BEMA - Art of the Big Society Conference February 24th 2011

BLACK & ETHNIC MINORITY ARTS (BEMA)

(THE ARTS IN HARMONY NETWORK)

Do you represent a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) arts organisation working in the voluntary sector?

Are you a BAME artist working in the voluntary sector?

Does your arts organisation work with or support BAME artists?

Then you are invited to BEMA’s Art of the Big Society Conference

Date: Thursday, 24 February 2011

Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm

Venue: Graeae Theatre Company, 138 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DY

Designed to address issues of concern to those involved in art creation, provision and marketing, the conference will look at how BAME artists and arts organisations can confront the many challenges facing them in voluntary sector in the current financial climate.

So much of national strategy being developed today is within the context of the so called ‘Big Society’, or in order to persuade more people to ‘volunteer’. Yet at a time of austerity and severe financial crisis, voluntary sector arts organizations are perhaps suffering more than most other areas.

Investment in the arts, already low, is being steadily reduced, with the hardest hit being the already under-funded Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic voluntary led arts groups and organisations.

With panel discussions and workshops, the conference will discuss how best BAME arts organizations can make the most of funding opportunities, market themselves and support each other.

With speakers from the Arts Council, Hackney’s 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Unit and various arts groups, this will be an ideal event to get information, discuss and network. 

Food and refreshments will be available free of charge.

Booking: http://bemaarts.eventbrite.com/

For more information visit www.bemanetwork.org.uk

or telephone 0207 923 1962