Activate
vision.............................
To help create a thriving performing arts and outdoor celebrations ecology in Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole.
aims...............................
Activate produces, promotes and develops the performing arts in Dorset with the belief that artists can affect and/or provide positive change in our communities.
Our ambition is to produce, promote and develop more performance in and from Dorset, working in partnership locally, nationally and Internationally to reach new audiences in our community.
Activate is the only strategic organisation in Dorset with the sole focus on producing and developing contemporary theatre, Community dance and outdoor celebrations/festivals. We work with venues, programmers, the education sector, artists, social services, environment, economic development, among others who all play a part in the ecology, sharing and delivering our aspirations with us.
"There is no better organisation to work with than Activate. It is an efficient hard working organisation which punches way above its weight delivering exciting projects and initiative across Dorset for a whole range of people. All that is done with a diligence, and skill far beyond what you would expect from a small organisation. . I know I can rely on them to deliver", Mike Hoskin, Arts Development Manager, Dorset County Council.
the following principles of...
....................innovation and creativity
................................................access
............................equal opportunities
.............................................diversity
................quality & artistic excellence
................partnership & co-operation
.........................guide our work
‘I just want life to always be like this.’ Audience Member, Inside Out Dorset 2010
objectives............................
- To promote the presentation of a wide range of high quality dance, theatre and outdoor celebrations at existing venues and in other locations, and to develop audiences for them. We will reach an average of 50,000 audience members over the three years.
- To establish Inside Out as a strategically significant event for the region using the event as the culmination/celebration and mechanism for delivering a year round programme of development activity. Inside Out will be a beacon of excellence nationally. We will programme at least four sites with at least 25 artists and audiences of between 30-60,000.
- To produce and support the production of new work in the county, especially by artists based in the county and wider region. We will support at least 13 new commissions/artists each year.
- To offer and provide information, advice, networking, publicity and advocacy services to the dance, theatre and celebratory arts sector, partners such as the local authorities and the general public. We will be able to engage up to 40,000 by the end of year three in our interactive supportive website.
- To increase participation and engagement in theatre, dance and outdoor arts, especially for young people. Activate is committed to challenging perceptions that the arts are elitist and not for everyone. We seek to remove barriers to participation, particularly for under-represented groups and individuals. We will work with at least 500 young people a year.
- To support dance, theatre and outdoor arts professionals and our own staff through training and continued professional development initiatives and enable them to reach their full potential. We will support at least 100 artists through seminars, open space and CPD.
- To work collaboratively to define the short, medium and long term focus for development within the sector for the organisation.
- To create a distinctive sense of place and build on the unique attributes of the geographic location in which Activate is based – a World Heritage Site in the Jurassic Coast, the sailing event location in Weymouth and Portland 2012 and the development of the performing arts at major venues in the conurbation of Bournemouth and Poole.
