This Giving Tuesday (29 November 2022), we’re celebrating our work, and that of our colleagues across the arts and cultural sector. We know times are tough so this isn’t about asking for a donation (although that would be lovely!), instead we want to celebrate what we’re doing and encourage you to give in any way you can: volunteer with us, share your skills, come to our events and support our work.
So if you feel like you can give this Giving Tuesday, please get in touch.
Volunteer
Give your time. We’re always on the look out for people who want to take part and volunteer with us. This could be stewarding at our next Inside Out Dorset festival, supporting our marketing manager in the build up to an event, or lending a hand at The Remix (our inclusive youth performing arts group).
Share your skills
Give your expertise. If you have a specific skillset that you think could help us fulfil our mission, then we’d love to work with you. Get in touch to explore how we might work together.
Donate
Give what you can. Whilst we receive core funding from Arts Council England, BCP Council and Dorset Council, as a charity we also rely on donations. If you’re able to support us financially, this is gratefully received. As a not-for-profit organisation, we work in many ways and with many partners. Our team may be small, but we’re agile, expert and very well connected, with a will to make things happen.
Activate is a charity that exists to promote, support and produce performing arts projects in our communities. We pride ourselves on being open and working with others to make the performing arts accessible for all. We bring world-class events to unexpected places, like town centres, village squares, beaches and hilltops. And we’ve been doing it for over 30 years.
Some of our recent highlights include:
- 27,500 visitors came to our Inside Out Dorset festival in 2021.
- During the COVID-19 lockdown we commissioned 18 artworks, 16 by Dorset artists.
- In 2021/22 we supported 32 productions.
- In the same year, we hosted 4 artist residencies.
- 457 workshops and artists’ advice sessions also took place.
- We’ve employed more than 700 freelance artists, producers and technicians in the past four years.
We break down barriers
At the heart of what we do is a belief that performing arts should be accessible for all – no matter what your experience or background. We work with artists who are disabled and non-disabled and aim to reach the widest possible audiences.
“Being an Associate on the programme has meant that we have had time and space to apply our passions to what really matters including how we support more women to tap into their power, creativity and a greater access to art and culture.”
Ruth Pitter and Natasha Nixon, Women Leaders South West Associates
We connect communities
We focus on bringing people together and creating opportunities. We love hearing about ways in which we can play a part, lead, support or get involved in a range of programmes and projects.
“In this experience I saw things differently. I learned, I connected, I grew as a person and developed a feeling of belonging to my community.”
Volunteer
We celebrate our landscape
Based in Dorset but also working nationally and in Europe, we aim to promote our natural landscape and sense of place. We provide a high quality arts programme while minimising our impact on the environment.
“This is a festival that presents fresh perspectives on Earth (and) brought audiences closer to nature.”
Chris Wiegand, The Guardian
