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KCC's purpose in cultural development is aimed at making
the arts a normal part of everyday life - part of the fabric of our
communities and our environment. The primary way we do this is by
enabling others to be aware of the benefits of using the arts in
their area and to provide support, information and advice on how to
do so.
The Cultural Development Team wishes the residents of Kent to
enjoy the benefits that arts can deliver in creating places in
which people choose to live and want to visit, in building a
modern, knowledge based economy, and in enriching the quality of
life for individuals and communities across Kent.
Key skills and interests that are important to the Cultural
Development Unit:
- Interest in the arts in its widest sense - dance, literature,
music, theatre, set design, script writing, visual arts, circus
skills etc.
- Interest in working with a range of people and
organisations.
- Interest in the national artistic agenda
- A desire to make Kent a more creative place
- You need to be a great communicator who is self motivated
- Flexible, diverse, creative
- Emotional, passionate about the arts and their benefits
- Innovative, have a sense of humour.
- Good written skills as a lot of work is about report writing
and fund raising.
Kent Youth Service projects
Arts In Motion
The Arts In Motion scheme started in 2005. It is a large vehicle
which houses a gallery, computers equipped with the latest music
production technology, a drop down stage and PA system as well as a
variety of other art-based activities. The aim of the unit is to
bring arts activities in their widest sense to a variety of diverse
communities such as schools, prisons, youth clubs, areas of social
exclusion and deprivation, festivals, village fetes etc.
This is an ongoing project managed by two core staff and working
with a variety of internal end external partners such as Youth and
Community, Community Safety, borough councils and prison
wardens.
The role of the staff is to work with partners on innovative
projects that enable al kinds of people to engage with the arts in
their own environment and therefore make it accessible. Projects
may include song writing, DJ workshops, dance workshops. We also
invite artists to work with the community on large-scale artworks
to remain at the site as a legacy of community involvement.
Arts In Motion staff are extremely dedicated to their work and
often work many weekends to ensure all projects are a success -
demand for the vehicle to has tripled since it first started in
2005.
Exhibition Program
The County Exhibitions Program is organised by two staff and
takes place in five galleries around the county with six
exhibitions each year. The exhibitions have an educational element
and are often themed around social issues, as well as sometimes
just being arts for arts sake. The exhibitions run alongside talks
and workshops hosted by local and international artists. They
promote the work of graduates and school children and lead to
inspire the Kent community. Some of the program is community lead
with ideas taken through comment boxes and chosen by the local
community. All are of high quality and branded with the 'Headland -
Arts that step out of the frame' logo, which is to ensure that back
up material is available should someone wish to look into a
particular theme further.
The aim of all the exhibitions is to raise awareness of issues
affecting local people whilst introducing them to art and arts
practices and techniques.
The staff work with artists, printers, schools, colleges, private
business, other galleries locally and nationally, heritage staff,
tourism, Sports Development, Youth and Community, The Arts Council,
Forestry Commissions and anyone else who is interested in
creativity. |