Tag: Buckinghamshire

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.

Culture

Opportunity: Project Co-ordinator

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We are hiring text with image of umbrellas

Buckinghamshire Culture is excited to be able to share this opportunity to join our small team.

We are looking for a Project Co-ordinator who can help us steer and grow our organisation, help develop new projects that benefit Buckinghamshire residents and be part of implementing the Buckinghamshire Cultural Strategy. Working with a wide range of partners and stakeholders across the county to build new initiatives and develop the creative and cultural offer, this role is perfect for a creative and strategic self-starter with lots of ideas. This role provides a great opportunity to join a new charity and help to shape it.

The Buckinghamshire Culture Project Co-ordinator will support projects and initiatives relating to Buckinghamshire Culture’s business including delivery of the Cultural Strategy.  The Project Co-ordinator will assist with organisational, financial, programme and commissioning (of work and services) activities.  Taking a proactive approach, they will develop and deliver specific projects and programmes, in particular projects to empower under-served groups and communities through creativity and culture.  A collaborative working relationship will need to be developed and maintained with all stakeholders and partners.  

This is a part time, fixed term, employed role until December 2024.

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

The full Job Description is available here:

Buckinghamshire Culture Project Co-ordinator Job DescriptionDownload

To apply, please submit:

  • A letter of application outlining how your skills and experience and approach align to the Job Description, Values and Person Specification – this can be written (no more than 2 A4 pages), filmed or audio recorded. If filmed or audio recorded and files are large, please submit using WeTransfer, Dropbox or similar.
  • Your CV
  • Details of 2 referees.

Applications should be sent to: Lallie@buckinghamshireculture.org

Deadline for applications: 21st February 2022, 5pm

Interviews: 2nd/3rd March 2022.

Culture

Would you like to be a Trustee?

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Having registered as a charity a few months ago, Buckinghamshire Culture is now ready to build a Board of Trustees to guide and steer the organisation.

We are seeking people from varied backgrounds, and who come with diverse experiences, able to demonstrate knowledge or experience in one or more of the following areas:

  • Running creative/cultural organisation(s) or projects
  • Practicing as an artist or creative
  • Fundraising
  • Buckinghamshire social context
  • Views and perspectives of children and young people
  • Legal / Human Resources
  • Accountancy.

To find out more, and for details of how to apply please take a look at our Trustee Pack:

Buckinghamshire Culture Trustee Pack Dec 2021 FinalDownload

Deadline for expressions of interest: 17th January 2022, 5pm.

We are very happy to receive expressions if interest as written statements, voice recordings or videos (for the latter two formats please send via Dropbox or Wetransfer) alongside a current and relevant CV.

Culture

Story Packs – Activities for School and Home

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Our talented artists have created Story-themed packs for students to try in the class room, or at home. There are making and drawing activities, poetry activities and dance activities to try.

You can download the activities here:

Story Postcards Pack by Tom CrossDownload
Summer of Stories Exploring Words ActivityDownload
Summer of Stories the Story of Your Tree ActivityDownload
Summer of Stories Ceilidh Jam ActivityDownload

You can share pictures of your creations on social media using #SummerOfStories

Or via our Story Form on our website: www.buckinghamshireculture.org/Summer-Of-Stories

You can also learn more about our project and how our artists are taking inspiration from stories shared by people across Buckinghamshire on our website.

Culture

Thinking Digital – online skill sharing event

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Buckinghamshire Culture, Garsington Opera and Resource Productions are pleased to present an online event for the creative and cultural sector sharing digital adaptations and innovative virtual delivery skills and tips.

Thinking Digital is free and will take place on 11th February from 1pm – full details and booking here: www.thinkingdigitalbucks.eventbrite.co.uk 

During the Covid-19 pandemic we have seen creative and cultural organisations innovate, re-frame and develop online content thanks to rapid learning and adaptation.  To support those coming back to work, or looking for new ideas for engagement, Buckinghamshire Culture, in partnership with Garsington Opera and Resource Productions, have worked together to develop this online workshop. 

This event will focus on digital engagement and will share learning and top tips, as well as first-hand experiences of those delivering online. We aim to take away some of the fear of delivering online for the first time and share tips for those that have some experience already. There will be a creative, participatory element to the session when the group is invited to devise a new Chorus with Garsington Opera’s Richard Taylor and Karen Gillingham, so you can experience online creative engagement first hand and be inspired to try your own version. We will finish with a Q&A and brief panel discussion of what further advice, input, sharing or support attendees would like to see next.

