Commissioning an Outreach Show Zoe Pickering, Children’s Theatre Programmer at Z-arts and Big Imaginations Manager
Aim: To get the hardest to reach audiences to access high-quality arts and encourage them to access it at our venues. How we achieved our aim: Big Imaginations commissioned Ruthie Boycott Garnett to develop a set of workshops and a high-quality show to go into community settings to engage early years audiences and their families. Here is our step by step guide for commissioning an outreach piece: • Identify the audience / area you would like to work with. Why do you want to work with them? • Ensure you have a clear brief for the artist to follow. • Secure community partnerships and buy in from the host venue. Without this you will not be as successful because they know the community better than you do. • Get to know your audience with your artist. Don’t guess – ask! • Listen to feedback and ensure you filter feedback to the artist – feedback from 15 people all at the same time is too much. • Be adaptable – make sure the workshops or show can adapt to any space and be flexible. You may have to start late, accept more people, or change things to suit the people participating. • Expect the unexpected and reap the rewards of meaningful engagement with families. • Evaluate and document accurately what works and doesn’t work.
The Adventures of POM
My bright idea