Identify one event from each of the sectors (heritage, entertainment and visual arts) taking place regionally during next 6 months – produce 500 words including key details on all 3 events for learning log.
The aim of this study is to explore the heritage, entertainment and visual arts sectors in the Southwest region and identify the organisations behind them and the roles the events play within the cultural sector. To do this I took an event from each sector and explored the organisation behind it - including its purpose, its motives behind the event and a look in to the external environment and its cause and effect on the organisation and the event itself.
‘Truro City of Lights’ is a visual arts festival taking place on the 17th November. Professional artists, Cornish schools and local community groups create lanterns made from tissue and parade through the streets of Truro. The event is now in its Fourteenth year and attracts estimated crowds of 25,000. The Facebook page expresses how important the festival is to the local community, saying, ‘The procession is a real celebration of Truro’s artistic and community spirit, now firmly established as an essential element of the city’s cultural identity.’ The festival is supported by private sector businesses such as Carlyon and sons Solicitors and Event Cornwall. However in an article on the website ‘This is Cornwall’ the event founder, Tony Crosby said ‘If people continue to treat it as a free event it could kill it.’ This could be down to funding cuts within the cultural sector. The organisers have responded to this with press releases and campaigns to encourage donations. I think an event, which appears to be as embedded in the local community as this one, people will ‘dig deep’ and it will continue in years to come.
The Eden Project, for Halloween this year, have a themed event called Halloweden. The event starts on the 23 and finishes 31 of October. Although themed, the events happening around these dates still comply with the Eden Projects underpinning educational and horticultural roots. Information from the website says ‘The events will give you a whole new way of looking at the rainforest.’ The event appears to be aimed at families, with activities and workshops such as ‘Face Painting.’ The Eden Project is wholly owned by the Eden Trust, which is a registered charity and events such as this contribute to sustaining the organsiation. They operate as a social enterprise but according to last years ‘Annual Report,’ only 71% of what they need is generated by their customers. This highlights the importance of events such as Halloweden. Although I wont be attending this event I hope it’s a success and the public continue support this organisation.
Antony House just outside of Torpoint is hosting a ‘Mad Hatters Tea Party’ on Sunday 24 October. This Alice in Wonderland themed event comes following the National Trust Site being used as a film location for the Tim Burton film. The Website says the event is aimed at 5 – 12 year olds and will include an ‘Interactive theatrical performance round the garden.’ I think Antony house using the recent filming as a marketing tool is a great idea and all across the website there are references to the film. Ticket prices were only £5 and the event has already sold out. I would however expect Antony House to continue with events themed around this nature.
Truro City of Lights. 2010. Facebook UK. Available at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Truro-City-of-Lights/110949712271127 [accessed 22 October 2010].
MIDDLETON, Kim. 2010. ‘Dig deep plea to keep lantern parade going’. This is Cornwall. Available at: http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/Dig-deep-plea-lantern-parade-going/article-2750004-detail/article.html [accessed 22 October 2010].
Eden Project. 2010. ‘Halloweden’. Eden Project UK. Available at: http://www.edenproject.com/come-and-visit/whats-on/halloweden.php [accessed 2010].
SMIT, Tim. 2009. Annual Review 08/09. PDF Website.
Antony House. 2010. ‘Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’. National Trust UK. Available at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-events/w-events-find_event.htm?c=1 [accessed 2010]
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