Tag: Buckinghamshire Culture

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Discover Something Extraordinary

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Discover something extraordinary this July with Open Weekend

Everyone is invited to explore their creativity, and our varied county, during our jam-packed Open Weekend, 25th-28th July. With 34 contributors running 54 events across Bucks, there is plenty to enjoy. You can take part in free or low-cost activities and maybe try something new or go somewhere you have not been before!

Photograph shows four musicians dressed as superheroes and all carrying instruments
Vache Baroque, History of Sounds

Whether you are looking for something to do with little ones, a chance to try a new artform, time to learn, or time to chill out – there is plenty to choose from. This year’s fantastic programme includes opportunities to watch or join in with singing, dancing, music-making, crafting and much more. You might also visit an exhibition, listen to an author interview, enjoy live music, join a themed tour or explore local heritage. Events are taking place in person across the county, and online too.

See the Buckinghamshire Culture website for the full listing: www.buckinghamshireculture.org/open-weekend-whats-on and follow #BucksOpenWeekend and #TogetherWeCelebrate for social media updates.

This year organisations will be offering a wide range of activities on the theme of Together We Celebrate, inspired by the Paris Olympics and Paralympics 2024. Buckinghamshire has an extra special reason to celebrate as it is the proud birthplace of the Paralympic movement, and this year we have asked our event organisers to think about how they can honour this heritage. This year Open Weekend will be part of Buckinghamshire Council’s wider Together We Celebrate programme of activities and exhibitions themed around our shared advocacy of diversity, inclusivity and accessibility taking place throughout the summer.

A celebration of togetherness runs through all of the 2024 Open Weekend events, and some are offering particular activities to make your own medal (at Hughenden), design a Paralympic poster (at Aylesbury Library), or explore Paralympic artefacts and stories through a new Virtual Museum (online via the National Paralympic Heritage Trust). Please join us in celebrating the power of art and culture to bring people together and develop inclusion and understanding.

Photograph shows five participants from Missenden Walled Garden sitting on wooden benches and showing the vegetables they have picked
Missenden Walled Garden

Bill Morris, Buckinghamshire Culture’s Chair says: “We are so pleased and proud that once again organisations and individuals across Bucks have put together a programme of fantastic events. It is wonderful to see so many activities promoting inclusion and togetherness, and in a Games year, its extra special to celebrate our unique role in creating the Paralympic movement.”

Ruth Page, Buckinghamshire Council’s Head of Culture said: “Open Weekend is a brilliant way to celebrate the range of creative and cultural things you can do in Bucks. It is great to see so many activities taking place with the theme of ‘Together We Celebrate’ and showing how we can lead the way for access and inclusion.”

Open Weekend is made possible thanks to funding from the Rothschild Foundation and Buckinghamshire Council. It is co-ordinated by Buckinghamshire Culture and is delivered in partnership with organisations and creatives across the county.

Garden stepping stones containing mosaic and gem stones on a bed of bark chippings
Garden Stones created by Feedback Global

Further Information

Buckinghamshire Culture

Buckinghamshire Culture is the creative and cultural partnership for the county, developed to drive forward the Buckinghamshire Cultural Strategy. Building an inclusive, uplifting and supportive creative hub, we connect, build and nourish creative individuals and organisations. We share and celebrate the value of creativity and culture to everyone’s lives – embedding it across essential agendas. We harness the power of working together through collaboration and partnership, shaping joint projects that support happier and healthier lives for our residents. Together, we can better celebrate and share stories of our communities and county. More information on Buckinghamshire Culture: https://buckinghamshireculture.org/

Together We Celebrate programme coordinated by Buckinghamshire Council

To mark the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games, we are once again asking Buckinghamshire’s communities to join us and our partners in celebrating the county’s unique and proud Paralympic heritage. Our collaborative approach aims to bring like-minded partners, organisations, and communities together to recognise Buckinghamshire as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. A series of activities and exhibitions themed around our shared advocacy of diversity, inclusivity and accessibility will take place throughout the summer as Together We Celebrate. More information on Together We Celebrate: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/events/together-we-celebrate-2024/

