A community interest company on a mission to enhance Bath's vibrant arts and events scene with a more collaborative approach has been launched.
Bath Arts Collective (BAC) has been founded by Kate Hall, Kate Abbey and Jasmine Barker – three highly experienced city-based arts professionals who between them have an award-winning track record of creating, producing and marketing more than 2,500 events across books, music and film festivals.
BAC will offer a rolling programme of curated events specifically around books, film, art and music as well as providing consultancy services on events programming, production and marketing.
It will also work with performers on their ‘festival footprint’ – finding ways for them to give back to the city and surrounding areas.
In addition, BAC wants to bring arts organisations and venues together across the city by creating a network that meets regularly to support each other and collaborate.
Kate Abbey, who specialises in event programming and festival curation, said: “Books, film, art and music have the power to challenge, educate and entertain us and bring people together.
“As a collective, we have a desire to open up our city’s cultural experiences to all local people as well as visitors.”
The team plans to partner with Bath’s ReBalance wellness festival, which returns between 24 January and 18 February next year after its successful launch this year, Persephone Bookshop and Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute and will also produce its first original project – Curious Minds: a festival to ignite ideas.
This will run during March across a number of venues with a selection of talks, films, performances and workshops that will aim to challenge and captivate audiences.
Curious Minds will kick off on 7 March with The Big Pop Culture Quiz at Komedia, a fundraiser open to all for some serious – or not so serious – quizzing. Tickets will go on sale soon.
Kate Hall, who specialises in event and festival production, said: “We want to mix up our programming with events that take audiences into venues and spaces that they never normally get access to.
“These extra special moments are the icing on the cake when it comes to creating memorable events. That’s what Bath Arts Collective will bring to Bath.”
Jasmine Barker, who specialises in marketing and audience development, added: “Arts are a vital part of any city and I strongly believe that the way to maximise their potential is by working together to create a vibrant arts scene that Bath can be proud of, so please do reach out and join our network.”
Bath Arts Collective plans to partner with a wide range of organisation in the city in the future iincluding Mr B’s Emporium of Books, FilmBath – which runs the city’s film festival – Bath Business Improvement District (BID), marketing and PR agency Good Crowd Media, Komedia, sector support group Creative Bath, accountants TSL, The Official Photographer, Forest of Imagination and Visit Bath, which runs the city’s destination marketing organisation Visit Bath.
It also plans to offer the best experiences to diverse audiences and support arts organisations and community groups with insights, best practice and cost-effective solutions to ensure that Bath remains a top global destination for leisure and tourism.
BAC’s launch has been welcomed by Visit West, whose managing director Kathryn Davis said: “This new initiative by Bath Arts Collective will bring exciting additions to Bath’s vibrant calendar of events and festivals, giving visitors even more reason to spend time in the city to explore and engage with many well-known artists and performers as well as rising talent.
“The team’s vast experience and determination to work closely with and bring together many businesses, organisations, and venues across Bath, will be a huge asset in helping grow the city’s cultural offering.
“We look forward to working with and supporting the team going forward and amplifying their events and activities across the Visit Bath consumer platforms and to the wider travel industry.”
