The Spark Festival 2012 Report

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val Children’s Arts Festi

Festival Report www.sparkfestival.co.uk

28 May – 10 June 2012

fɛstɪv(ə)l/

a day or period of celebration 2. an organised series of concerts, plays or films, typically one held annually in the same place: Latin: festivus, from festum, (plural) festa 'feast' 1.

The Spark is Leicester’s flagship festival that enables children to enjoy the opportunities for discovery offered by the arts – as audiences, as learners, and as creators of their own art. director’s report The 2012 festival was a landmark year for The Spark as we celebrated our 10 year journey to become the largest independent children’s arts festival in England and Wales.

Changes took place as Ellen Bianchini, Festival Founder and Director 2003-2011, stepped down and I was appointed as the new Director. Despite this change, the strength, passion and commitment of The Spark team enabled us to deliver staggering results for the celebratory 10th year.

The 2012 festival ran for 13 days from 28 May – 10 June 2012 and delivered a total of: • 147 events over 13 days • 23 arts companies • 46 performances & workshops in 18 schools, children centres and nurseries • 94 performances in 4 professional venues & 11 community centres including 2 museums, 2 libraries and a shopping centre

Our programming format enabled us to reach a broad range of children and families engaging them in high quality activity and cultural product through our three strands of work: In Your Theatre, At Your School, On Your Doorstep.

The visiting artists made an enormous contribution to our city bringing the very best national and International dance, theatre, puppetry, music, digital and visual arts, engaging the hearts and minds of children and their families in a two week feast of excellent art.

Our cultural, business, education and community partners facilitated the festival with great generosity and warmth for the work we do and the children it benefits.

Despite the tough economic climate we were able to deliver a full programme and maintain the artistic quality, strong partnerships and customer care that the festival is known for.

13,653 attended The Spark events as audiences & participants.

Adel Al-Salloum Director

photo: Teresa O’Neil

“I was surprised how stimulated all the children were - even the babies mesmerised!”

A parent at the performance of “Shiny”

“The Spark puts on lovely shows and events for children which promote creativity and creative thinking.”

A nursery teacher

festival highlights The Play-ground: The Spark’s exciting ‘festival hub’ is based at Curve theatre. The hub serves as an information point for festival goers, and offers a unique opportunity for children to take over the space accessing high quality theatre product, free arts workshops & events and family friendly experiences.

Jump In Festival: Through our partnership with Lakeside Arts Centre & Deda we were able to grow the East Midlands Children’s Theatre and Dance Consortium. With support from the Cultural Olympiad the consortium delivered a region-wide programme of international, truly great work for children and families.

The Spark creates and develops several projects aimed at increasing the engagement of children in Leicester. Projects include our annual Story Writing Competition with Whatever It Takes (WIT), Leicester City’s campaign to encourage all children to read, and a new collaboration with Takeover Radio & BBC Radio Leicester – The Spark Newsroom.

Shiny: The development of professional work for children is a new departure for The Spark. The organisation offers strong artistic and administrative capabilities to assist in the creation of new work. In 2012 we were proud to be able to support local dance company Turned On Its Head in developing their new show Shiny in partnership with family centres across the city.

Children & Young People: Taking children and young people into partnership as artists is an important part of our festival programme. Working with Leicester Arts & Museums Service we delivered Little Artists, an exhibition of art work by early years children from Leicester inspired by contemporary international artists.

“I love how The Spark is adapting! My kids are getting older but with events such as Digi-Kids and Animated Me! they are still able to come along to The Spark and have a good time.”

A parent

“I love The Spark events - really got my little boy involved and excited about stories and excited about going to the theatre.”

A parent

“If The Spark didn’t exist, I think I’d be missing out on a bit of fun.”

Felix, age 10

photo: Pamela Raith

access In Leicester 35% of children (27,000) live within the official definition of child poverty. The Spark plays a vital role in contributing to the wellbeing and prosperity of children and families through these strands of work:-

We were delighted to work with John Lewis this year as a Community Partner. The store in Leicester’s Highcross shopping centre also hosted a performance of Yaaba Funk's Anansi the Spider.

In Your Theatre professional venues At Your School a touring programme across city schools On Your Doorstep community-based programme.

In addition Woods Coaches, also a new partner for The Spark, offered a transport subsidy to all schools booking theatre trips to festival events.

These strands ensure increased access to the programme for children and families who otherwise may not attend arts events. We also raise vital funds in order to offer subsidised work in areas of deprivation, where household incomes are below the national average and a high proportion of children are entitled to free school meals. Performances in schools and community settings are subsidised by The Spark by at least 50%.

“A really positive experience and, for the majority of our children, their first trip to the theatre.�

A teacher

profile The Spark has a strong regional profile and is respected on a national level. Local media recognise the annual festival as a flagship event in the city’s calendar and are highly supportive of the organisation. Year-round PR, marketing and social media activity ensures The Spark’s high profile in the region. Relationships with local media partners include exciting collaborative projects which form an important part of the festival programme.

“The Spark is a wonderful success story providing children, young people and families in Leicester with unique opportunities to engage with visual artists and performers from across the UK and overseas. It opens up windows to other worlds enabling us all to learn, celebrate and enjoy.”