Culture

STORIES receives Arts Council Funding

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Fireside by Nikki & JD and Lost Dog Dance

Buckinghamshire residents are invited to explore the power of stories and join walks, fireside performances, story-telling and village portraits this Summer/Autumn. There will be a range of community-focussed activities across the county as Buckinghamshire Culture pilots STORIES, a programme that aims to shine a light on the rich history and life of the county, thanks to public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

In this first year of STORIES activity, we and our partners, will work with artists, communities and other organisations to develop our ideas. Taking inspiration from our beautiful natural landscapes, our pilot season will include performances of Fireside by Nikki & JD in several Buckinghamshire locations. Inspired by the Paralympic story we will recruit d/Deaf and disabled artists to form an artist collective working with Ellen Renton, spoken-word artist and poet, to create new work. And inspired by the nature of our county as a place of small towns and villages, we will celebrate the nature of community through village portraits created by Theo Clinkard Dance, captured in photographs by Camilla Greenwell and new writing from a range of writers.

Stories Creative Associate, Eckhard Thiemann, says: “STORIES is an invitation for residents and visitors to discover and participate in new cultural experiences in places that make the county unique. We take panoramic shots of modern village life, animate natural beauty spots through performance, and delve into the important history of paralympic heritage. The outcome will be new stories to remember, to share and to inspire us.”

Clive Harriss, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure & Culture said: “Buckinghamshire Council is pleased to support this new initiative being run by Buckinghamshire Culture. Projects like this do so much to bring the arts to life in our local communities, allowing people to watch and participate in new cultural experiences which entertain and inspire all ages. The funding we are providing helps to ensure that everyone is able to access and enjoy something exciting in their local area.”

During this pilot Season we will work with a number of communities in local villages. We will partner with a range of organisations, including BuDs, National Disability Arts Collection and Archive, National Paralympic Heritage Trust among others.
We will be sharing opportunities for commissions and volunteering as the year progresses, please keep an eye out on social media if you are interested in collaborating with us.

Following this period of exploration, we will continue to work with artists and communities to weave together stories of people, places, histories and future dreams to celebrate unique places and moments across the county. We aim to share further STORIES work with residents across 2025 and 2026.

STORIES Season 1 is made possible thanks to public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and support from Buckinghamshire Council, National Paralympic Heritage Trust, Rothschild Foundation and a number of other partners.

Culture

Administration and Communications Assistant

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Buckinghamshire Culture is seeking a motivated individual to take on the freelance role of Administration & Communications Assistant to support our growing charity. Suiting some one with voluntary, charity, arts or heritage experience, the role will have the opportunity to help deliver our projects, training programmes and day-to-day business.

We support flexible working and are open to how the hours are delivered but will require some time each week to be spent at our office within Buckinghamshire New University’s High Wycombe campus.

As well as assisting with the day to day running of the charity, this role will champion Buckinghamshire Culture, ensuring excellent communication with partners and potential partners, raising the charity’s profile and reach.

For full details and how to apply, please see the Job Description below:

BC-admin-and-comms-assist-finalDownload
A still from Within Sight showing Ellen Renton running through parkland towards the viewer, down a straight path lined with trees.
Culture

Archive STORIES

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Call Out to D/deaf and Disabled Artists

Paid Opportunity

Application Deadline: Tuesday 7th May, 2024, 5pm

We invite performers (theatre, dance, circus), musicians, composers, spoken word artists, writers, poets, visual and digital artists to apply.

We are looking for up to four artists from a variety of disciplines, to be part of an artist collective with writer, poet and spoken word artist Ellen Renton, to create new works based on the exploration of Paralympic and Disability Arts archives in Buckinghamshire. The project is called Archive STORIES. We are particularly keen to hear from artists based in Buckinghamshire or neighbouring counties or artists with a strong connection to Buckinghamshire. This is a paid opportunity.

Archive STORIES coincides with this summer’s Paralympic Games in Paris and forms part of Buckinghamshire Culture’s new season of STORIES, a pilot season of events and activities taking place across Buckinghamshire between May and November 2024.

