My View, Andrew Loretto: The show must go on, despite less cash

This year marks a new phase of Arts Council funding for Right Up Our Street, and a programme of arts and cultural projects across Doncaster town centre and borough taking us up to 2019.
Ted Hughes Festival, Mexborough Business Centre  Ian Parks with Ted Hughes face on a stickTed Hughes Festival, Mexborough Business Centre  Ian Parks with Ted Hughes face on a stick
Ted Hughes Festival, Mexborough Business Centre Ian Parks with Ted Hughes face on a stick

With less money in the pot we’ll need to be even more enterprising in achieving our ambitions.

First up, we’ve got some fantastic performance, media and writing workshops at Cast, led by internationally-experienced professional artists.

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On Saturday, March 5 there will be Citizens Theatre performance, casting and writing workshops led by a top agent, playwright and movement director.

An unmissable opportunity to gain some hands-on experience.

Tickets can be booked via Cast box office. Subsequent workshops – on March 19 and April 9– feature film-making and performance poetry.

We’re also working with our community teams in Mexborough, Balby, Rossington, Bentley and the town centre to bring a series of events throughout the year.

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Mexborough planning is already well under way to make the second Ted Hughes festival even bigger and better than last year.

The event, which pays homage to the famous poet Ted Hughes drew in fans from far and wide and served as a great reminder of this wonderful poet’s heritage, firmly in South Yorkshire!

Balby by the Sea is on the cards for a return on August 13, which last year transformed a car park and community centre into a seaside-themed extravaganza. The event was designed and made by the local community and resulted in a hugely entertaining family day out.

In Bentley, plans are in the pipeline with a relatively new community team for a second Shed Fest, a new community choir and a potential Summer Festival event in the park – watch this space!

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Meanwhile, Rossington is planning a second Fun Palace event which will pave the way for another large-scale outdoor parade to take place in 2017.

People from the local area will be invited to get involved creatively.

In Doncaster town centre, we’ll be staging the third annual DNweekeND festival from September 2-4, tying in with the St Leger Festival Week.

This brings an eclectic mix of performances and arts activities to town centre public spaces and local businesses – indoors and outdoors.

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The DNweekeND showcases some of Doncaster’s best local artists and groups plus national and international acts and last year attracted over 4000 audience members to our town centre. This year will feature outdoor performance plus an entertaining mix of music, theatre, dance, installations, art, poetry, and much more.

* Andrew Loretto, Project Director, Right Up Our Street.