THE CENTRE WORKING PARTY REPORT

Indicative Monthly Programme Pattern

APPENDIX 5: THE ARTS FACILITY

Indicative Monthly Programme Pattern

	am	pm	evening
Monday		after school arts	rehearsal hire
Tuesday		music rehearsal	comedy
Wednesday		dance class	salsa
Thursday		dance class	jazz
Friday			social hire
Saturday	children's show		event hire
Sunday	children's workshop		film /video
Monday		after school arts	rehearsal hire
Tuesday			classical recital
Wednesday		dance class	jive
Thursday		dance class	folk
Friday			social hire
Saturday	children's show		rock bands
Sunday	children's workshop	jazz	film /video
Monday		after school arts	rehearsal hire
Tuesday		music rehearsal	literature event
Wednesday		dance class	salsa
Thursday		dance class	jazz
Friday			social hire
Saturday	children's show	social hire	event hire
Sunday	children's workshop	classical recital	film /video
Monday		after school arts	rehearsal hire
Tuesday			dance show
Wednesday		dance class	jive
Thursday		dance class	folk
Friday			social hire
Saturday	children's show		rock bands
Sunday	children's workshop		film /video

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Notes

Weekday daytime use: most of the pm weekday activities would start after school hours. While it is reasonable to anticipate a degree of usage by schools during school hours, it would seem wise not to be reliant on this. Thus it is envisaged that the bulk of weekday daytime use could come from partnership with agencies providing activity (including cultural activity) for either older people or pre-school children. Some use, and income, should also come from commercial and business hire.

After school arts: one session per week envisaged for an after-school club based on performing arts activity, possibly resourced from New Opportunities Fund bid.

Rehearsal hire: one evening per week envisaged. This could be from one regular user or a range of groups. Likewise two afternoon music rehearsals per month. Note that for much other small-scale music rehearsal the 'dry' upstairs space would be adequate.

Dance classes: two afternoons per week envisaged. This broadly ties in with Combination Dance's current schedule. Other existing groups might well also be interested in shifting activity to the Centre.

Comedy event: one per month envisaged. In view of the number of comedy clubs which regularly spring up across the Borough, this is probably a modest estimate of potential usage.

Salsa/Jive: One social dance event per week envisaged. Would probably be two different types, each on a fortnightly basis. Salsa and jive given as examples, but fashions vary and others may become more appropriate.

Jazz/Folk: One event per week, on alternate basis. Many local promoters interested in staging such activity given an appropriate space. Additionally, one Sunday lunchtime jazz event per month envisaged - this might be less contemporary than evening activity.

Rock bands: venue will be too small to play a major part in local provision, but demand is such that fortnightly events still a reasonable estimate.

Classical recital: one evening and one Sunday afternoon per month envisaged. These would be small-scale (certainly smaller than, for example, Richmond Concert Society programme) but there is still demand at this level.

10.

Literature event: one evening per month. Programmed by Arts Office using existing publisher and other contacts generated through Book Now!

11.

Dance performance: one evening per month. Programmed by Arts Office, possibly with support from London Arts Board, who are aware of this possible development and who already fund the dance festival Leap Into Dance on an annual basis.

12.

Children's Show: one per week. Proven demand for this activity.

13.

Children's Workshop: one per week. Proven demand for this activity.

14.

Video/film: If this is to be part of the facility, one evening per week is minimum provision level.

15.

Social hire: one evening per week plus one afternoon per month is a relatively modest expectation.

16.

Event hire: two evenings per month. Expectation is that with such an attractive site this level, over and above other activity outlined above, is not unreasonable.

17.

The programme would of course vary somewhat according to a variety of factors. These might include:

Easter and summer school holiday activities - considerable potential for additional weekday daytime programming, but possibly less evening activity in summer

Dance festival - considerable potential for additional dance performances for two weeks in spring

Book Now! - considerable potential for additional literature events throughout November.

Much of this activity might well be staged by or in partnership with external promoters. The programme does not take into account activity related to the Discovery Centre.

The schedule indicates a relatively heavy level of usage, which in turn would imply significant staff costs (although in many cases these ought to be covered by hire charges). The actual programme will be developed to optimise activity in relation to staffing costs and to minimise the frequency of format changes between flat and raked floors. This schedule does not take into account the optimum efficiency for the use of the space in terms of minimising format changes i.e. between flat floor and raked seating events. Obviously it would be possible to achieve other permutations of these activities.

The workshop spaces would also accommodate a range of uses. The 'wet' space would primarily be for art and craft use. This space might particularly be appropriate for use by children and young people. There is a significant amount of art and craft provision for adults but very little for younger people. We know from enquiries to the Arts Office that considerable demand exists in this area, and we also have access to many potential local teachers. The 'wet' space could also be used for school parties to eat packed lunches.

The 'dry' space would be used principally for writing groups (mainly but not exclusively adults) and small-scale music rehearsal (all ages). As with the performance/larger workshop space, both workshops would be used on a mixture of bases:

activity generated by the Centre itself

hires by local groups

private hires by individual teachers.

In addition, they would be used for purposes related to the Discovery Centre. They might also be of value to weekday daytime partners as outlined above.

Overall the facilities would be used by people of all ages, from pre-school children to older people, for both 'passive' and participatory purposes. The majority of users would be local, but given the nature of the activities, involving a range of specialist and minority tastes, would also include some enthusiasts for particular programme elements willing to travel from elsewhere in and beyond the Borough.