We have curated a programme of speakers from Buckinghamshire and beyond covering a range of topics:

  • Adapting and pivoting activities for online engagement
  • Sharing tips for use of digital tools such as Zoom, Whatsapp, Youtube, Google classroom etc
  • Engaging vulnerable people online
  • Supporting those with multiple needs or limited experience to engage online
  • Skills and performance tips for online delivery
  • Working inclusively online
  • Opening doors to collections and resources using virtual access
  • Increasing certain audiences who might prefer online engagement
  • Working with artists and practitioners in a digital space
  • Tips for successful online engagement.

This event has been funded by Rothschild Foundation.

Culture

New Programme Supporting Our Creative and Cultural Leaders Launches

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Buckinghamshire Culture has commissioned Cultural Associates Oxford to develop and deliver a bespoke leadership programme for the county called Bucks Cultural Leaders.  This new online leadership programme and network for leaders and innovators across the creative and cultural sector in Bucks has been designed to respond positively and proactively to the impact of Covid-19, and to support the cultural eco-system of Buckinghamshire at a time of great challenge for the cultural sector.

A multi-faceted programme of leadership sessions, peer mentoring, action research and professional development has been developed by Cultural Associates Oxford, who will bring their own experience and skills to the programme, as well as enlisting the support of external speakers.  The programme will begin in February and take place throughout the year until Autumn 2021. 

The application process was launched in November 2020 and the panel met just before Christmas to review an impressive collection of applications.  22 innovators and leaders from the Bucks creative and cultural sectors have been offered a place on Bucks Cultural Leaders.  The response from our successful applicants has been fantastic and shows that this programme is extremely timely:

That’s brilliant news! Something really positive to look forward to, just at a time when we need to be working collaboratively. I shall get started on my reading and send the bio and pic to you.

Thanks for sending me this good news. After yesterday’s announcement and losing another project to the continued lockdown it was most welcome!

Many thanks and I am delighted to have been accepted on the course! Now for the homework…… Well done in getting this off the ground – its brilliant and much needed.

I’ve had to re-read this a couple of times to check it’s real! I am delighted to have been offered a place and I know I will get so much out of this opportunity.  This news has put a spring in my step on a day that was significantly lacking in positivity for obvious reasons.

With warmest wishes and thanks to you and the team that have put this together

Participants on this leadership course represent the breadth of the Bucks creative and cultural sector, including: Amersham Museum, Buckinghamshire Archives, Buckinghamshire Culture, Bucks County Museum, Bucks New University, Buska Video, Chiltern Arts, Chiltern Open Air Museum, Fish Eye Film Fest, Garsington Opera, Milton’s Cottage, National Paralympic Heritage Centre, Obsidian Art, Queens Park Arts Centre, Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Signdance Collective, The Buckinghamshire Craft Guild, The Elgiva, The Theatre Shed, Waddesdon, Wycombe Museum, Wycombe Swan.

A complementary programme of business and cultural development workshops will also be offered to participants, their colleagues and the wider creative and cultural sector to support re-building after the pandemic.  These will begin in April 2021 and be announced soon.

Bucks Cultural Leaders has been funded by the Rothschild Foundation, Arts Council England and Buckinghamshire Council.

Culture

What is your favourite Buckinghamshire object?

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Buckinghamshire Culture is inviting us all to use the time of lockdown to reflect on what makes our county unique and such a special place to live.  Today it launches a public, county-wide search for the 100 Objects that best define Buckinghamshire and celebrate its story.  A past Prime Minister, an Olympic Gold Medallist, leading broadcasters, business, arts and political leaders – all living in Bucks – have already made their choices – now it’s your turn.  Find out what Denise Lewis, Tony and Cherie Blair, Gabby Logan, Sir Clive Woodward, Dr Michael Mosely and Rachael Shimmin all chose and nominate your own objects here: www.buckinghamshireculture.org/bucks-in-100-objects

Buckinghamshire has an amazing collection of artefacts dating back over 300,000 years held in Museums, stores, archives, National Trust properties, sports venues, landscapes and gardens across the county.  Taken together these objects tell the story of Buckinghamshire.  And there are even more objects which help to define us and tell our story that are not part of these collections – many of these might be sitting in our high streets, riverbanks or in people’s work places, or even our hospitals. 

