We are presenting a series of pop-up events in the town centre in partnership with organisations in Yeovil, including LoveYeovil, Yeovil Library, Mind, Huddle and Octagon Theatre. 

4 August 10am – 12 noon, MIND at Trinity Foyer on Peter

Artist Natasha Rand will be working with MIND at Trinity Foyer on Peter Street on a print and mixed media workshop to help create the BIG Bunting in Quedam.

4 August 10am – 1pm, Quedam Shopping Centre

Artist Dawn Handy will be working in partnership with the Huddle for National Play Day at Quedam to offer drop in family workshop (Children must be accompanied) Drop-in

7 August  10am – 3pm, King George Street (next to Library)

Artists Denman and Gould will be working with artist Richard Heaton in connection with the mobile library services at King George Street to invite people to make papercut silhouettes and chat with Denman and Gould about their future work in Yeovil around bringing nature to the town.  This is the first of a series of free pop-up events put together by Love Yeovil for making Yeovil feel good.  For more info: https://yeovilartspace.uk/2021/08/01/pop-up-event-papercut-silhouettes/ Drop-in

14 August  10am – 3pm, Triangle in Middle Street (Bandstand)

Artists Natasha Rand and Tara Flaghan will be running a drop-in workshop in a pop up art space on Middle Street to create a “triangle” for the BIG Bunting project for Front Yard Fest, part of LoveYeovil pop-up events in Town. Drop-in

17 August & 24 August, Westlands

Artists Natasha Rand and Dawn Handy will be running workshops inspired by and linked to eco and sustainability as part of Front Yard Fest, part of the Westlands Summer School for 7 – 16. Booking Essential https://www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk/whats-on/young-peoples-activity/

28 August, Mudford Rec

Free origami workshop as part of the Together Yeovil event in Mudford Rec to celebrate cultural diversity in Yeovil and promote health and wellbeing in our community, working in partnership with Love Yeovil.

A fully funded community art school for artists who would like to contribute and commit to make Yeovil a creative place for the community and themselves.

We are inviting up to 10 artists living in and around Yeovil to take part in a six month programme with a commitment of one day a month at Yeovil Art Space.

The programme is a unique, collective learning opportunity, offering individual and group support,
bringing you the latest in contemporary art knowledge, helping you clarify your mission and identity,
as well as giving opportunities to create new work individually and collaborate with others.

A tailored programme including workshops, talks, mentoring, a graduate exhibition in Yeovil Art Space
and a paid opportunity to deliver a community workshop. This course will allow Associates to grow in
their practice, making new connections, exploring ideas and ultimately discovering a sustainable way to
thrive as a professional artist, in a regional and rural setting.

Subjects will include: finding your creative path, collective learning, collaborative practices, making
networks, socially engaged work, experimental approaches, critical practice, professional development,
curating and applying for funding.

Deadline to expression of interest 31 August 2021.
Click here for more information: Yeovil Community Art School

with Denman & Gould and Richard Heaton

SATURDAY 7 August, King George Street, Yeovil

Come join us on Saturday 7 August as we pop up next to the mobile library in King George Street in Yeovil. We will be exploring the subject of conservation, nature and environmental sustainability through hands-on art activity, conversation and collaboration; and be part of the Front Yard Fest Yeovil. 

Have a go at creating paper cut silhouette artworks of the natural world in our own front yard; trees, animals, flowers with artist Richard Heaton; Watch Richard create beautiful silhouette artworks and contribute to the Giant Street Scene Collage together; alongside a book collection specially put together by the library team, to help you to find your favourite species / character for your own paper cut, and to inspire you to explore the subject. 

Working in collaboration with Yeovil Library and led by art collective Denman & Gould, as part of Yeovil Art Space commission funded by Arts Council England which aims to put art and culture in the heart of the community in Yeovil.

This is the first in a series of pop-up events put together by LoveYeovil working in collaboration with organisations across the town, supported by the government’s Welcome Back Fund, aiming to brighten the experience of the Yeovil high street user and to enhance people’s experience of their visit to the town. 

More info: https://www.loveyeovil.com/events

Somerset Reacquainted Tour Exhibition

4 August – 11 September

When a crisis like Covid-19 strikes upon us, like nothing before, we turn our minds to the forces of nature around us. Artists find fascination in our natural world, landscape and history; reimagining the future, bringing new ideas and looking at our world in different ways. The exhibition brings together new works by more than 20 Artist Members of Somerset Art Works, featuring painting, photography, sculpture, video, sound and mixed-media work responding to the climate emergency, conservation and biodiversity.

