Posts tagged IOW
Isle of Wight Awarded Prestigious EFFE Seal for Commitment to Cultural Festivals!

Creative Island is delighted to announce that the Isle of Wight has officially been awarded the prestigious EFFE Seal for its commitment to cultural festivals and recognised as a member of the European Festivals Association (EFA). This achievement celebrates the Island’s remarkable contribution to cultural and artistic excellence, elevating its vibrant festival scene to a global stage.

The EFFE Seal, a hallmark of quality for Europe’s most distinguished festivals, recognises creativity, cultural diversity, and meaningful community impact. This recognition highlights the extraordinary cultural richness and community spirit of the Isle of Wight’s festival sector. With events spanning a wide range of themes and sizes, the Island’s festivals have long been at the heart of its identity. Creative Island proudly applied for this distinction on behalf of the entire sector.

The Isle of Wight’s festivals not only offer a wide array of artistic and cultural experiences but also highlight the Island’s unique status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This achievement underscores the Island’s dedication to sustainability, heritage, and fostering meaningful connections through culture.

Creative Island is honoured to represent the Isle of Wight in this global network and looks forward to building on this success to promote the Island as a beacon for cultural innovation and collaboration.

 

Creative Island is the Cultural Development Agency for the Isle of Wight, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone on the Island. The organisation focuses on making the best use of existing resources, nurturing talent, fostering collaboration between the Island’s heritage and creative sectors, and attracting new investment to support cultural development.

Creative Island is also committed to encouraging generosity, building connections with other Island communities worldwide that face similar challenges, and showcasing the Isle of Wight as a contemporary, vibrant collection of 33 parishes, nine towns, and one united Island.

Funding Opportunity - for Young Island Creatives!

A new round of Mike Howley Trust funding will be open for applications from Monday 20th January 2025!

This funding is available for 18-30 year old creatives on the Isle of Wight who want to develop their skills in music, dance, theatre/film, or writing.

Funding can be used towards training, coaching, recording, rehearsal space, staging, publishing, instruments, equipment, conference fees/travel/hotel, legal fees, etc.

Awards of £500, £1000, and £1500 are available. 
For funding information & application guidelines, please use the button below.

Deadline to apply: Monday 17 February, midnight.

For funding information and application guidelines, please visit Quay Arts website: www.quayarts.org/mike-howley-trust-funding/

If you would like to discuss your ideas / get advice before applying, please do not hesitate to get in touch. The Arts Team are happy to have a chat anytime, please email artsteam@quayarts.org or call 01983 822490.

FIND OUT MORE AND Apply Now!

This funding is available for 18-30 year old creatives on the Isle of Wight who want to develop their skills in music, dance, theatre/film, or writing.

Job Vacancy: Join the Out On An Island Team!

Out On An Island are on the lookout for a Part-Time Project Assistant (Freelance – 8hrs/week) based on the Isle of Wight for our National Lottery Community-funded project, Out On An Island – Building Bridges.

This is a varied, hybrid role with the opportunity to use your creativity and individuality. Duties include, but not limited to: administration, social media, assisting and representing StoneCrabs in meetings and networking events. A great prospect to work with a socially engaged and supportive team dedicated to promoting inclusion and community cohesion through the arts!

Important Dates:

Q&A Open Session: Tuesday January 7 at 4pm
(Email outonanisland@stonecrabs.co.uk to register for the link)

️ Application Deadline: Monday January 13 midnight

️ Interviews: Monday January 20, in person on the Isle of Wight

Application Process:
Please email your application, including a letter of suitability (up to 1 side of A4) or a link to a sound recording or video (max 10 mins) and an up-to-date CV, to outonanisland@stonecrabs.co.uk

For the full job description and application pack click here.

StoneCrabs is committed to inclusivity and encourages applications from LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities and from global majority backgrounds.

 

SAVE THE DATE

We are hard at work preparing for our upcoming Pride In Self, Pride In Place exhibition  Feb 15 - March 16, 2025 at Quay Arts Main Gallery, when we will be celebrating 20 years of LGBT+ History Month.

Out On An Island is entering on a new and exciting phase thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund.

BSO: Special performance & workshop for Dover Park Primary School in Ryde!

Our partners Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra recently provided a special performance and workshop for pupils at Dover Park Primary School in Ryde.

The children loved the workshops and they were a perfect link to the tuition the children will be having from January. They left inspired and excited for their lessons!

Read the full article below.

Read the full article

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Captivates Pupils At Dover Park Primary School

ROCK SCHOOL ON THE ROAD: with Platform One College of Music

Join students and teachers from Platform One - College of Music to hear performances from bands, young people and learn lots about events, sound, music technology and jobs in the music industry.  This will be happening in April - July 2025.

Details of spaces available will come directly from Platform One to your settings so this is one to look out for!

BandStorm 2025: SoundStorm’s Battle of the Bands Competition

Are you ready to take the stage and showcase your talent?  Don’t miss your chance to be part of BandStorm 2025, the ultimate event for rising stars!