Please see our Call Out form for more information and to apply. This link contains all the details that you need to know in advance of an application, and a form to gather your application responses. Please click here to apply https://forms.gle/uWNSfh5zypCcYiJr8

You can also download the Call Out document, as either a Word or PDF below. These documents contain the same information as the Google Form.

For further information or assistance please email: Ursula White (Engagement Producer) ursula@buckinghamshireculture.org

PDF:

archive-stories_ddeaf_disabled-artist_call-out-finalDownload

Word document:

archive-stories_ddeaf_disabled-artist_call-out-final-word-docDownload
Culture

Sector Development Opportunities

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Creating Quality Video Content with the Digital Culture Network

6th of May – Online 1:15-2:30

Join Dean Shaw from Arts Council England’s, Digital Culture Network and learn how to create fun and engaging video content across online platforms.

We are delighted to welcome Dean Shaw to our series of sector networking sessions. This online learning session is devised to amplify your marketing approaches and work towards developing digital strategies to free up time and increase impact.

Dean is a Tech Champion at the Digital Culture Network (DCN) and set to share top tips on content creation and introduce you to the ACE , Digital Culture Network. The team at  DCN are available to advise on all things digital from accessibility and ticketing to ecommerce and marketing.

Dean is expert in supporting others to create high quality digital content, increasing impact and making the most time spent online. 

Join us for a fun and engaging session with opportunity for networking and conversations to explore how we can work together to increase reach and raise the profile of the great work happening in Bucks.

book here

March Highlights for the Cultural Sector

Green Gathering, 17th March

Join us at Amersham Museum for our final Going Green Gathering and help us work out the next steps for a more sustainable approach to programme delivery across culture and heritage settings.

The session is led by Melissa Maynard from Dacorum Heritage Trust on the 17th of March from 3-5 in person at Amersham Museum 

Melissa works with the Group for Education in Museums to look at how public-facing programmes and events can be more sustainable.

Melissa’s work on environmental sustainability is focused on how to implement impact behind the scenes to reduce carbon footprint taking into consideration; insulation, heating and lighting.  Melissa’s session explores how to consider the impact of visitor activities, shops and displays, and programme accordingly.

This workshop explores some of the ways in which we can make greener choices for visitor events. The session is followed with opportunity for Q&A and networking with tea, coffee and snacks provided.

Sign up for your free ticket at Eventbrite and email kerry@buckinghamshireculture.org with any questions.

Venue & Booking Details:

📅 March 17th, 3.00-5.00pm

📍 Amersham Museum, HP7 0DP

🔗 Booking Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1252756852469?aff=oddtdtcreator

Have your say – join us for Creative Culture Conversations, 20th March

Bucks Culture invites cultural organisations of all sizes to join our online Creative Culture Conversation to inform how we connect and collaborate to enable sector growth.

Aiming to deliver a fun and engaging session providing feedback in real-time, the session offers opportunity to input into strategic planning, inform groupings and allow people to feel heard, part of something and understood.

This facilitated session will enable peer sharing, identification of trends and celebration of successes – ultimately helping Bucks Culture to see how best to support the sector to develop and grow.

A series of digital tools will be used to help participants respond to a proposed programme of sector development presented by Bucks Culture.

Be part of the conversation

Join Bucks Culture and cultural organisations of all sizes to shape the future of arts and culture in Buckinghamshire.

  • Share success stories
  • Identify sector needs
  • Explore sector challenges
  • Access funding
  • Share learning to nurture peer support
  • Collect real-time data to measure impact
  • Work in partnership.

Venue & Booking Details:

📅 March 20th, 2-4pm

📍 Online via MS Teams

🔗 Booking Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creative-culture-conversations-tickets-1257992572649?aff=oddtdtcreator

Celebrate International Women’s Day at our Women of Culture Event, 6th March

Women of Culture – Celebrating Women in the Cultural Sector

Bucks Culture is hosting Women of Culture, a special networking and celebratory event in honour of International Women’s Day, bringing together women in the cultural sector.