Participating artists: (A – Z last name)

Tom Baskeyfield https://www.tombaskeyfield.co.uk
Bronwen Bradshaw https://bronwenbradshaw.wordpress.com
Fiona Campbell http://fionacampbellart.co.uk
Bronwen Coe https://www.bronwencoe.net
Sara Dudman http://saradudman.com
Jon England https://somersetartworks.org.uk/artists/jengland
Pennie Elfick https://pennieelfick.co.uk
John Gammans https://www.johngammans.co.uk
Jenny Graham https://www.jennygraham.co.uk
Janette Kerr https://www.janettekerr.co.uk
Carolyn Lefley http://www.carolynlefley.co.uk
Pauline Lerry https://paulinelerryartist.com
Stephanie Max https://stephanie-max.com
Jenny Mellings https://jennymellings.com
Paul Newman https://paulnewmanartist.com
Jessica Palmer http://jessicapalmerart.com
Molly Rooke https://www.molly-rooke.com
Lotte Scott http://lottescott.co.uk
Miriam Sheppard https://www.miriamsheppard.co.uk
Pauline Rook http://www.rookphoto.co.uk
Milly Rowland https://www.instagram.com/milly_salvin_
Jacy Wall https://jacywall.co.uk
Grażyna Wikierska https://www.grazynawikierska.com

Part of the Somerset Reacquainted Tour, a series of exhibitions and participatory events initiated by artist Sara Dudman and Somerset Art Works, working in collaboration with artists and venues across Somerset, exploring the diverse artistic practices of artists in the county, within and beyond the Covid-19 restrictions. Each of the exhibitions include writing, images and objects from the original Somerset Reacquainted, plus new work from individual artists and collaborations.

Somerset Reacquainted Tour is presented by Somerset Art Works, in partnership with ACEarts, Yeovil Art Space, Brewhouse Theatre & Art Centre, and Art for Life at Musgrove Park Hospital.

Website: somersetartworks.org.uk/somersetreacquainted/tour

About Somerset Reacquainted

Responding to the challenges artists were facing at the beginning of the lockdown in 2020, artist Sara Dudman and Zoe Li from Somerset Art Works called for artists to refresh their engagement with nature, locality and community, using ideas of reacquaintance as a starting point to discover and re-discover excitement and purpose in their artistic practice. 63 artist members took part in the project through a process of cascaded invitation, and were asked to create something to share on Instagram. The printed version of the original sharing, alongside a collection of objects and original artworks were first exhibited at Somerset Rural Life Museum between September 2020 – January 2021.

‘The title Somerset Reacquainted suggests an existing yet latent familiarity with Somerset, both as a place and as a community. The project encouraged artists to refresh their engagement with their own locality and to seek in it a catalyst for evaluating their role as artists and for testing the boundaries of their art. The archive of artworks which resulted can be considered as a time-capsule of emotions and responses from a remarkable moment in our history, a collaborative document about a rural county in isolation.’ – Sara Dudman & Zoe Li

Somerset Reacquainted is part of the Artist Development Programme of Somerset Art Works, funded by Arts Council England.

Website: somersetartworks.org.uk/somersetreacquainted
Instagram: @somerset_art_works #somersetreacquainted

by You & Me Architecture

15 – 31 July 2021

Opening Time: WED, THUR, FRI 11 – 2, SAT 11-3

This public exhibition showcases the community consultation work undertaken between January and May 2021 for the Yeovil Refresh Artworks project and the initial artwork designs which have been produced as a result of these consultation workshop sessions.

Why?
South Somerset District Council is committed to improving its town centres for residents, businesses and visitors through its Yeovil Refresh public realm regeneration scheme. In December 2020, SSDC appointed YOU&ME Architecture in collaboration with poet Beth Calverley to design a series of bespoke artwork pieces co-designed with Yeovil community groups, incorporating text and visual content. The artwork project will build on the public realm improvements around the Triangle, contributing to the creation of  a place for recreation, performance, art and culture.

Who?
YOU&ME Architecture is a multi-disciplinary artist and architecture studio who have delivered several public realm high street regeneration, place-making and public art projects. www.youandmearchitecture.com

Beth Calverley is a poet, creative coach and founder of The Poetry Machine. Beth co-creates poems with people, she collaborates with places of work, learning, care and play, helping people to express what matters to them most. www.thepoetrymachine.live

YOU&ME and Beth worked closely with Yeovil community members via a series of online zoom workshops. This project would not have been made possible without the community co-creators who participated in these creative sessions.

