When Jim Mulligan joined Spare Tyre's workshops for older people, little did he know that he would go on to write four plays for the company and become a trustee.
Working with partner universities in Barcelona and Warsaw proved to Janet Hetherington that practical training is key to a rich, collaborative learning environment.
How can a council support the arts when its budget has been cut completely? Charlotte Fergusson shares the inspiring story of Westminster City Council.
When it comes to art and culture in Barking and Dagenham, local people call the shots. Miriam Nelken and Helen Ball share the story of the 100 Cultural Connectors.
The 2008 crash shook Ali Pretty’s outdoor arts company hard. But after a bold decision to split the organisation in two, it’s now doing better than ever.
What would our public services look like if we used wellbeing evidence to inform policy-making? There would surely be more room for arts and culture, says Jessica Harris.
What better place to learn about using the arts to help older people and those with dementia than in Japan, where a quarter of people are over 65. Nick Ponsillo reports on his recent trip.
A public art programme at Southmead Hospital in Bristol has breathed soul into the hospital building and created a sense of community, says Gillian Taylor.
Fifteen members of the public invited to take part in the rehearsal of a playlet will be actively involved in the direction, choreography and lighting. Emma Smith discusses what she hopes it will achieve.
Artist-led and community-focused projects are key to placemaking, says Susan Jones. Just look at Preston, where the In Certain Places programme has been doing it for 12 years.
London Bubble offers a wide variety of volunteering opportunities, but it’s not just about one-off opportunities, explains Lucy Bradshaw – they’re in it for the long haul.
Regularly volunteering in both front of house and backstage roles has given many students their initial interest in the arts, according to Katherine Edwardes.
Cuts and restructures have damaged relationships between arts organisations and local authorities, with community organisations and artists finding support harder to come by.
