A TWO-MONTH programme of free arts activity is being launched by the government as the first initiative of the new Creative Island Partnership.
The Creative Spaces listings will go on line next week but the draft programme includes films to be screened in the Howard Davis Park, talks in the Jersey Library, live music on the Waterfront and at the Weighbridge, and a lunchtime classical concert at the Town Church.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel heralded the announcement as ‘a post-pandemic investment both in Jersey’s arts and music sector, and in Islanders’ wellbeing’, adding that it would spark the public’s imagination about the spaces we inhabit and how art can help bring them to life.
‘Creative Spaces is about pushing boundaries and showing that art and artists belong everywhere,’ Deputy Morel said. ‘It has the core principles of being free, open and accessible to all; being experimental and innovative; and empowering artists to make use of the space however they feel best expresses their talents and abilities. This is an exciting trial which we hope to see develop, with additional public spaces and more artists and genres in future years.’
The Creative Island Partnership was established following a recommendation in the recent arts strategy and is described as ‘an interdisciplinary arts network for the exchange of knowledge, generation of ideas, and where those involved in the arts community could have direct engagement with government’.
It has helped direct new government funding into a series of workstreams arising from themes identified in the arts strategy, the top priority being given to creative spaces – ‘interesting, underutilised and/or neglected spaces in Jersey that could be used as space for artistic performance, rehearsal, exhibition, studios, installations, and/or makerspace’.
Deputy Morel described the programme as ‘a fantastic first step’ which illustrated the future working relationship between the government and the arts sector, and how the two could come together to help shape the delivery of the arts in Jersey.
‘The government has committed to spending 1% of Jersey’s annual budget on arts, culture and heritage, and we want greater engagement with arts, and the positive benefits that involvement brings. I would encourage anyone who is interested in joining the Creative Island Partnership and contributing their ideas and voice to the future,’ he said.
A spokesperson said they aimed to publish the programme online next week at gov.je/CreativeSpaces and that it would be updated on a rolling basis.