Exhibition is support by South Somerset District Council and Yeovil Art Space.

Can you help us ‘bunting bomb’ the Quedam, Yeovil?

Be part of a town effort to create the longest bunting ever by creating your own bunting out of any suitable materials. Make a strip of bunting which we will join together. (Groups can incorporate their name/logo onto the bunting).

Join Bunting Making Workshop on 31 July & visit our Bunting Making How To for video guide, template and resources from our artists.

Bunting collection points (by 31 July)

Please make sure bunting is labelled in an envelope or bag. Please hand to staff directly at Co-ops.  

• Yeovil Art Space, Unit 23, The Quedam (Next to the works), (Open Wed-Fri 11-2 Sat 11-3)
• EPS Yeovil, Unit 29, The Quedam (Weds, Fri, Sat  11-5)
• Co-op Mudford Road Yeovil
• Co-op Stiby Road Yeovil
• Co-op St. Michael’s Road Yeovil
• Co-op Garage Sherborne Road
• Ninesprings Cafe, Yeovil Country Park

Front Yard Fest Yeovil is presented by Yeovil Art Space, funded by Somerset Community Foundation. With thanks to The Quedam Shopping Centre.

Wednesday 28 – Saturday 31 July
Yeovil Art Space, Quedam Shopping Centre (next to Works)

Four days of free workshops with our creative team, to help bring festival season to the town and your own front door! FREE, All welcome.
Materials provided although donations welcome/ bring your own materials.

Maximum of 6 individuals in each workshop. Please book to guarantee places.
Enquiries: workshop@yeovilartspace.uk

Wednesday 28
Crochet Bunting making
with Stephanie Baker
A perfect way to learn basic crochet skills or extend your ability to create unique bunting using recycled yarn.
6 places for each session. Please book to guarantee places. 11am – 12noon / 1-2pm

Thursday 29 July
Plastic Bottle Flowers
with Zoe Li
Make colourful flower decorations for your front yard using plastic bottles. Bring your own bottle, different colours, shapes 1-2 litres in size.
6 places for each session. Please book to guarantee places. 11am – 12noon / 1-2pm

Friday 30 July
Painted Plant Pot & Planting
with Lara Honnor
Come and learn more about our community edible garden in The Quedam, and join us to create a colourful and personalised plant pot with plants to take home. All materials provided but you are welcome to donate any plants to our community garden.
6 places for each session. Please book to guarantee places. 11am – 12noon / 1-2pm

Saturday 31 July
Fabric Bunting Making with Harry Wadham & Rhiannon Cross
Using scrap fabric and simple stitching – make bespoke bunting for yourself, family and friends. Contribute to the community ‘bunting bombing’ of the Quedam and/or make one to take home.
6 places for each session. Please book to guarantee places. 11am – 12.30pm / 1 – 2.30pm

Friday 2 July 10am – 12noon (Zoom)

Creative Space is an online event in which we bring together guest speakers from across the UK, exploring the cultural value that artists and organisations can offer for community and in public spaces.

What are the impact and benefits that are offered by art and creativity on cultural regeneration?
How do we create space that has shared purposes?

SPEAKERS

Principles of Co-creation
by Kim Wide, CEO, Take A Part
Kim Wide MBE is Founder, CEO and Artistic Director of Take A Part. She received an MBE in the 2020 Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for ‘Services to Social Engagement in the Arts’. Take A Part: takeapart.org.uk

Local authority partnership and cultural regeneration
by Kath Wynne-Hugue, Strategic Lead for Cultural Development at Kirklees Council
Kath Wynne-Hague has worked across Local Government since 2007; cultural development; engagement and education; project management; and as an independent practitioner with experience ranging from voluntary and community action; health and wellbeing in care settings; visitor economy and cultural business development. She works with partners, communities, and stakeholders to generate new ideas and creative solutions.

