SASKIA COLLYNS, 26/06/2024
Extraordinary Bodies: Connecting Communities
Over four years we have engaged with local people everywhere we have gone. We shared our shows and linked people to our creative processes. We built rich relationships and developed individual talents with and through a network of ‘Unexpected Leaders’.
“When nothing is in the way more people can perform, lead, create and work in the arts. Extraordinary Bodies’ ‘Connecting Communities’ dismantled barriers to unleash brilliant moments, stories, revelations and people along the way. During difficult times this work is crucial in working for a more just and equal society”
Jamie Beddard, Joint Artistic Director Diverse City and Lead Artist Extraordinary Bodies
Our project ‘Touring Diverse Led Circus’ was first and foremost about waking audiences up to D/deaf and disabled-led shows. But we didn’t want to parachute in and out of a place with just a show. We wanted to engage with the diverse communities to which we toured. ‘Connecting Communities’ provided the bridge between local venues, our touring company, and their audiences.
“The arts should be on everyone’s radar. But, although creative talent is everywhere, opportunity to participate is not. Dismantling barriers is a great place to start if we want more, and different people to engage, understand and feel ownership of the arts.”
Jamie Beddard, Joint Artistic Director Diverse City and Lead Artist Extraordinary Bodies
We would like to say a huge thanks to Connecting Communities Lead Producer Gemma Alldred. Also to the wonderful communities team Jodie Cole, Jess Edney, Elana Binysh, Kate Webb, and Dr Roz Stewart-Hall.
Connecting Communities was supported by Arts Council England, The National Lottery and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
Connecting Communities – A reflection by Gemma Alldred, Connecting Communities Project Lead
Spring 2024 marked the final phase of Extraordinary Bodies’ Connecting Communities. Over four years we have embedded our people and practice into the communities local to venues partnering Touring Diverse Led Circus and forged lasting relationships within them. We’ve been amazed by the artistic achievements of each community group and the individual development shown by so many of the people who got involved.
Connecting Communities
It’s been a privilege to spend time with and be welcomed into communities across the country. In doing so, Diverse City forged a network of people all passionate about the arts and creativity. Seeing Extraordinary Bodies’ shows inspire whole groups of participants to create their own work has been magical and given them new insight into their creative process. We’ve found support and grown in our imaginations about what is possible, together.
Unexpected Leaders
Diverse City worked with 14 incredible ‘Unexpected Leaders’ from around the country. ‘Unexpected Leaders’ is a leadership programme that identifies potential in people and supports them to grow into leadership roles in their communities. The programme takes a holistic approach, providing industry connections and practical career skills, along side mentoring and coaching approaches that value and support everyone’s needs.
By working with Diverse City, within their own venues, and with one another, they’ve all developed as Leaders: All have developed new skills, greater confidence, and networks to help them to progress as future leaders in the arts. ‘Unexpected Leaders’ looks different every time we run it, and responds directly to the needs, interests and aspirations of the people who take part. Barriers to developing a career in the arts can be as much about self-belief, as it is about hard and soft skills.
(Co-)Evaluation
One exciting facet of this programme has been a new dive into the evaluation process. With the help of Dr Roz Stewart Hall, an expert in creative and inclusive evaluation, Diverse City’s ‘Unexpected Leaders’ and local communities learned about evaluation, decided on the methods to use, and then delivered the evaluation at Extraordinary Bodies’ touring shows. Creative and co-led evaluation totally changed both the way the participants were asked for feedback, and what Diverse City heard from their audiences. The results were incredible, creating an authentic process that was about relevant questions, serious listening and valued responses. As the years unfolded, so did the process. This has led to a shift in the way Diverse City will aim to approach their future evaluation. They look forward to sharing their learning, so other companies can also evolve their thinking, so that more community and audience-led evaluations can happen in future.
Next Steps
Brilliant community work for Extraordinary Bodies means working with communities. Where the ideas are generated and implemented together, rather than parachuted in. We’ve grown the work organically as a wide team of connected people, bringing ideas, skills and inspiration to each other. In this last phase of the project, we won’t stop connecting. As we reflect on what worked, and what we want next, we’ll do that together too. Collaborative, creative, just and optimistic-this is what works. This is how we make change happen. We will share our learning, so others can build on this experience.