Live and Local - Surprising Shows In Surprising Places
Surprising Shows in Surprising Places
Live & Local is a network of over 170 voluntary organisations across the West and East Midlands and parts of South East England who book and promote professional performances for village halls, schools and community centres. The shows are chosen by the local community, for their local community.
At the centre of this network, connecting these mainly voluntary groups with some of the UK’s best professional performers, is a ‘not for profit’ organisation with a team of 5 workers, funded by local councils and The Arts Council, England.
Live & Local brings people and performers together for a really good time! The audiences are always commenting on the friendly atmosphere at shows and how being close to the action really adds to their enjoyment. The emphasis of Live & Local is local choice, inclusiveness and sustainability and making links within and between communities.
It is one of 40 similar schemes that support professional arts in hundreds of small community venues throughout the UK, playing an important part in the social life and development of their community.
Live & Local was a founding member of the National Rural Touring Forum (NRTF). John Laidlaw is Chair and on the national working group for their development plan. The NRTF provides a wealth of experience across its membership as well as professional development, market research and cross regional project development opportunities.
History of Live & Local
The organisation developed from The Village and Community Touring Scheme in Warwickshire and was originally managed from 1987 by the Arts Development Officer. During 1991-92 it was coordinated as a freelance contract. Warwickshire Community Arts was formed as an unincorporated organisation in July 1992 and incorporated as a Company limited by guarantee in August 1994.
Following a report into small-scale touring in Staffordshire written by John Laidlaw for West Midlands Arts in 1993, an initial pilot village hall touring scheme was carried out in 1993/1994 and was followed by a full 1994/1995 programme in conjunction with the Warwickshire scheme.
In 1998 the brand name for the touring scheme became the legal name covering all our activities: Live & Local Limited. Subsequently, following an initial research process, the Solihull MBC area also joined the network.
In August 2001 Live & Local successfully bid for the 3-year contract to set up and run a new community performance scheme for Derbyshire.
In April 2008 Live & Local won the bid for a 1-year contract to take on and run the countywide Oxfordshire Rural and Community Touring Scheme. Live & Local – Oxfordshire replaced four separate community touring schemes, formerly run by their own local authorities.
Live & Local Ltd. is registered as a company limited by guarantee in England No. 2955922
