MAIDSTONE Area Arts Council

A year ago this column spoke of ‘change’, and this is precisely what MAAC has experienced in this period. Such change is neither for better nor for worse, but a necessary change arising from a change in Officers and a change in the climate in which MAAC contributes to the arts in the Borough. This occurs with two over-arching ‘events’ that are occurring, and have occurred. The former is the arrival of the Olympic Torch into Maidstone in 2012, the other has been well stated

financial cut-backs that have impacted directly on the work of the Arts Council in the Borough.

MAAC has been directly involved with the planning considerations associated with the Olympic Torch ‘ceremonies’ in and around July 18th next year. The National ‘LOCOG’ Committee sets out the benchmarks to be used nationally as the torch is taken around the whole of the UK, giving ‘parameters’ within which the ceremonies take place. The main Torch ceremony’ will be based at the fabulous Leeds Castle, a perfect local backdrop to our Borough, and one that is very photogenic and ‘media-savvy’.

Under new Chairman, Ken Scott, MAAC will be involved in whatever way is deemed appropriate, given that the ceremony stage is minute, and the time constraints leave little opportunity to contribute bar ‘artistic dressing’. An invitation for a locally composed piece of music has gone out, and local MAAC members such as MVAN and Jupiter Workshops, and others, are involved with the stage dressing. By the time our Summer Events brochure is published more specific details should be available.

As with other ‘events’ to be staged in and around the Borough, including the movement of the Olympic Torch through the Borough via the river perhaps, and on to Guildford, is positive ‘work-in-progress’. No doubt notable MAAC members like Jupiter Workshops will link their 2012 Programme to this once-in-a-lifetime event and contribute to raising the profile of the arts in the Borough.

Hopefully MAAC will be back to steer the 2012 Summer Bandstand Programme in Brenchley Gardens to bring a smile to our weekends in July. All indications are that its efforts to stage the 2011 Programme were well received by all. Arising from financial cutback in the Borough’s support to MAAC and the arts in the locality, MAAC took up the challenge of a new Service Agreement with the Borough to stage manage this event. There is confidence to build on with continuity in 2012.

The subject of ‘funding streams’ is one that MAAC has to shadow at all times. One of the interesting ‘themes’ that has emerged from engagements between MAAC, KCC and the Borough is the recognition that ‘the arts are extremely beneficial to public health’.

Those of us in the arts have always believed this to be true, suspecting the ‘wholeness of health’ is a complex mix of genes, diet, environment and human experience. And it is with this last factor that the arts lie, enriching body, soul and spirit to create ‘well-being’. Long may it continue, and gain financial support from Government to further the well-being of the nation at local levels.

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