On March 6th, we bring together women working across Buckinghamshire’s cultural sector to exchange ideas, share insights, and build meaningful connections. This event is a dedicated space to reflect on the role of women in the arts and culture, celebrate achievements, and discuss the challenges that remain. While the session is designed with women in mind, men are welcome as allies—this is about fostering an inclusive and supportive conversation.

Rosie Axon (Founder and Director, Chiltern Music Therapy), Betty Makharinsky (Founder and Executive Director, Vache Baroque), and Vicky Hope-Walker (CEO, National Paralympic Heritage Trust) will lead a dynamic and interactive session, offering insight into their experiences as founders and leaders in the cultural sector. Through artist-led discussions and participatory activities, they will explore the role of music and the female voice in storytelling, leadership, and creative expression.  As part of the Female Founder Journey, Rosie and Betty will share their perspectives on establishing and leading cultural organisations, while Vicky will provide insight into her work with the National Paralympic Heritage Trust, highlighting her leadership in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion within the sector.

Venue & Booking Details:
📅 March 6th, 12:30–2:30 PM

📍 Elgiva Theatre, St Mary’s Way, Chesham HP5 1HR

🔗 Booking Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-of-culture-celebrating-women-in-the-cultural-sector-tickets-1244870795059?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please pass this on to other women in your organisations too. 

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Seeking a Programme Manager

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Photograph of several people working together around a desk with two notebooks, a laptop and a coffee cup.

Buckinghamshire Culture is seeking a Programme Manager to support delivery and further development of our Sector-Facing programme, alongside projects and initiatives that support delivery of the Cultural Strategy. 

The Programme Manager will manage and develop our broad membership and the events, activities and programmes we deliver to support the sector.  This includes planning and programming our networking events and training activities, developing sector support initiatives, overseeing our 2024 conference and supporting co-ordination of our annual Open Weekend event. 

The role will be based at Buckinghamshire New University’s High Wycombe campus, with travel across the county and home-working as appropriate. 

Deadline for applications: 9am, 29th November 2023.

Please download the job description and details of how to apply below:

Programme-Manager-finalDownload
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Seeking an Engagement Producer

buckinghamshireculture
cork board with coloured notes and post its pinned up. One large yellow post it says 'make things happen'

Buckinghamshire Culture is seeking an Engagement Producer to support development and delivery of our Stories programme, alongside projects and initiatives that support delivery of the Cultural Strategy. 

The Engagement Producer will build relationships and partnerships with organisations and communities across Bucks in order to develop initiatives that enable greater participation in culture.  Taking a proactive approach, they will seek synergies and opportunities for collaboration that will shape our community-facing programme.  They will work with the Director and Creative Associate to build the Stories Season 1 programme.

The role will be based at Buckinghamshire New University’s High Wycombe campus, with travel across the county and home-working as appropriate. 

Deadline for applications: 9am, 27th November 2023

Please download the job description and details of how to apply below:

Engagement-Producer-FinalDownload
Culture

See Mascots, Torches, Racing Wheelchairs and much more across Bucks

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colourful graphic showing elements linked to the Paralympics

The Together We Build exhibition and events programme kicks off on 9th September and runs until 4th November at cultural venues across Bucks.  12 venues that have chosen to take part, will celebrate our County’s Paralympic heritage by displaying objects chosen by disabled Community Curators, and running events inspired by the Paralympic story.

Our project celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the London 2012 Paralympics, honouring the work of Dr Guttmann and the heritage and stories linked to this amazing event.  We are extremely proud to be working with a group of passionate Community Curators, who are bringing their voices to the project and sharing their stories too.

This is a chance to see a selection of Paralympic objects that have not been on display before, including: the Tokyo 2020 Torch, a Paralympic Athlete’s shirt designed by Stella McCartney for 2012, the Swaypole Dress and Gravity Corset from the 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony, lion and futuristic mascots and Chris Hallam’s Racing Wheelchair, among others.  These items will be on display at venues across the County and via our virtual gallery.

