First blog post from Barnstorm!

So I thought that, following a really successful and well attended Town Meeting last night, that I would start a blog to record some of the details of what is going on with Bradford Barnstorm, this exciting community partnership project. Then people who are interested can find out exactly what has been going on and keep up to date on news!

So ... I turned up fashionably just on time to the town meeting, having had the best of intentions to be early and finding no parking spaces at St Margaret's Hall in Bradford on Avon town centre. This was the first exciting point of the evening.

All attendees were asked to complete a form on arrival to provide contact details and the areas in which they might be interested in participating, and following some warming tea and community chat, the meeting began.

Ritke Carr from Bradford on Avon Arts Festival opened the meeting, welcoming the assembled masses and providing some background into what Barnstorm has had simmering away for the past year, and the birth of a plan many more before then.


The partnership between some of the key local arts organisations will draw upon Iford Arts' ability to innovatively use unusual spaces to great effect for musical performance and the Wiltshire Music Centre's ability to inspire and encourage young musicians from the very beginnings of their musical education to the start of their professional careers.


The floor was then taken by John Edwards of Iford Arts to speak about the finances and need for fundraising in this project, as well as communicating passionately about the Tithe Barn as a building, and the legacy that this project could leave for future use by community groups.

Judy Eglington, Artistic Director of Iford Arts, spoke about Noye's Fludde as a piece of music and the opportunity for community involvement, with particular attention paid to the roles for local children. She also talked about the partnership and what, in particular, Salisbury Playhouse will be able to bring in terms of the production values and design.

We then heard from Keith Nimmo of the Wiltshire Music Centre about what this project means as part of the Nationwide celebration of Britten's Centenary, and about Britten as one of the great composers of the twentieth century.

Mike Daniels, who is not only a well known and respected local musician, but will also be conducting the performances of Noye's Fludde, spoke briefly. He said a little about his role, and about the history of community music making in Bradford on Avon and of previous successes in Wiltshire.

The opportunities for people within the community to get involved are great and wide-ranging, both musical and artistic. Help is required for:

• participating in the community choir (we are aiming for 100+ voices) and hoping that everyone who wants to joins in, whether you have a music degree or do not read a note of music - the emphasis is OPEN ACCESS and inclusivity!
• website design
• puppetry building, design and financing
• design (of set, stage, costume, masks ... if you are creative, there is a job that can be found!)
• fundraising - from bake sales and carol singing to securing large grants and support
• stewarding

Once the floor was open to questions, support seemed to be free-flowing (pardon the water-based pun ... expect more in future blog posts, with my apologies):

• The suggestion of a Water Festival running alongside this event in July was put forward. This would involve the local sailing club, incorporating canoe races, open swimming and raft building. There was a general sense that this would be a great idea (and possibly a way of getting local celebrity Ed McKeever involved!)
• The range of animals involved in the opera was highlighted, displaying the potential to raise awareness of little-known British wildlife, as well as the educational potential of learning about more exotic creatures
• Stephanie Squire's dance studio was suggested to be contacted for dancers, young people who may be keen to get involved, as well as costumes, of which they have many that might be relevant
• It is hoped that not just children from the cluster schools will get involved, but all children from Bradford on Avon. Hopefully links will be created through social network sites (see www.facebook.com/bradford.barnstorm and  twitter.com/BoABarnstorm) but that it is also a responsability of local parents to spread the word and encourage participation

The meeting concluded and an enormous feeling of excitement and satisfaction resulted. It's pushing 5.30pm on a Friday so that will do nicely for my first every blog post. Until the next meeting or news-y update!