The stage is set for BandStorm 2025 – SoundStorm’s battle of the bands competition in partnership with Absolute Music and the The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth (Bournemouth Uni). A highlight of the SoundStorm calendar, our annual battle of the bands has brought to the stage a wonderful array of talented performers, bands and vocalists and we are excited to be announcing the details for this year’s BandStorm competition!

For the first time we open this competition to young people from across BCP , Dorset , Southampton, Portsmouth , Isle Of Wight and the surrounding area!

Deadline to apply: 13/12/24

Bring your sound, your energy, and your passion. This is YOUR moment!

Tag your bandmates and share the news! Let’s make some noise!

You must be Y9 – 13, at school, college or home educated.

Apply now (via the button below) and let the world hear what you’ve got!

Christmas at Osborne House 2024!

Our annual event Christmas at Osborne took place last week and featured 80 children from three primary schools: Broadlea, Carisbrooke & Newport CE.

The schools came together to take part in singing workshops, a tour of the house and some Victorian Christmas Crafts topped off by a fantastic performance in the Durbar Room where Queen Victoria would have enjoyed listening to her own children singing.  A beautifully decorated Osborne House was a stunning backdrop for the day along with the amazing staff and volunteers from English Heritage who helped the day to run smoothly.

In addition to this students from Carisbrooke College were invited to sing for guests on a tour of the house in the week prior.

“Just wanted to say a big thank you for today. The children had a wonderful time and they just beam after these experiences!”

- Emma Millard Music Lead at Broadlea Primary

Concerts in November & December!

A round up of the concerts and performances taking place through the end of November and into December!

Find full details and how to book for each event through the link to the listing on our events page.

November

December

  • Sunday 1 December: Southampton Youth Orchestra live at Turner Sims — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

    • Southampton Youth Orchestra’s first concert of the season is an all-French programme with a Spanish twist, featuring Delibes’ Coppelia Suite, Chabrier’s Espana and an exciting performance of Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnol, featuring the debut concerto performance of one of our own young violinists.

  • Wednesday 4 December: Southampton University Symphony Orchestra at Turner Sims: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

    • Southampton University Symphony Orchestra and Turner Sims would like to invite you to a free performance featuring Leonard Bernstein's thrilling ‘Symphonic Dances from West Side Story’! This performance is perfect for local families with children up to 15 and is an ideal opportunity for young people learning an instrument, who are interested in learning an instrument, or anyone looking for a fun evening out!

  • Wednesday 11 December: Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia live at Thornden Hall — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

    • Join Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia, Southampton's largest youth orchestra, for an evening of festive favourites from our most loved Christmas films.  Programmes to include everything from Aladdin to White Christmas, along with wonderful festive lighting.  Fun for all the family - not to be missed!

We’re a proud partner of the Department for Education’s Music Opportunities Pilot!

Southampton and Isle of Wight Music are proud to be a partner of the Department for Education’s Music Opportunities Pilot.

Led by Young Sounds UK via their Connect programme, up to 1,000 young people from low-income families will receive targeted support to progress their musical talent and interests. 

We are excited for the opportunity to work with Young Sounds UK on their brilliant Connect Programme. Over the next four years we will be supporting young people from Southampton and Isle of Wight to continue their musical journey through fully funded lessons, music making opportunities, and so much more. 

Find out more at: youngsounds.org.uk/music-opportunities-pilot

Hannah Buckinghamsouthampton, IOW
YES Creative Beats: Have Fun with Samba Drumming - Free Course!

Are you looking to improve your confidence and communication skills? Join YES! Creative Beats on a Skills4Work programme and join our free 6 session beginners’ samba course!

 This is a very simple samba taster course with an emphasis on team building and communication for anyone 16+ living on the Isle of Wight, looking for work or to improve their employability skills.

In this course we aim to improve:

  • concentration

  • confidence

  • communication and listening skills

  • teamwork and leadership skills

In a fun, friendly and supportive environment!

Dates: Wednesday 18th September 2pm - 4pm for 6 weeks

Location: St Johns church hall, High Park Road, Ryde PO33 1BX (accessible venue with parking available)

For more information and to book your place, please email us: info@yes-creativebeats.co.uk or visit our facebook page via the button below.

From the IOW: Solent Shanty Sing at Ventnor Botanic Gardens

On Friday 9 June 2023, 850 children from 14 schools across the island gathered together for the culmination of the Isle of Wight Solent Shanty Sing Project to perform together en masse and kick start a brand new walking festival celebrating the Heritage Coastline and Year of the Coast 2023! A mixture of children from Year 1 right up to Year 11 participated along with students from SEND settings.


Children arrived in staggered groups from 11am onwards and were treated to fantastic performances by local shanty groups the SHEshells and The Brighstone Barnacles while the sheer volume of pupils got into position.  The New Carnival Company provided some beautiful flags and decoration for the space in the already stunning setting of Ventnor Botanic Gardens in full summer bloom.