This online campaign is a response to Covid-19, but also feeds into a larger project idea to develop the story of Bucks in 100 Objects.  Eventually, we will create an exhibition, publication, county trails and a website sharing the wonderful objects and heritage that can be found across Bucks.  But for now, we want to use this idea to develop connection, a sense of community and local pride.  In response to Lockdown, we want to start the process of sharing, discussing and nominating objects online – via social media.  This is chance to share favourite objects and aspects of Buckinghamshire’s history, as well as what you like about living here, and the reasons that you are proud of Bucks.

Bill Morris, Buckinghamshire Culture Co-Chair said:

The difficult times we’re all coping with offer us the opportunity to reflect on where we live.  And most of us would agree that we’re extremely fortunate to be here in Buckinghamshire.  But what makes it so special, and how can we best tell its story?  We want you all to help define 100 Objects from around the county that sum up what Bucks and its people stand for.

To follow the campaign, see #Bucks100 on Twitter and Instagram and our growing list of nominations on our website: www.buckinghamshireculture.org/bucks-in-100-objects

If you want to nominate an object, please see the information below for how to submit an object for inclusion.

If you have an object that you wish to nominate:

Email nominations directly to: culture@buckscountymuseum.org – each nomination must include: –        

  • An image or a video of the object that you feel is important to Buckinghamshire’s story – ideally images should be 1080 x 1920 pixels and no bigger than 4MB,
  • Up to 500 words providing a description of the object, what Buckinghamshire means to you, and why this object is important, this will be posted on our website with your object image. 

To be considered as one of the 100 objects, nominations must be for: –

  • Physical objects within Bucks,
  • Objects that hold some kind of heritage, cultural or community value,
  • Be available to be photographed/videoed if not actually on display
  • Objects must be suitable for people all ages.

For more information, or for a document you can share with others, please see the call out below:

Bucks in 100 Objects Call Out PublicDownload

Buckinghamshire Culture is a new 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.  This micro-project is part of much bigger plans to develop a range of county-wide creative and cultural projects for Buckinghamshire as part of the Buckinghamshire Cultural Strategy. 

Culture

Buckinghamshire community encouraged to share lockdown stories

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To connect residents across Buckinghamshire during these challenging times, the University of Buckingham and Buckinghamshire Culture have teamed up to create ‘Lockdown Stories’ – a website where county residents can share their thoughts and experiences. 

‘Lockdown Stories’ is designed to help individuals tell their story, explore their creativity and build connections. Stories are posted online at Buckingham.news and shared on social media using the hashtag #lockdownstories.

Submissions so far have included, a poem from the Bard of Buckingham, Dean Jones, a comical left-field view of isolation, an example of how you can create a happy moods board and a virtual walk. Others have chosen to film activities such as reading their favourite poems or share the world from their dog’s perspective. There’s also the collaborative story, ‘Beginnings’, which encourages readers to write the next chapter themselves before letting the next person continue the tale.

The intention is to celebrate the power of stories and storytelling as ways to escape and relax, fire imaginations, make sense of the world, pass on information and traditions, share experiences, feel accepted and valued, and make new connections.

This micro-project is part of much bigger plans to develop a Storytelling Festival for Buckinghamshire as part of the Buckinghamshire Cultural Strategy. Storytelling is a theme that has long been associated with the area with several literary events already taking place in Buckinghamshire, including the Buckingham Literary Festival and WhizzfizzFest, Working with these events, Buckinghamshire Culture is planning to create a Storytelling Festival for 2022 that embraces the whole county.

The Storytelling Festival will explore storytelling in all its forms, and will include different types of arts and creative opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to experience, share and participate in stories and storytelling. The festival had originally been planned for 2021, however due to the pandemic the decision was taken to delay the first event.

Julius Weinberg, Buckinghamshire Culture Co-Chair said: ‘We are sad that our plans to develop a Festival have had to be delayed due to Covid-19, but we are really excited to work with the University of Buckingham to offer this opportunity to connect people online through creativity and stories – we cannot wait to see what people create’

Roger Perkins, Head of Journalism at the University of Buckingham adds, ‘Lockdown Stories offers a chance for each of us to show some solidarity with each other at a particularly difficult time. It’s the perfect expression of citizen journalism in the breadth of its coverage. It’ll also provide a record of what we were doing and how we were feeling for future generations.’ 

If you would like to submit your story please email Camilla.zingari@buckingham.ac.uk.  Stories can be submitted as video, film, voice recording, images, text (please note: stories must be suitable for audiences of all ages).  If you need some prompts to fire your imagination and creativity, your story might be inspired by: seeing something or someone in a new light, an unexpected ‘silver lining’ from your isolation, or an old memory or story given a new life.