Steve Ball, Associate Director, Birmingham Repertory Theatre & Chair of Theatre for Young Audiences England

festival makers our volunteers The Spark recognises the creativity and generosity of the people of Leicester who enable us year on year to deliver the breadth of work across the festival. In 2012 we worked with fifteen volunteers over the festival, who supported the many activities and represented The Spark in the various venues.

We also worked with undergraduates on placement in the areas of marketing and event co-ordination. As an organisation we helped them develop the skills and confidence to take forward their education and employment.

The Spark would like to thank all of those who gave their time, energy and talent to deliver the festival and associated events.

“An independent, quirky and imaginative festival. We recommend it to all our friends!”

A parent.

summary of attendance 2012 no. of events

attendance

50

5,547

46

3,637

22

1,695

The Play-ground * Free family activities at Curve

11

1,840

Visual & Digital Arts * Phoenix Square and Pedestrian Gallery family activities

18

934

147

13,653

In Your Theatre Theatre performances / workshops At Your School Schools performances including workshops

On Your Doorstep * Performances in community venues e.g. libraries, community centres, shopping centres and museums

Total * estimated audience figures at free activities.

financial report

Financial year September 2011 - August 2012 This year marked the end of the interim year of Arts Council England RFO funding prior to becoming a National Portfolio Organisation in April 2012. Due to this and expected reduced income in areas of sponsorship and fundraising, a slightly reduced festival was budgeted for, and salaries and overheads were maintained at the previous year’s level. The programme for the year was delivered under budget and the deficit was offset by the surplus from the year before, leaving the charity in a balanced position within the requirements of its reserve policy.

The organisation has the reassurance of three years’ secure funding until April 2015, as part of the Arts Council England’s National Portfolio funding and Leicester City Council’s three year service level agreement.

The Arts Council’s Catalyst award - capacity building and match fund - will enable us to develop our fundraising capacity to maintain existing and develop new partnerships with the business community and Trusts and Foundations. The organisation is in a strong position to plan over the longer term, both for programming and for funding campaigns.

Income Arts Council England Grant Leicester City Council Grant Other Grants including Catalyst Fundraising & Sponsorship Earned Income

photo: Eduardo Carcia Gonzalez

Total income for the year

46% 6% 20% 10% 18%

£156,198

Expenditure Festival Activity Project Activity Core Staff Overheads

Total expenditure for the year

37% 15% 36% 12%

£164,813

Figures shown based on pre-audited accounts

companies & artists Aracaladanza Babbling Vagabonds Bare Toed Theatre Benny Lee and the Whistlestop 5 Brendan Oliver Bunk Puppets Catherine Wheels Theatre Company Dance4 Dragon Breath Theatre Garlic Theatre Graham Roberts/Pedestrian Arts Isabel Ford, Richard Fletcher, Elaine Pantling, Glenys Xavier Leicester Arts & Museums Learning Lucy Hammond M6 Theatre Company Moving Hands Theatre Company Onedotzero Phoenix workshop leaders Reeling and Writhing Retro Computer Museum Scamp Theatre Sean Clark Shona Reppe Squidsoup Sue Pyecroft Theatre Hullabaloo Turned on Its Head tutti frutti productions Yaaba Funk

venues Curve Embrace Arts Phoenix Square The Y The Guildhall Abbey Park African Caribbean Centre BBC Radio Leicester Beaumont Shopping Centre Hamilton Library Highfields Library John Lewis New Walk Museum & Museum Square Pedestrian Gallery Southfields Park, Loughborough

festival staff Director Adel Al-Salloum General Manager Harriet Roy Development Manager Tricia Kelly

Freelance staff Press & Marketing Manager Francesca Wright Marketing & Events Support Maya Biswas Board of Trustees Stephan Aal Lucy Bani David Bell (Chair) Mitch De Faria Mahmood Reza John Townsend Jeremy Waterfield

A special thanks to Ellen Bianchini MBE (founder and director 2003-2011)

Student placements Kirsten Schmiester Lauren Bradley-Greer Volunteers Lucy Chamberlain Emily Cheng Sophie Cook Richard Goodman Alison Huang Samantha Ireson Nadja Lees Jo-Anne Marlow Radojka Radulovic Pippa Sanger Sarah Shepherd Lorna Toal Sindile Vundhla Katie Williamson Spark Photographer Andy Baker Cover photograph: White by Catherine Wheels photographer Douglas McBride Report design: mooli

our partners We would like to say a special thank you to all those who support The Spark.

Media Partner

Media Partner

Media Partner

Community Partner

Festival’s Official Hotel

Print Partner

Paper Partner

Transport Partner

Funders

Festival partners

Proud to be part of

Equity,

Haymarket Shopping Centre,

Irwin Mitchell Solicitors

The Spark Children’s Arts Festival is a charity and we would like to thank all the companies and individuals who have donated this year to support our work. To find out how to donate to the Shine For The Spark Appeal please visit www.sparkfestival.co.uk/donate

“Taylor Bloxham is proud of its relationship with the festival, offering its services to a charity which provides such fun and learning opportunities for families in the local community. The Spark is an inspiration to encourage children to enhance their thinking by stimulating their imaginations and we are delighted to work together in ways which really engage with children’s creativity.”

Kevin Moss, Marketing Director of Taylor Bloxham – The Spark’s Print Partner for seven consecutive years.

The Spark Children’s Arts Festival is a company limited by guarantee, no.5254229. Registered charity no. 1106952. Registered office LCB Depot, 31 Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1RE