| The exciting Performing Places Bexley project has been shortlisted for one of the National Campaign for the Arts’ (NCA) Hearts For The Arts Awards 2020, in the ‘Community Cohesion’ category. The awards are designed to celebrate local authorities who are championing the arts.
The short-listed ‘Performing Places’ programme was developed between the London Borough of Bexley and Professor Sally Mackey of The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and was funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Performing Places used drama to create an exciting and emotional story aimed at encouraging those that live in or visit a place to see it in its best light and to understand each other better. Performing Places used the story of a parallel universe, Par-Bexia, whose young Par-Bexians came down to Bexleyheath, unplanned and unexpectedly. The project was developed in the borough over two years, working with primary schools, secondary schools and community groups using drama. The second year of the project saw the introduction of the use of augmented reality (AR). The project ended in July last year with a fantastic week of events and a special finale when visitors to the Broadway were able to meet Par Bexians of all ages before they headed back to their home universe. The project was made possible by the support and collaboration of a range of local partners, including Emergency Exit Arts who developed costumes, props and scenery, practitioners from Little Fish Theatre who delivered several community engagement events, Rose Bruford College and Bird College, whose students performed alongside Royal Central School of Speech and Drama students in the Broadway, and Bexleyheath BID who supported the delivery of the project in the Town Centre. Cabinet Member for Places, Cllr Peter Craske said: “This is great news for Bexley. The Performing Places project was ‘out of this world’ in so many ways. It was a first for us and we were taken aback by the enthusiasm shown by everyone that took part. The workshops, performances and visits to community and voluntary groups that were all part of Performing Places were a great success. This shortlisting is a well-deserved recognition for an exciting project that has left its mark on the borough.” The Hearts For The Arts Awards 2020 shortlist was judged by representatives from some of this year’s partners in the awards: Culture Counts; Wales Council for Voluntary Action; Local Government Association; National Campaign for the Arts; and Voluntary Arts Wales. Discussing Bexley’s nomination, our partners said about Performing Places Bexley – “Performing Places Bexley started as a response to a significant local issue, but the scale of engagement and involvement, improved perceptions of the local area, and the lasting partnerships that have been formed, all demonstrate a project that has made a lasting impact on its community.” The winners of the Hearts For The Arts Awards 2020 will be announced on Valentine’s Day, 14 February. The National Campaign for the Arts presents the Hearts For The Arts Awards each year. The awards are delivered by UK Theatre, in partnership with Culture Counts, the Local Government Association, Theatre NI, Voluntary Arts Wales, Wales Council for Voluntary Action and Thrive NI. The Performing Places project was made possible in Bexley thanks to full funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Performing Places was a concept developed by Professor Mackey and has already been delivered successfully in several places, including Oldham and Camden. Find out more about Performing Places at www.performingplaces.org and www.vistsbexley.com For more information on the shortlisted nominees visit forthearts.org.uk/campaigns/hearts-for-the-arts/
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