Creation of physical space for creatives and cultural activities in the neighbourhood
by Jack Gibbon, Director, Bricks
Jack Gibbons, founder of BRICKS, is a producer and organisation director with a passion for supporting cross sector creative collaborations and developing the ecology for visual arts practice in Bristol. www.bricksbristol.org/team/jack-gibbon

Social enterprise, capital project and impact of economic and social development
by Georgie Grant: Onion Collective
Georgie Grant. director at Onion Collective, her work focuses on building community power. She co-ordinates the delivery of multiple community action projects and leads on community engagement. She is a fervent believer that by connecting people and organisations into a strong network the social infrastructure of a place is strengthened and becomes more resilient. www.onioncollective.co.uk

Linking with the youth
by Tom Goddard
Tom is a visual artist, Based in Cardiff, with a social arts practice in which he works with young people and the community to consider the past and envision the future. Tom is working with Yeovil Art Space new commission. thomas-goddard.com

Art in Public Spaces
by Denman & Gould
Denman & Gould (Eleanor Goulding and Russell Denman) is an art and design studio, based in Dorset, specialising in public and community-based projects. They work across multiple disciplines, from the design and build of large-scale public art projects. Eleanor and Russell are currently working with Yeovil Art Space new commission. denmangould.com

Shapes of Yeovil
by You and Me Architecture
You and Me is a multi-disciplinary architecture platform who believe that even the smallest interventions can have a big impact and community participation. They have been appointed by Yeovil Refresh to create public artwork in Middle Street. Exhibition at Yeovil Art Space from 15 – 31 July 2021 youandmearchitecture.com

To attend, please registered via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkfuisrjMtE9CBtTtOpw0OhHRFXxxtseKQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

19 May – 30 June, 2021

Opening time: 11-2 (WED, THUR, FRI) 11 – 3 (SAT)

Starting with a series of podcasts recorded in a Somerset Care home and with elder residents in Yeovil, the Together We Are Stronger project has unfolded to other groups in the community, with a programme of activities throughout October 2020 – March 2021. The exhibition is now open to share with the public the creative responses that have been collected and accumulated over the last 6 months, capturing the stories about resilience, bravery and kindness across generations in Yeovil.

Yeovil Creatives

Twelve members of the Yeovil Creatives artists answered a call to make and contribute a piece of work in response to the theme of ‘Resilience’. All artworks will be donated to the Somerset Care home where the podcasts were recorded. Artists: Stéphanie Max, Rhiannon Cross, Jess Egan, Samantha Hann, Dale Perrett, Elizabeth Caires, Grażyna Wikierska, Lucy Hawkins, Joanna Martin, Natasha Rand, Hannah Bottomley and Julian Bird.

Creation Generation Young Creatives

Led by Natasha Rand, 16 young people aged 7 -13 from Creation Generation art club attended 3 weekly creative workshop on Sunday mornings. The workshop encouraged the young creatives to explore old posters from the World War eras, devising themes on how the country was inspired to be stronger which were then developed by listening to the podcast stories. Then parallel comparisons to the times we found ourselves in were made and, by using mixed media and collage techniques, visual response were created.

Creative Writing

Working with educator Kara Bignell-Bird, a creative writing project was created and offered to local secondary schools and as an online learning activity. In addition, a creative writing workshop led by Kara took place on Saturday afternoons, via Zoom, to a group of young writers aged from 8 – 21. They discussed the narratives of the podcasts, and produced a variety of written responses. Some beautiful conversations were sparked and captured in the written pieces in the exhibition.

Yeovil College BTEC Students

Natasha Rand was invited by Yeovil College BTEC course leader Clarissa Ready to share the concept of the project. A LIVE brief was shared to invite the students to create their own graphic design work in response to the podcast.

Public Art Display

An installation designed with the quotes from the podcast has been installed at 96 High Street, the former St Margaret’s Hospice Charity Shop. Part of Window Art Trail by Love Yeovil.

Sound Installation

18 podcasts will be played at the exhibition space and Quedam sound system throughout the exhibition.

Listen to the podcast and about Together We Are Stronger >>>>>Together We Are Stronger

Artist Natasha Rand, Yeovil Art Space and Eastville Project would like to thank the following:

Jaine Thorne, staff and residents at Burnworthy House, Somerset Care
Zoe Li & Stephen Ives from Eastville Project
Jos Richardson from Somerset Libraries
Clarissa Ready from Yeovil College
Kara Bignell-Bird
Jess Egan
Stéphanie Max
Alice Edmonds from Love Yeovil
Quedam Shopping Centre
Young Creatives from Creation Generation art club
Gillian Taylor for marketing support
Kim Wide from Take A Part

The generous funding support from The National Lottery Community Fund & Somerset Community Foundation