Lots of people know the feeling of walking past an art gallery, finding what’s in the window interesting yet being held back from entering by the spurious idea that it’s not for me. When you have to ring a bell to gain access the feeling can be particularly strong and nowadays the condition even has a name – threshold anxiety.
Appetite in Stoke-on-Trent is a good example of an arts project which aims to throw open the gallery doors and get more people to experience and be by inspired by the arts. Last year taster events were run with shows, exhibitions and activities for all the family. More than 16,000 people attended and their feedback has been used to plan this year’s programme. Local arts groups are involved and as Appetite develops annually more and more people are being empowered to develop their own arts events. Stoke should benefit well into the future from a legacy of continuing and sustainable arts projects.
Appetite is spearheaded by the local New Vic theatre in partnership with local arts groups. The New Vic already aims to bring compelling theatre to a wider audience – to this end some tickets for each production are given away free to people under 26. 1000 young people saw the drama The Cost of Living about gangs and knife-crime, while over 12,000 people took part in New Vic community projects. Artistic director Theresa Heskins says ‘we take very seriously our role in making our area a better place to live’ and Appetite is an extension of this desire to improve and regenerate the local neighbourhood.
Events are not restricted to traditional locations such as theatres and galleries. For example Birmingham dance house DanceXchange has been taking dance to unthreatening locations in local communities, performing Spill by Shaun Parker in children’s playgrounds.
Not all of the moves are sensible to perform in front of the very kids who will later be using the equipment. But the high-energy urban dance, hip hop and the re-imagining of the swings and slides will encourage the children to see different possibilities in more than just playgrounds. Dance studios in Stoke had better prepare for an influx of students.
Artist Dan Thompson has recently begun a year-long Appetite project based along the busy London Road. Dan is a social artist who is more interested in making things happen than making things. His work concerns people, places and champions DIY approaches to art and culture. Ultimately this #allabouttheroad project will result in a book telling a story of Stoke, but the journey towards that is just as important as he uncovers local stories, restores original features and reinvents forgotten buildings. Already he has discovered an original steam-powered bakery and a part-Pugin designed building. Anyone can join in with the project by visiting the Facebook page. Watch this space for more details and a chat with Dan about the project.
Appetite has invested £3 million in the Stoke region. They are well on the way to one of their aims of showing that there are ‘as many ways to serve up and enjoy the arts as there are to eat a meal.’ Local arts engagement may have been significantly below the national average when the project started, but the appetite for the arts is being quickly developed.
Click here to read about more about the upcoming events in Stoke
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