The Impact of Take Art Live
Take Art Live is a well established popular rural touring scheme that works with over 70 villages within Somerset to provide high quality, accessible arts events that help to sustain rural communities and encourage participation in the Arts. In 2010/11 Take Art will be promoting shows in partnership with all these listed villages across Somerset.
In 2009/2010, by working in partnership with rural communities, Take Art was able to:
- Enable 7,500 people living in rural areas to access the arts in a local venue
- Work with 576 active volunteers in 74 villages to promote high quality arts experience.
- According to a research project by the National Rural Touring Forum, 71% of people agree that touring schemes support a sense of community cohesion
- Support 30 professional touring companies, to perform 113 shows throughout Somerset, achieving 77% audience capacity
Every £1 of contributed Local Authority revenue (Somerset County Council and District Councils) attracts a further £10 into the county from other sources. Volunteer promoters contribute 2,300 hours of their own time to the Take Art Live scheme, which equates to £30,200 of in-kind contributions.
What the people say...
“Take Art performances have enthralled and entertained the people of Axbridge and surrounding villages, building a reputation which is widely admired and relied upon as ‘quality’. Tickets are always sold out with an audience of 85-95, with many people leave wanting to come back.” Jude Akhurst, Axbridge Village Promoter, Sedgemoor
“Our audience ‘base’ has spread outwards to surrounding areas, and people come back to visit the Farmers’ Market, pubs & restaurants.” Jude Akhurst, Axbridge Village Promoter, Sedgemoor
“It is through Take Art that we are able to bring to our village performances that would be otherwise unavailable to us... and I do not refer solely to value for money, but to the benefit to the community. Valerie Godfrey, Take Art Promoter (for 23 years), Wedmore, Sedgemoor
“Take Art have introduced many many people in many many villages to all types of entertainment that they would not have normally seen - for a large number, it is the only way in which they are able to see such entertainment.” Jendy Weekes, Mark Village Hall, Sedgemoor