Spark Annual Report 2017

Annual Report 2017

2

Our Vision The Spark enables children to enjoy the opportunities for discovery offered by the arts as audiences, as learners and as creators of their own art.

Our Objectives •

To commission and produce high quality, diverse and innovative programmes for children in venues, schools and community settings which provide children, their families and their communities with the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts.

•

To organise a children’s arts festival each year recognised nationally for the quality, diversity and innovation of the programme, and valued locally for its contribution to the quality of life for children through creating experience, enrichment and inspiration.

•

To champion cultural education activity locally to ensure that children in Leicester/shire thrive through rich and adventurous experiences, no matter where they start in life, and to advocate for children’s rights to enjoy artistic opportunities as audiences, as learners and as creators of their own art.

•

To ensure that the organisation is sustainable, well governed by a skilled board and has the hallmarks of an effective charity.

Our Focus

On Your Doorstep

Our work in partnership with communities

At Your School

Our work in partnership with schools

In Your Venue

Our work with cultural partners across the city

< Big Sister Little Brother

A re-telling of The Emperor’s New Clothes by Mike Kenny. with Bhawna Bhawsar and Ben Welch at St Barnabas Library.

www.thesparkarts.co.uk

3

4

Animating Libraries in the East Midlands Through Live Theatre

This year The Spark were thrilled to establish the first pan region library touring consortium, Among Ideal Friends.

Inspired by books and stories for children 5-11 years the project toured five seasons of theatre performances and workshops to libraries in the East Midlands. The tours transformed a familiar setting and gave families and schools new opportunities to take part in arts and culture at venues on their doorstep.

“Children were all thoroughly engaged, children with specific learning needs really focused, fantastic for visually impaired child who laughed throughout" Fiona Stevens, Cobden Primary School Loughborough Library

In partnership with Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s Library Services, supported Arts Council England Strategic Touring fund.

“I saw you at Melton Mowbray and we loved the show. It was the best show ever!“ Emma, aged 6 on Facebook

7961 tickets sold

151 performances

54

1in 4

libraries within the consortium

3 new library members per show

shows sold out

5

theatre seasons

1in 5

never seen a theatre show with their child before

< Among Ideal Friends

A local school experiencing live theatre in St Barnabas Library

www.thesparkarts.co.uk

5

6

Animating Neighbourhoods Through Place Making

Imaginative Neighbourhoods is a two year project that places artists in residence within a library to support storytelling as a medium to promote reading for pleasure and language development. Our Artists work together with librarians and the community to bring stories to life, encouraging families and children to become actively involved in arts and culture at the heart of their community.

In March we hosted two large scale community celebrations marking the culmination of the first year of Imaginative Neighbourhoods.

“For me the most valuable skills the children gained from the process were learning about their own / different faiths and cultures.

Learning is also drama role play and can be very creative and children can express themselves in lots of different ways.”

Teacher

Beaumont Leys Big Celebration 350 people came together in Beaumont Leys to celebrate everything that’s great about the community, with live music, spoken word, performances, poetry and visual art by the community.

In partnership with UR Choice Young People’s project, funded by Big Lottery Fund

Holi Hai 300 people from Belgrave schools, community groups and residential homes worked to bring the colourful story of Holi alive with storytelling, art, music and dance, climaxing with a Dhol drumming procession and performance by the Youth Theatre group.

15,141 participants

51

events

443

workshops

154 arts awards

3

33

associate artists

Artists in residence

< Holi Hai

Community celebrations at Belgrave Library

www.thesparkarts.co.uk

7

8

The Spark Festival The Spark Festival is the largest independent children's arts festival in England & Wales, providing unforgettable arts experiences for young people aged 0 - 13 years in schools, theatres, parks and community venues across the city.

“Watching 100 children celebrate their identity through music. Literally making a song and dance about what unites us.

Truly magical.”

At Your School

Sonic Portraits audience member

At Your School is at the heart of the Spark Festival taking world class music, dance, storytelling and theatre productions in to school halls. In 2017 the Festival saw 39 performances in 20 schools to 5,000 pupils.

We are especially proud of our school residencies and the opportunity for young people to collaborate and perform alongside world class artists.

“We love the Spark Festival! Such a lovely way for children to discover, enjoy and celebrate the arts.”

City Play-ground participants

Powerful Words Internationally acclaimed storyteller and poet John Berkavitch worked with 120 ambitious 8 - 9 year olds over 11 weeks. The young writers came together to showcase the material produced during the residency at a Poetry Slam.

Sonic Portraits Brazilian percussionist and composer, Adriano Adewale, worked with 90 aspiring musicians to compose new songs telling their Leicester stories and experiences. The two-week residency culminated in a concert at The Y performed by pupils playing alongside Adriano and The Elda Trio.

9

venues

23 schools

over

11,000 participants

8

131 events

3

libraries

Amazing days

31

companies / artists

2

parks

< Yabba Funk

Perform to an excited audience at Folville Junior School

www.thesparkarts.co.uk

9

10

Tiny Sparks Our work with Early Years Tiny Sparks Tiny Sparks placed Artists in Residence in Children's Centres in two areas of Leicester City. The artists, through a weekly programme of project activity, developed and delivered a series of workshops aimed at early years children and their families.

31

symposium attendees

3 CPD for Early Years Practitioners

Acclaimed musician Arun Ghosh and musician / story-teller Dave 'Stickman' Higgins worked alongside early yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; teachers and play workers to provide opportunity for peer learning and creative professional development among front line staff.

The residencies were enhanced by visits to Curve to see performances of Whoosh! by Netherlands company Muziekvoorstelling.

