The Guernsey Arts Commission is committed to creating exciting artistic opportunities for our island community across a wide range of arts skills.

Latest Newsletter

Want to know more about the Guernsey Arts Commission Community Arts work? Click below to read our latest Volunteer Newsletter. If you would like to get involved and receive this straight to your mailbox, then get in touch with us at info@arts.gg.

About the Community Arts Programme

We have a dedicated Community Arts Development Manager, backed up by a voluntary Community Arts Commissioner, who facilitates projects based on the needs and the outcry of the community. This person actively seeks to form partnerships with experienced team leaders and other agencies striving to provide for those who are disenfranchised, where the funds and the energy will have the greatest impact for the individual and our society as a whole.

Working with challenging youth, prisoners, the elderly and all who are overcoming or managing physical, mental and emotional difficulties the Community Arts Officer role is to bring the powerful impact of the creative process into the lives of our neighbours who would most benefit through the healing potential of the arts.

We believe that everyone can benefit from taking part in the arts. It is a great way to meet new people, learn a new skill and open up a forum for talking about our community in a creative way. Above all, taking part is fun!

If you or your organisation has a creative idea, or would like to get involved in a Guernsey Arts Commission project, please get in touch with the GAC office info@arts.gg or Teresa Stoakes (Community Arts Commissioner) teresa@arts.gg and we can help you to make it a reality.

If you would like to volunteer for our community arts programme fill out this form and send it back to the office either by email or in the post.

Download the Guernsey Arts Commission’s Community Arts Strategy

The Guernsey Arts Commission is extremely grateful to those who have supported our Community Arts Programme so far:

• Lloyds TSB Foundation for the Channel Islands (Community Arts Officer role, 2009-2011)
• NatWest (Art on the Beach 2011 and 2012, Les Genats project Autumn 2011, St Martins Estate Project 2012)
• Heritage Group Ltd (Les Genats project 2012-2014)
• Hiscox Insurance Company (Guernsey) Limited (Les Genats project 2012-2014)
• Bank Sarasin
• Barclays Wealth (Phoenix Programme at Le Platon Residential Home and Vbrancy Programme with Brock Road Rascalls 2011-2012)
• IEB Trading Ltd (Phoenix Programme at Le Platon Residential Home and Karabiner Project)
• Hamilton Trustees Ltd (Brock Road Rascals project)

To maintain the programme and develop it to the level we are aiming for we still need all the support we can get, if you would like to find out more about how you can support the Community Arts Programme please contact Commissioner for Fundraising, Connie Helyar-Wilkinson, at connie@arts.gg

Download the Guernsey Arts Commission’s Community Arts Delivery Plan

Key components and actions

1 – Secure long-term funding for the Community Arts Development Manager role

CADM’s role includes:

• To lead, develop, deliver a sustainable Community Arts programme (as outlined below)
• To lead on, devise and strategically develop the GAC’s Community Arts Strategy
• To build the CA volunteer team & engage/consult with partners

2 – Continued commitment of Estates Programme

• Continuation and development of weekly Tuesday night art sessions on Les Genats Estate (with funding from Heritage and Hiscox), Wednesday night sessions at St Martin’s and twice weekly sessions with Network Club at L’Aumone
• Continued development of regular delivery team of paid and unpaid volunteers
• Develop ongoing lessons for programme
• Continue extension to other areas of the island
• Participation in community groups and forums where appropriate

3 – Develop delivery at Guernsey Prison

• Continue forum theatre workshops
• Build on prison theatre group
• Do in-house theatre production
• Expand arts opportunities from drama into other areas (e.g. visual arts and music)

4 – Expand group of dedicated project leaders

• Training for individual project leaders
• Extra training for Community Arts Development Manager
• Set in place teacher training in arts delivery such as at the Link Centre
• Link with Community Arts module at College of Further Education.

5 – Develop partnerships with outside agencies to build arts content into their work

• Identify and establish personnel to deliver an ongoing arts programme with requesting agencies
• Liaise with agencies to develop joint programmes
• Liaise with agencies to find suitable project leaders
• Enhance ‘Art On The Beach’ to add involvement from community agencies

If you want to be involved with helping to deliver the strategy fill out this form and return it to info@arts.gg