Events and Projects
In Touch With Art
Client: St. Dunstans, Goldsmiths - University of London, V&A
In Touch With Art - the first collaboration between the V&A, Goldsmiths University and St Dunstan’s, the independent charity for blind ex-service men and women empowered arts organisations to engage creatively with visually impaired people through the visual arts.
The two day conference featured an international array of practitioners and artists from major organisations including The Louvre, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, TATE, University of Fine Art Berlin, and the V&A. Delegates learned practical skills and methods to engage with visual art, be they visually impaired or working with visually impaired people.
sam worked closely with all of the organisations to programme, organise and recruit for this event in order to demystify what visual impairment means and motivate and inspire you to think about different learning styles and ways of seeing.
The conference examined models of best practice for the interpretation of visual arts for visually impaired audiences; investigated ways of teaching art to people with visual impairment; explored experiences of practising artists with visual impairment; identified how people with visual impairment can interact with art in gallery and museum environments and explored the personal, professional, physical and psychological experiences of artists, educators, and visitors with visual impairment.
Click here to download the conference programme.
Seaside Heritage: Colourful Past, Bright Future
Client : English Heritage
Seaside Heritage: Colourful Past, Bright Future took place in the historic St Mary in the Castle, Hastings, exploring how an appreciation of the past can help to inject seaside towns with vitality and a sense of purpose again. It highlighted the problems and challenges today in finding a balance between heritage and contemporary experiences and priorities, and considered the practical measures needed to ensure the future of the precious part of our history.
The two day event brought together 200 stakeholders working within heritage, regeneration, conversation, and tourism. sam managed all aspects of marketing and recruitment, pre-production, and running the successful conference on the two days.
"sam were magnificent! From their appointment to the completion of the conference they took care of all the detailed arrangements and let me get on with my work. They had an understanding of how to run events to the highest standard. sam took care of every detail of the conference, and produced an event that everyone thought was the most professional they had attended."
Allen Broadie, Senior Investigator, English Heritage.
Click here to download the conference programme.
The Culture Business
Client : WSCC, West Sussex Arts Partnership, Arts Council England
This one day conference was aimed at increasing the understanding of the value of the West Sussex arts and heritage sectors, their growth potential, and how we can maximise the benefit the sectors bring to the wider economy, and to communities.
A clear picture of the size and scope of the cultural sector emerged as a result of research initiated by the West Sussex Arts Partnership – who commissioned sam to measure the contribution of arts and heritage, on a district by district basis to the county's economy and to develop a robust framework of knowledge and data. Research examined turnover, investment levels, employment, GDP, business format, user levels, confidence in the future, and barriers to success.
The Culture Business provided an opportunity to discuss the key findings, outcomes and issues in the context of the broader UK economy and landscape. Leading local, regional and national specialists presented case studies and led a stimulating exchange of expertise and opinions, helping us to identify our distinctive cultural assets and how they can contribute to the county's competitive edge.
Click here to download the conference programme.
Made In Sussex
Client : East Sussex Area Investment Framework
Made In Sussex worked with individuals, businesses and organisations who were making and selling art and craft in the Rother, Wealden, Lewes and Eastbourne areas.
The aim of the project was to:
- Build the capacity and proficiency of the art and craft sector to utilise new and existing opportunities for online sales and business growth
- Develop the sector’s selling and promotional skills
- Increase the volume and value of sales for those involved in the project
- Provide the sector with a greater awareness for their potential for growth from cultural tourism
- Enhance the perception of East Sussex as a place for seeing and buying contemporary art and craft
sam worked with Academy Internet to develop an artists’ and galleries training package and resource as well as building an online gallery through which participating individuals and businesses could sell their work. In all over a 120 people received training and nearly 200 used the site to sell their work.
The Write Stuff
Client: Asham Literary Endowment Trust
The Write Stuff was designed to take the Asham Trust in a new direction; expanding their programme of work with schools and libraries across Sussex. The aim of the project was to create an anthology of young peoples’ (11-16) writing through a mentoring scheme with award winning writers Mal Peet, Anne Cassidy and Nicky Singer.
The Write Stuff is one of Asham’s most exciting projects, as we feel it will make a real difference to many young people. sam did some excellent research for us two years ago, in preparation for The Write Stuff, so we had no hesitation of inviting them to manage the scheme. I know they will bring expertise and real commitment to the job.
Carole Buchan, Asham Trust
sam’s role encompassed every aspect of the project including press liaison and organising a public launch event through to website design and development. At every stage, sam provided a first point-of-contact for the 800+ individuals involved and coordinated the 12 schools and libraries that took part in the ground-breaking project. The anthology was published March 2007.
Click here to download the evaluation report.
www.ashamaward.com