purpose are available from the Arts Development Unit.

Application Process

1. Applications can be made at any time during the financial year.
2. Applications must be received at least four weeks in advance of the event. Retrospective applications will not be considered.
3. All applications must be in writing on our standard APPLICATION FORM (PROFORMA No 1) and should include a full breakdown of the costs to be incurred and of estimated income.
4. Successful applicants will be sent a FUNDING AGREEMENT (PROFORMA No 2). This must be signed and returned before the event takes place.

1. To claim against a Guarantee, after the event, the promoter must complete and return a CLAIM FORM (PROFORMA No 3) showing actual income and expenditure. 
2. In addition to the CLAIM FORM the promoter should send a brief report setting out details of how the event was publicised; copies of relevant invoices and proof that Council assistance was acknowledged on publicity issued.
3. Under no circumstances will a promoter be entitled to claim a Guarantee for an event which has been cancelled.

Some frequently asked questions

Does the council provide grants for arts events and activities?

We will work with you to develop your arts project and in this capacity may be able to contribute financially. We should not be thought of as a grant-giving body providing funding for existing projects, however we will assist you in making applications to such bodies.

If you are organising a performance event featuring professional artists, you may be able to obtain assistance through our guarantee-against-loss scheme.