Lighting the Fire

1

Tiny Sparks project

An early years symposium, held in May, that offered an opportunity to share experiences, perspectives and insights on how we can create opportunity for children to thrive through arts and creative practices.

The symposium was facilitated by guest speaker Rhona Matheson of Starcatchers as part of The Spark Festival.

2 artist residencies

Rhythm, Play, Express Dave 'Stickman' Higgins is also the early years artist in residence running Toddler Time sessions Rhythm, Play, Express at Beaumont Leys and Belgrave Neighbourhoods as part of the Imaginative Neighbourhoods project.

427

94

sessions

children

100% Tiny Sparks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Thanks to The Edith Murphy Foundation, The John & Susan Bowers Fund and Open Gate Trust.

of parents reported their child had learnt something new

97% improved language skills progressing at least two levels on Stages of Confident Speaking scale

< Arun Ghosh

Using music to increase confidence, language and communication.

www.thesparkarts.co.uk 11

12

Bespoke Commissions Sylvia South and the Word Catcher A new play by Finegan Kruckemeyer.

Commissioned by the Among Ideal Friends touring network, Sylvia South and the Word Catcher put libraries at the heart of the adventures. Full of imagination, curiosity and surprise, this new show was produced especially for libraries and toured the East Midlands in July and August 2017.

We are also proud to support

The First - Jayne Williams toured East Midlands libraries and museums as part of Among Ideal Friends

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Libraries are an essential part of communities. They give us spaces to learn, explore and be creative, which is why we're pleased to be investing in The Spark Arts latest library tour. It will be a brilliant way for more families in the East Midlands to enjoy great theatre locally.â&#x20AC;&#x153; Peter Knott Area Director, Arts Council England

Tales of Birbal - Mashi Theatre toured nationally and at The Spark Festival Sponge - Turned On Its Head toured nationally and at The Spark Festival

48 performances

46

libraries

1

2073 tickets

2500

Brand new show

88% capacity

scripts distributed

83 net promoter score

< Sylvia South and The Word Catcher

with Richard Fletcher and Lily Donovan at Fosse Library

www.thesparkarts.co.uk 13

14

Financial Report

The Spark Staff

Financial year September 2016 - August 2017

The Spark receives National Portfolio Organisation funding from Arts Council England and has been confirmed for the next funding period 18-22. We are extremely grateful for their continued support.

The Spark Arts for Children continues to receive the majority of its income from project grants and grant dispersal across the breadth of our work in libraries, schools and communities. We receive a grant from Leicester City Council for the Festival.

The charity also received welcome support from its corporate partners, Trusts & Foundations and individual donors this year. We would particularly like to thank all those who took part in the Zip Wire Challenge, which made a significant contribution to our fundraising.

Our work in libraries continues to make up a significant part of our project work expenditure, with artists in residence in two Leicester City libraries, and an East Midlands consortium, programming work for libraries in the region.

Income 2016/17

Arts Council England Grant Leicester City Council Grant Project Grants* Fundraising & Sponsorship Earned Income* Total income for the year

Library Activity Festival Activity Other Project Activity Core Staff Overheads

Total expenditure for the year

Figures shown are based on pre-audited accounts.

A copy of our published accounts can be supplied on request.

< Manya Benenson

Enjoying the big Belgrave community celebration Holi Hai!

General Manager Harriet Roy

Press & Marketing Manager Keith Turner Development Manager Carrie Carruthers Projects Co-ordinator Gemma Kiddy

Associate Festival Director Tony Reekie

Administration & Marketing Assistant Hannah Stoddart Marketing & Events Support Maya Biswas

18% 2% 53% 13% 14%

ÂŁ458,021

* includes net project income carried forward from 2015-16

Expenditure 2016/17

Director Adel Al-Salloum

41% 14% 9% 26% 10%

ÂŁ461,805

Board of Trustees Lucy Bani Sarah Brigham Ravinder Kaur Vijay Mistry Mahmood Reza Patron Tim Crouch

David Bell (Chair) Mike Candler Rachael Mabe Debbie Read Akshay Sharma

Spark artists in residence John Berkavitch Parmjit Sagoo Arun Ghosh Dave Higgins Manya Benenson Jayne Williams Student placements Victoria Crow

Spark Photographer Pamela Raith Report design Mooli

www.thesparkarts.co.uk 15

Our Partners Print Partner

Higher Education Partner

Festival’s Official Hotel

Media Partner

Media Partner

Media Partner

mooli

Design Partner

At Your School Partner

Funders

Festival Partners

Equity

Chutney Ivy

Lord Mayor’s Appeal

Carlton Hayes Mental Health Charity • The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust • The Edith Murphy Foundation John and Susan Bowers Fund • Open Gate Trust • Tesco Bags of Help • The Golsoncott Foundation • Writing East Midlands

Thanks to: Donors: Maber, Next, pupils and staff at Mellor Community Primary School, Spearing Waite, Boden, Rowleys Chartered Accountants,

East Midlands Airport, Nelsons Solicitors, Shoezone, Rotary Club of Leicester Novus, Leicestershire and Rutland Masonic Charity Association

<

Cover image - Enjoying Peut-Être Theatre performance of Shh...Bang! at Attenborough Arts Centre during The Spark Festival 2017

Contact Us

The Spark Arts for Children, LCB Depot, 31 Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1RE

Tel: 0116 261 6893 Email: info@thesparkarts.co.uk Web: www.thesparkarts.co.uk Facebook

SparkArtsFestival

Twitter

@thesparkarts

The Spark Arts for Children is a company limited by guarantee, no.5254229. Registered charity no. 1106952.