help

[carla]

Hi

I'm a Belgian student and I'm doing research on community arts in England. I'm desperatly searching for an historical overview of the community arts movement in England. Is there anyone who can tell me were I can find information?
Thx a lot
greetz

[Kev Ryan]

Hi Carla

I don't think there is a definitive history. Some years ago I was involved in an attempt to get government money to develop a national database and archive for the community arts movement in the UK but it was turned down.

There are various books which give partial histories. One of the 'problems' is the way in which the field has diversified in terms of organisation with different art form bodies, organisations focused around different participant groups etc. so there may well be more detailed histories of 'community dance', 'community theatre', 'youth arts', disability arts etc.


Go to the Arts Council of England website and request their publications information

http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/

My other suggestion is to contact Mailout - this is the national magazine for participatory arts in the UK - there is an archive of magazines since the beginning of the 1990's.

http://www.e-mailout.org/

Contact Huw or Kate at the magazine and ask them to send you a couple of sample copies. Huw might help you substantially in your quest for information if he has the time!

If you are still wanting further info come back - I've been a participant and worked in and around community arts in the UK since 1976 and may be able to answer specific questions.


Kev Ryan
Charnwood Arts
http://www.charnwoodarts.com

[carla]

Thanks a lot, I'm going to check it out right away!
greetz

[dora]

Hi, try to contact comedia.org.uk and ask them for support. Best, Dora