Plymouth making waves in culture and art

Plymouth is launching an exciting programme to celebrate the city’s culture and art as part of a two-year Cultural Olympiad programme.

With the countdown to the 2012 Olympics underway, the city is unveiling its ‘Plymouth: Making Waves’ plan to showcase its cultural clout in the run-up to the games.

The city signed up to the Cultural Olympiad which aims to raise awareness of those who inspire excellence and innovation in the arts. Plymouth. Making Waves embraces culture in the broadest sense from local libraries and community work, to contemporary art galleries and production houses of new work in dance, theatre and writing.

Councillor Peter Brookshaw, Cabinet Member for Community Services (Safer and Stronger Communities and Leisure, Culture and Sport) said: "Plymouth has a wealth of creative organisations which have been providing us all with entertainment, thought and fun for many years.

"This is an opportunity to remind people who live here as well as visitors how much there is to exercise the mind, the ear and the eyes in Plymouth. This is not just about the events and exhibitions. We want to give people who work so hard behind the scenes the recognition they deserve.”

The spotlight will fall on different organisations each month, with the Arts Centre the first on the stage next month. The Centre in Looe Street was recently singled out as one of the best small galleries in the UK by the Guardian Arts writer

In September, the Plymouth College of Art, while in October it will be the turn of the Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery.

Other organisations involved include the Barbican Theatre, Peninsula Arts, Devonport Guildhall, Theatre Royal and TR2, Plymouth dance, Attik Dance, Mount Edgcumbe Country House, The Jazz and Blues festival as well as Council-run libraries.

Plymouth Arts Centre will be offering a behind-the-scenes tour with staff and volunteers who work at Plymouth Arts Centre on August 12 at 4pm.

It is a chance to explore the nooks and crannies of the centre's studios and archives of the fascinating building as well as chat with the team. The event and tea is free but as the building is over a number of split levels, people who may gand requires sufficient mobility to manoeuvre between spaces, please call in advance for further advice.

Councillor Brookshaw added: "This a chance for people to look at again at what’s in Plymouth and perhaps try out some of the venues and events that help make Plymouth the place it is.”

‘Plymouth: Making Waves’ aims to recognise the role these organisations have in the city’s development, regeneration, civic pride and satisfaction. It will also raise awareness through marketing to encourage local and tourists to sample different experiences each offers.

22 July 2010