Communities

Help your town's arts and music work together

We join up local arts and music practitioners with the people around them, directly and through schools, councils and social prescribers. You get the facilitation, the platform and the know-how to keep it going.

Two routes

How practitioners and local people meet

Some people find an activity for themselves. Others are pointed to it by someone they already trust. We make both routes work.

Who makes it happenPractitionersArtists, musicians, teachers, choirs, groups and venues
Route oneDirectly

A shared directory and events calendar that anyone can browse

Route twoThrough partners
SchoolsCouncilsSocial prescribers

Services people already trust point them to the right activity

Who it's forLocal peopleResidents of all ages, including those who wouldn't usually take part

How it works

Four stages, adapted to each place

  1. 1

    Bring people together

    Convene a small core group of practitioners, venues, schools, the council and social prescribers.

    • Kick-off workshop
    • Agreed roles and governance
  2. 2

    Map what's there

    Find the people who make arts and music happen, those who support them, and the spaces they use.

    • Directory of members and partners
    • Venue audit
  3. 3

    Make it easy to connect

    Launch your own branded site with a shared directory, events calendar and venue finder.

    • Local moderators trained
    • Listings confirmed by each group
  4. 4

    Grow and show results

    Track new events, collaborations and venues, and use the evidence for bids and reports.

    • Learning log and measures
    • Annual review

What we offer

Everything a town needs to get started

Facilitation and advice

We help set up the core group, run the first meetings and plan the year ahead with you.

  • Workshops and open meetings
  • Governance and roles
  • Funding routes

Your community platform

A branded website for your town's arts and music, set up with your content.

  • Hosted and supported by us
  • Or licensed for you to run
  • Your name and colours
About the platform →

Guidance and documentation

Practical help so your team can run things day to day.

  • Handbooks for moderators and admins
  • Data protection templates
  • Handover support

Who's involved

Everyone has a clear place

A network works when people know what's expected of them. We help each town agree these roles early.

Practitioners
The people who make arts and music happen: artists, musicians, teachers, choirs, film exhibitors and event organisers. They join as members.
Local people
Everyone the network is for. They find activities themselves, or are pointed to them by a school, council service or social prescriber.
Partners
Those who connect local people with practitioners or support the network: schools, councils, social prescribers, venues, sponsors and funders.
Core group
A small team that sets priorities, meets regularly and keeps things moving.
Moderators
Local volunteers or staff who check new listings and events before they go live.

Questions

Common questions

How does this help social prescribing?

Link workers can search current local activities by type and place, and see who to contact. Practitioners keep their own listings up to date, so referrals go to activities that are really running.

How do schools take part?

Schools can find local musicians and artists for lessons, clubs and performances, and point families to activities outside school. Many also offer their halls as venues.

Do we need our own technical team?

No. Most places choose our hosted service, where we look after the technology and your team manages the content. If you'd rather run it yourselves, we can license the software and help with handover.

Can we use our own name and branding?

Yes. Each town chooses its own name, colours and logo. In Uckfield it is the Chamber of Arts and Music; elsewhere it might be an arts alliance or a creative network.

Who is responsible for the data?

A local body, usually the council or a constituted group, acts as data controller. When we host, we act as data processor under a written agreement. Personal details are kept to a minimum and removed on a set schedule.

How is it funded?

Set-up and support are agreed with each place. Towns often combine council budgets with arts, health or community funding, and we can help identify routes.

How long does it take?

A core group and first version of the site can be in place within a few months. The network then grows at the pace of the people involved.

See it working in Uckfield

Our first town-wide network is being built in Uckfield with local practitioners and partners, venues, schools and social prescribers.

See the platform in useTalk to us