Posts filed under 'Arts'
Posted by Cptn
The Arts Council has been throwing its weight around throughout the country– the word ‘bloodbath‘ has been used. Odd considering its above inflation settlement from the government.
Let’s just hope the other cuts are better managed than that at the Northcott.
With a little digging maybe the Arts Council will discover the low audiences over recent months were due to the theatre’s redevelopment.
And how would they know about other changes we’ve made when we’ve had no contact with them since spring, asks the Northcott.
Artistic excellence aside, someone over there at the AC should take responsibility for the £2.1 million misdirection of funds if the theatre closes.
Check out the Save the Northcott campaign. And read the original article and comments.
December 17th, 2007
Haytor art show
Posted by Cptn
Do something really spiritual today – combine conversing with nature and appreciating art. An Haytor, near Bovey Tracey on Dartmoor, there’s a small but perfectly formed art exhibition - but be quick, today’s the last day.
Adam Bunce, Luci Coles and Ben Yates have combined their not unconsiderable forces with some woodturning, hot drinks, festive food, jewellery and a stall selling Peruvian and Bolivian handicrafts for a show that makes use of the space at the Boys’ Brigade training centre.
And then make it up the historic rocks, which have yet to have the chair lift fitted. It’s the kinda thing to get you brain working again.
Adam Bunce gave us some directions: ‘To get to Haytor from the A38 turn off at Drumbridges roundabout and follow signs for Bovey Tracey. Then drive up onto the moor and follow signs for Haytor. You’ll go up and up and over a cattle grid and then we are on the left as you round the corner after the red phone box and the Moorlands House Hotel.
‘To get to Broadleas simply walk down the drive that runs adjacent to the bottom car park at Haytor (the one with the toilet block and the information centre). There will be signs up and people can phone the venue on (01364) 661353 if they get stuck.’
December 16th, 2007
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No more Bit on the Side
Posted by Cptn
Super music and community arts venue The Bit on the Side, Paignton, has been closed. The Torbay Artsbase winner of best live venue has had its doors closed for it and the arts, education and community projects will have to be suspended until further notice.
There seems to have been confusion over the licence, and after a private event in the week the council changed the locks, leaving the organisers in the dark.
Mark, who has been leading the Bit on The Side and the Overdrive Project, told the PRSD: ‘If then there is another incident, the police could, if they choose to, review [the] licence and shut down the theatre.
‘Instead they shut us down, a community project which was a shot in the cultural arm of Torbay, a community project that has run the only venue in torbay for seven months with no police call outs, no drunkedness, no violence, no drugs. A community project that was home to young people who are now back drinking beer in the train station entrance as they now have no where to go.’
It’s been a bad week for the arts in Devon. Check out And here’s a little bit on the Overdrive Project, which was based there (the council has already removed all by the bot-trace of it, but this is evidence it did exist).
December 15th, 2007
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Transformed
Posted by Cptn
Recycled art steps up its game at Gallery Terracina, Exeter. The show, Transformed, runs until December 23 and has some wonderfully re-applied elements in a rich and varied collection. And if you think we gush too much, pop along have a look. We got one of our more arty-minded contributors to talk to the artists involved – Andrew Vaccari and Janice Myers.
Oh, and Janice is keen to get hold of hundreds of those plastic things that hold cans of beer together. Collect ‘em in an envelope over Christmas and email for the address.
Just click on any of the things below to listen in.
Art on PRSD [7:19m]:
Play Now |
Play in Popup | Download
December 14th, 2007
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Performance history
Posted by Cptn
The Totnes Young People’s Theatre has been delving into the past for its current slew of performances.
Not only have these thesps combined live action and film into an installation on the Totnes train station about a bomb attack on the railway - press reports of the attacks were banned during WW2 (a bit like the local press and protests against the war a few years ago) – but they’ve also written a new play Lessons from History, about scapegoating, intolerance and history repeating itself.
Working alongside writer Jon Croose and director Tiffany Strawson, the Company will be performing the play in local schools in the New Year followed by a series of workshops. Jon told the PRSD: “The group decided that the only good reason for looking at history was so we can learn from it and change our ways - hence the title of the piece.
“They also wanted their audience to take responsibility for the future and try to change the culture of conflict, while accepting that everyone has a right to their own opinions about the world situation.”
Both these performances can be seen at the HEX studio, Aller Park, Dartington Estate on Friday (December 14) at 7pm and on Saturday (December 15) at 6.30pm. Free of charge.
December 13th, 2007
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Energetic act
Posted by Cptn
The Theatre Royal, Plymouth, has been putting all its energy into the performances, it seems. The ground-breaking theatre is the first in the country to pick up Energy Efficiency Accreditation for its efforts in reducing energy consumption. Who says the theatrical world is full of hot air?
December 13th, 2007
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Posted by Cptn
Exeter’s art scene is set to face another blow with the closure threat that now hangs over the Northcott Theatre.
In a move dripping with irony the theatre, which re-opened today after a £2.1 million redevelopment, is set to lose its Arts Council grant from April 2009, making it impossible to operate.
The work was paid for by grants from Exeter City Council (£750,000), Devon County Council (£450,000) and the University of Exeter (£300,000) plus private donations. The three organisations only pledged their money after receiving assurances from the Arts Council that it was ‘committed’ to the theatre’s future. The Arts Council itself contributed £100,000 towards the cost of the conversion and a further £540,000 in revenue grant to support the theatre while it was closed.
Steve Gratton, chair of the Northcott Theatre Board, told the PRSD: “I simply cannot understand why the Arts Council would say it is committed to the theatre, allow public money to be spent on its redevelopment and then pull the plug just as the theatre re-opens. This is a bitter pill for the Theatre’s 58 staff to swallow, coming as they re-open the theatre and just two weeks before Christmas. We had no inkling at all that this was going to happen. Everyone who supports and works for Exeter Northcott has the right to feel very angry indeed.”
Expressions of support can be sent via email to: or in writing to Save Exeter Northcott Campaign, Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QB.
December 11th, 2007
Art auction
Posted by Cptn
Save your pennies and practise your officious nod, Plymouth Environment Centre is holding an aution of art at the B-bar Barbican Theatre, Plymouth on Thursday (December 13) from 6pm.
Guide prices start at £10 and work under the hammer will range digital photographs to original oil paintings from a mix of international and local artists, like Peter Randall-Page and Sue Coe.
Take a gander at the piccies and see what takes your fancy in this fundraising event.
December 11th, 2007
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D+CFree in Exeter
Posted by Captn
Wanna find out about Free Cinema and the impact it made on the British film industry?
Well, come along to D+CFilm’s free Free Cinema screening, taking place at 2pm today (that’s December 6) at the Exeter Phoenix as the opening event of Two Short Nights.
There are some great historic films to watch and a talk from the fella who curated the BFI’s Free Cinema collection.
Also on show will be some of the entries to the D+CFree competition, with the modern take on the Free Cinema ethos.
It all promises to be free fun. Click here to find out more.
December 6th, 2007
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Let it be theirs
Posted by Cptn
A friend of the PRSD is trying to create a chart hit to help stop domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Daniel Rachel (search the archive) has released a single for you guys to take a gander at and help make an effort against domestic violence. Apparently only 1,500 people are needed (that’s about half of a day’s PRSD readership) to sign up to make a difference.
Put your name down, and then find out more about the Tender movement.
Oh, and you can watch the video of the soon-to-be-released single below, and then sign up (if you’re reading this, and you do it, it’ll be done in a day – if you don’t, it won’t).
December 5th, 2007
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