B arts (Beavers Arts ltd) is a participatory arts organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent.[1] When it was founded in 1985, it was the UK's first female-led outdoor arts company. Originally named Beavers, it was established to "work together as women … at women’s festivals, in women’s centres, community centres, schools, refuges – anywhere that women meet".[2]
Historyedit
B arts was founded in 1985 by Gill Gill, Hilary Hughes and Yvon Male. Concerned about a process of theatre-making which at the time often centred around the ‘genius male director’ and one which sidelined women, the trio decided to form a new company and made a commitment to a non-hierarchical company, led by women, focussing on collaborative theatre with people who might not ordinarily encounter the arts.[3] Later in the same year, they were joined by Susan Clarke, who is the current artistic director.[1]
Beavers was renamed B arts in the mid-1990s and the company has trained hundreds of artists, writers, musicians and community members in making participatory outdoor theatre, outdoor and street arts.[2] The company became active in the cultural life in Stoke-on-Trent, early on being commissioned to create original street theatre for the Stoke-on-Trent Garden Festival, and also touring work to Italy, Romania, Bosnia, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Tunisia and New Zealand. It has brought work created in Mostar to North Staffordshire to create links between the region and Bosnia.[4] In 2014, with funding from the Esmee Faribairn Foundation, B arts led a partnership initiative to bring back empty, postindustrial building back into use as art galleries, theatres and art studios as part of a project, called ArtCity.[5]
The company runs Bread in Common, a community bakery run from its ex-warehouse hub.[6] In recent years B arts has been involved in large-scale strategic cultural programmes delivered with partners, such as Art City, a five-year, half a million pound Sterling arts programme that aimed to make the city a more attractive place to live and work [7] and the Appetite programme, an Arts Council England programme under its Creative People and Places initiative.[8] During the pandemic, it opened a 'Pay what you want' café, using surplus food from supermarkets.[9]
In September 2023, the BBC featured Susan Clarke and B arts as one of the finalists in the 'together category' on BBC Stoke.[10]
^Kidd, Belinda; Zahir, Samina; Khan, Sabra (2008). Arts and refugees: history, impact and future. The Baring Foundation (Report). Retrieved 2022-04-12.
^"Empty buildings in Stoke-on-Trent to become art galleries and theatres". BBC News. 2014-07-09. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
^"Scene Report: Stoke-on-Trent – a malleable city with creative potential". a-n The Artists Information Company. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
^Stoke-on-Trent. "Making the creative city - a cultural strategy for Stoke-on-Trent". www.stoke.gov.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
^"Increasing arts engagement in Stoke-on-Trent – in pictures". The Guardian. 2014-02-12. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
^Byatt, Flora (2022-01-08). "'Pay what you want' cafe launches in Stoke-on-Trent". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
^"BBC Radio Stoke - Make a Difference: BBC Radio Stoke, Together: Susan Clarke and B Arts". BBC. 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
External linksedit
Official website
Then and now
History of B Arts
January 01, 1970
arts, beavers, arts, participatory, arts, organisation, based, stoke, trent, when, founded, 1985, first, female, outdoor, arts, company, originally, named, beavers, established, work, together, women, women, festivals, women, centres, community, centres, schoo. B arts Beavers Arts ltd is a participatory arts organisation based in Stoke on Trent 1 When it was founded in 1985 it was the UK s first female led outdoor arts company Originally named Beavers it was established to work together as women at women s festivals in women s centres community centres schools refuges anywhere that women meet 2 History editB arts was founded in 1985 by Gill Gill Hilary Hughes and Yvon Male Concerned about a process of theatre making which at the time often centred around the genius male director and one which sidelined women the trio decided to form a new company and made a commitment to a non hierarchical company led by women focussing on collaborative theatre with people who might not ordinarily encounter the arts 3 Later in the same year they were joined by Susan Clarke who is the current artistic director 1 Beavers was renamed B arts in the mid 1990s and the company has trained hundreds of artists writers musicians and community members in making participatory outdoor theatre outdoor and street arts 2 The company became active in the cultural life in Stoke on Trent early on being commissioned to create original street theatre for the Stoke on Trent Garden Festival and also touring work to Italy Romania Bosnia Hungary Belgium Denmark France Germany Tunisia and New Zealand It has brought work created in Mostar to North Staffordshire to create links between the region and Bosnia 4 In 2014 with funding from the Esmee Faribairn Foundation B arts led a partnership initiative to bring back empty postindustrial building back into use as art galleries theatres and art studios as part of a project called ArtCity 5 The company runs Bread in Common a community bakery run from its ex warehouse hub 6 In recent years B arts has been involved in large scale strategic cultural programmes delivered with partners such as Art City a five year half a million pound Sterling arts programme that aimed to make the city a more attractive place to live and work 7 and the Appetite programme an Arts Council England programme under its Creative People and Places initiative 8 During the pandemic it opened a Pay what you want cafe using surplus food from supermarkets 9 In September 2023 the BBC featured Susan Clarke and B arts as one of the finalists in the together category on BBC Stoke 10 References edit a b B arts B arts Retrieved 2021 11 26 a b Clarke Susan 2021 10 04 Hilary Hughes obituary the Guardian Retrieved 2021 11 26 Then and Now B arts Retrieved 2021 11 27 Kidd Belinda Zahir Samina Khan Sabra 2008 Arts and refugees history impact and future The Baring Foundation Report Retrieved 2022 04 12 Empty buildings in Stoke on Trent to become art galleries and theatres BBC News 2014 07 09 Retrieved 2023 11 17 Scene Report Stoke on Trent a malleable city with creative potential a n The Artists Information Company Retrieved 2021 11 27 Stoke on Trent Making the creative city a cultural strategy for Stoke on Trent www stoke gov uk Retrieved 2021 11 27 Increasing arts engagement in Stoke on Trent in pictures The Guardian 2014 02 12 ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 2021 11 27 Byatt Flora 2022 01 08 Pay what you want cafe launches in Stoke on Trent StokeonTrentLive Retrieved 2022 04 12 BBC Radio Stoke Make a Difference BBC Radio Stoke Together Susan Clarke and B Arts BBC 2023 09 12 Retrieved 2023 11 17 External links editOfficial website Then and now History of B Arts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title B arts amp oldid 1209327362, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