In October (date tbc) we are hosting an online Panel Discussion exploring the legacy since 2012.  This event will also begin to shape our thinking about an Access Manifesto for cultural venues in Bucks.

To find out more about the exhibition and events, to view our virtual gallery and to book a place for the Panel Discussion, please visit: www.buckinghamshireculture.org/Together-We-Build 

Chris Hallam's Racing Wheelchair
Chris Hallam’s Racing Wheelchair

Waddesdon Manor are leading on a schools programme for this project and will create a schools resource inspired by the objects chosen by our Community Curators, as well as hosting a schools event on site in September 2022. 

Buckinghamshire Culture is leading this project.  Project partners include those who hold Paralympic collections: Buckinghamshire Archives, Discover Bucks Museum, National Paralympic Heritage Trust and Waddesdon.  And those who will host objects, displays and events for our exhibition: Amersham Museum, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Bekonscot, Chiltern Open Air Museum, Discover Bucks Museum, The Elgiva, Marlow Library, Milton’s Cottage, Queens Park Arts Centre and Waddesdon Manor.

For further information about the project and to see all opportunities as they arise please see: www.buckinghamshireculture.org/Together-We-Build and #TogetherWeBuildBucks on social media.  Or contact Lallie: Lallie@buckinghamshireculture.org

Together We Build is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.  Support has also been provided by Buckinghamshire Council.

Culture

Celebrating 10 Years Since the London 2012 Paralympics

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Photograph shows a Paralympic athlete on a court with spectators behind

This year, in the County where the Paralympic movement started, we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the London 2012 Paralympics.  We will honour the work of Dr Guttman and Buckinghamshire’s position as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement through a collaborative project bringing together cultural organisations and d/Deaf and disabled Community Curators across the County.

Together We Build will share the story of the Paralympics, the forerunner of which Dr Guttman started in Stoke Mandeville in the 1940s; now known all over the world.  We will do so in Autumn 2022 through a multi-site exhibition and accessible events programme across 10 well-loved Bucks cultural venues.  This work will be backed up by training in access and disability awareness, development of an Access Manifesto and collection of memories and reflections relating to the 2012 Paralympics. 

We want to share the voices of d/Deaf and disabled residents by empowering them to take on the role of Community Curators, to choose an object that will form part of the exhibition.  Working with the National Paralympic Heritage Trust, our Community Curators will create their own interpretation, sharing why their chosen object is important to them, and what it means to them now.  They will also work closely with the host cultural venues to develop associated, accessible events and activities, forming a collective programme across the county.

The interpretation created by our Community Curators will be displayed alongside the curatorial/factual details for the object, sharing and valuing the voices of this community.  We are seeking 10 Community Curators (deadline 18th July!) – for details of how to apply please see: www.buckinghamshireculture.org/Together-We-Build

Waddesdon Manor are leading on a schools programme for this project and will create a schools resource inspired by the objects chosen by our Community Curators, as well as hosting a schools event on site in September 22. 

We will be offering small grants to voluntary heritage and community organisations that wish to develop and deliver an event inspired by the Paralympics, paired with one of our host venues and as part of the collective programme of activity in Autumn 2022 – details on criteria and how to apply coming soon.

Bill Morris, Co-Chair of Buckinghamshire Culture said, “It is fantastic to see so many of our cultural organisations coming together to share the story of the Paralympics.  I look forward to seeing what objects the Community Curators choose and how they tell their stories, as well as that of the Paralympic through the exhibition.”

Councillor Clive Harris, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure at Buckinghamshire Council said: “This is such an important story for our county, yet we often find that although it is well-known in Stoke Mandeville where it all started, and internationally, it is not well-known across wider parts of Buckinghamshire.  It is brilliant that our cultural partners want to celebrate it and share the story with people across the whole county and beyond.”

Buckinghamshire Culture is leading this project.  Project partners include those who hold Paralympic collections: Buckinghamshire Archives, Discover Bucks Museum, National Paralympic Heritage Trust and Waddesdon Manor.  And those who will host objects, displays and events for our exhibition: Amersham Museum, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Bekonscot, Chiltern Open Air Museum, Discover Bucks Museum, The Elgiva, Marlow Library, Milton’s Cottage, Queens Park Arts Centre and Waddesdon Manor.

