Information & Support
I'd like some advice, information and support on the arts in Colchester. Can you help?
Yes. We can provide information and advice on funding, arts activities and what’s going on in the Colchester area.
Where can I find out about local arts practitioners / teachers?
The ‘Making the Connection’ directory list local artists. Priced at £10.00, its available from firstsite @ the minories art gallery or contact 01206 577067 to order your copy. Visit Essex County Council website www.essexcc.gov.uk to search their database of Essex artists. Also they have a database in the library section called ‘life’ which list local information for Essex.
How can I find out about music teachers / music groups that I can join?
For information about becoming involved in community music and related activities in Colchester, contact Soundsense, the national agency for community music on www.soundsense.org
Can you give help and advice on organising / funding an arts project?
As part of our advisory role, we offer a funding surgery service to enable you to develop and organise your project effectively and maximise opportunities for attracting external funding. If you would like to book a funding surgery to discuss your proposal with an Arts Development Officer, contact arts.culture@colchester.gov.uk or telephone 01206 282917.
Do you have any useful website links relating to funding?
Awards for All www.awardsforall.org.uk
East England Arts www.eastenglandarts.co.uk
Paul Hamlyn Foundation www.phf.org.uk
Youth Music www.youthmusic.org.uk
The Film Council info@filmcouncil.org.uk
First Light Movies www.firstlightmovies.com
Essex County Council www.essexcc.gov.uk
Colchester’s Cultural Strategy www.colchesterforpeople.co.uk
Wivenhoe Engine Shed www.wivenhoe.gov.uk
Promotion
How can I promote myself as an artist / promote my arts project in Colchester?
If you have an arts event or project that you would like to promote in Colchester, why not get in touch with Colchester Visitor Information Centre who will be able to put details about your event on www.colchesterwhatson.co.uk
See FAQ's - Visitor Information on this website for contact details
www.essexcc.gov.uk/libraries links to life database of local Essex information. If you would like to put your services as a music/artistic practitioner onto the site please contact your local library.
Alternatively, why not have a look yourself at other events in the arts in and around Colchester. Click onto www.colchesterwhatson.co.uk
Exhibition spaces, venues to sell artwork and venues to hold project activites
Where can I exhibit or sell my work?
Colchester has a range of art cafés, venues, exhibition spaces and opportunities for artists to display work at fayres and events. There are also opportunities to make use of the potential to exhibit outside of traditional gallery settings.
Firstsite is the leading contemporary visual arts organisation in Essex and one of Colchester’s key cultural attractions. The gallery ‘without walls’ offers an extensive programme of diverse and innovative exhibitions complemented by fun, creative and inspiring events for all ages. www.firstsite.uk.net
If you want to find out more or participate in Colchester and Tendring’s artist led Open Studios scheme, click onto www.colchesteropenstudios.org. Taking place each autumn, the scheme has been running successfully in Colchester since 1997. It aims to help artists promote and sell their work to the general public autumn.
Where can I find a venue for my arts project?
Consider what type of venue is most appropriate for your project, does it need to be a particular size, have particular facilities? Consider community centre and village halls as possible venues but also various music, performance venues as well as recreational centres may be appropriate for your activity in Colchester. If you would like to find out more contact arts Development on 01206 282917 or visit www.essexcc.gov.uk/libraries for the ‘life’ Essex information database.
Where can I find a studio space?
Cuckoo Farm studios at Boxted offers studio space for artists as well as a programme of exhibitions at the Benham Gallery. Contact Peter Jones on 01206 575645
Where can I become a volunteer for arts activities?
There are a host of opportunities for volunteering in the arts. To find out more about volunteering contact:
www.firstsite.uk.net for visual arts
www.mercurytheatre.co.uk or www.headgatetheatre.co.uk for drama
www.signals.org.uk for multi-media
www.colchesterartscentre.com for music & comedy
www.openstudios.org for visual arts at cuckoo farm artist studios
www.headgatetheatre.co.uk for community performance
Additional information about volunteering in the arts can be found at www.voluntaryarts.org the main link to a network of volunteering and job opportunities across the country.
Where can I tell someone about a great event that I went to?
You may also like to tell people by logging an entry on this website's visitor book - click onto the 'visit colchester' button on the home page.
Arts Development welcomes your feedback about arts activities and events so please do get in touch with us to feedback your comments and views. Contact arts.culture@colchester.gov.uk or telephone 01206 282917
Do you have any useful website links relating to arts activity?
Colchester Arts Centre www.colchesterartscentre.com
Colchester Arts Forum www.colchesterartsforum.org.uk
Essex County Council www.essexcc.gov.uk
The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields www.asmf.org
Firstsite @ the minories art gallery www.firstsite.uk.net
The Mercury Theatre www.mercurytheatre.co.uk
Signals Media Arts www.signals.org.uk
The Headgate Theatre www.headgatetheatre.co.uk
How can I get in contact with Arts Development?
Clare Phillips , Arts Development Officer (Maternity cover)
clare.phillips@colchester.gov.uk
Telephone: 01206 282917