For further information about the project and to see all opportunities as they arise please see: www.buckinghamshireculture.org/Together-We-Build and #TogetherWeBuildBucks on social media.  Or contact Lallie: Lallie@buckinghamshireculture.org

Together We Build is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.  Support has also been provided by Buckinghamshire Council.

Culture

Open Weekend – submissions open 25th April 2022!

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The Big Picture – Queen Ælfgifu, by Emily Brown & 39 artists from Chesham

With the warmer months approaching, and July already coming into view, organisers of Buckinghamshire’s Open Weekend celebration of creativity and culture are inviting submissions.

It is the second time the Open Weekend has taken place and this year will happen over four days, from 28th-31st July. Organised by Buckinghamshire Culture with the support of Buckinghamshire Council and the Rothschild Foundation, it is an opportunity to showcase the range and breadth of creative events, activities and initiatives taking place in Buckinghamshire.

The theme for 2022’s Open Weekend events will be ‘trees and green’, building on the celebrations for the Queen’s Jubilee in June, with suggestions including:

  • A local tree, wood, park or garden – telling stories, delivering creative workshops, outdoor performance, or transforming spaces
  • Stories about trees – encouraging people to think about our landscape heritage, exploring folk tales, sharing stories and memories linked to trees
  • The environment and green agenda – encouraging people to think about re-use, recycling and sustainability
  • The colour green itself – monochrome painting workshops, nature inspired creativity, green objects from collections to base activities around.

Organisers are encouraging organisations and groups across the county to submit their ideas for creative and cultural events and activities they plan to run in Buckinghamshire over the Open Weekend.  

Submissions for events/activities can be made between the 25th of April and 1st June via the online form at www.buckinghamshireculture.org/Open-Weekend

where there is also more information and FAQs, including the criteria for events.

As in 2021, Buckinghamshire Culture will be able to give out a limited amount of micro grants for implementing projects/activities. More information on how to apply will be coming soon.

Bill Morris, Buckinghamshire Culture Co-Chair said: “In light of the enjoyment and support that Open Weekend received in 2021, we felt we had no choice but to bring it back as annual event – we can’t wait to see what people put on!  We are also really pleased to share that Visit Buckinghamshire will be supporting our What’s On listing this year. “

Clive Harriss, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, added: “We’re excited to be teaming up again with Buckinghamshire Culture to run this year’s Open Weekend, which includes Buckinghamshire Day on 29th July. It’s a fantastic opportunity for local groups and organisations to run their own cultural and creative activities and events. They can submit their ideas for these via the Open Weekend webpage.”

During the first successful Open Weekend event for Buckinghamshire in July 2021, residents and visitors had the chance to take part in over 70 creative and cultural activities across the county. 

Back then, activities were themed to stories and storytelling and included literary and heritage walks, performances, open days, trails, concerts, film screenings, exhibitions and story-telling events. There were opportunities to undertake creative activities at home and online. Overall 3,500 people took part in activities.

Look out for further info on Open Weekend at www.buckinghamshireculture.org, on Twitter @BucksCulture or Instagram @Bucks_Culture. 

This programme is supported through funding from Buckinghamshire Council and Rothschild Foundation. 

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Notes to Editors:

Buckinghamshire Culture is the cultural partnership formed to drive forward the Cultural Strategy for the county. We aim to work together with the sector and stakeholders to shape, build and celebrate a bright cultural future for Buckinghamshire.  Open Weekend is just one part of wider plans to develop a range of county-wide creative and cultural projects for Buckinghamshire, as part of the Buckinghamshire Cultural Strategy. 

The Rothschild Foundation is a charity that supports arts and heritage, the environment, education and social welfare by awarding grants, fostering dialogue and debate, and through our support of Waddesdon Manor. Support for arts and cultural organisations is made available through our Strategic Fund.