The children sang a mixture of songs from a songbook commissioned by the music hub, composed a curated by Emily Peasgood and featured some original sea shanties collected on the Isle of Wight plus songs written with input from children taking part in the project. The event finished with a song written especially by Jo Downs about the Heritage Coastline on the island and everyone gave a loud countdown to start the first group of walkers taking part in the walking festival.  The walking event was organised by Creative Ways Outdoors, New Carnival Company and the IOW Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty trust who provided certificates to all the young people who took part in the project to take home with them. 

This huge scale partnership project continues over the next few weeks with further performances taking place in Weston Shore, West Quay and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard where 4 music hubs; Southampton, Isle of Wight, Hampshire and Portsmouth will all come together!

Photo credit Tracy Curtis and New Carnival Company

Nia Collins Event Organiser, says:

“What has been so fantastic about this project has been the level of collaboration and partnership that has brought this project together between cultural organisations (such as New Carnival Company and Creative Ways Outdoors) and local organisations (IOW AONB and Ventnor Botanic Gardens) right down to the children taking part writing their own parts of the songs we sang today. The Classic Boat Museum in Cowes even created a lesson plan resource especially for the project which has been shared with all the music hubs taking part in the wider regional project.  

I have learned lots of things about the island’s unique geography and rich maritime history through this project and I’m certain that the young people participating have as well, all while we have been supporting schools and teachers to keep the magic of singing alive for children and young people!”

From IOW: Isle of Wight schools perform Christmas Carols at Osborne House

Isle of Wight Music Hub is delighted to have partnered with English Heritage again to provide schools with the opportunity to perform at Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s famed residence in East Cowes.

Eight schools and over 350 children visited the house on Tuesday 29th November to take part in a carousel of activities including Victorian Christmas Cracker making, a tour of the house and a choir performance for the other schools and parents who attended with them.  The performances took place in the incredible Durbar Room and the children were singing in the exact spot where Queen Victoria’s own children would perform for her at Christmas.  

We were treated to some magical performances from sixth form students from Medina and Carisbrooke College right the way down to Key Stage 1 pupils from island primaries and everything in between. 

“The children loved it, it was a lovely thing to do especially with the mix of crafts, a tour and singing. Thanks for arranging these opportunities for our children, they really do make a difference” Graham Andre Assistant Head Lanesend Primary School

From IOW: Isle of Wight Schools perform at Rhythm Tree Festival

Isle of Wight Music Hub are delighted to have been able to programme 6 hours on the Carnivale Stage at Rhythm Tree again after a three year haitus.  The Hub worked in partnership with the Rhythm Tree Festival organisers, Shademakers (who decorated and dressed the stage and area so spectacularly) and schools to allow them the opportunity to perform at an international festival!

Twelve schools and over 300 pupils took it in turns to perform with everything from ukuleles, glockenspiels, djembes and traditional rock bands represented and pupils from Year 3 up to Year 11.  The festival organisers and production team Widget built a custom ramp onto the stage to ensure that pupils from St George’s School were able to access the event and perform too.  Young people performed to a fantastic audience made up of enthusiastic parents and festival goers who braved hotter than 30 degree temperatures at the new Festival site at Sticelett Farm.

Nia Collins, IOW Music Hub Lead said:

“It really was incredible to watch the depth and breadth of musical excellence happening across the island across all ages and abilities.  For the music Hub to have been able to give them the opportunity and a literal platform to do so along with our partners was an honour.  I hope that the young people that took part today will remember this experience for a very long time to come!”

From the IOW: "Biosphere Big Sing" is a big hit

On Friday 20 May one of the biggest ever Isle of Wight Music Hub events was staged, in partnership with Shademakers, the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, English Heritage and Brown’s Golf Course.

Over 900 pupils from nine schools came together for the final Biosphere Big Sing event following weeks of workshops and rehearsals which involved thousands of children of all ages. The event itself took place on Brown’s Golf Course in Sandown and beautiful flags and set dressing were provided by IOW international carnival company Shademakers.

Over 250 members of an impromptu audience made up of parents, locals and councillors were treated to songs about the island’s unique Unesco Biosphere Reserve status. Songs were especially written for the project by Hub composer Jo Downs. The catchy Cheer for the Biosphere featured lyrics listing the island’s incredible biodiversity and heritage and Protect Our Island used the 15 UN sustainability goals as it’s inspiration.

The project celebrated the Isle of Wight AONB team’s incredible success in garnering Unesco Biosphere Reserve Status and as part of this project they went into schools to do assemblies to make the young people aware of what that means with a call to action to ensure we look after it in the future!

One young performer says:

this event just shows how important it is to solve problems together.”

 

Richard Grogan from the AONB adds:

“The island is in your hands, you are the future.”

 

Nia Collins, IOW Hub Lead says:

“What has been so incredible about this project is the level of collaboration between IOW organisations from English Heritage running free workshops on an environmental theme at Osborne House, the AONB getting out of their comfort zone and into the classroom(!) to spread the word of Biosphere to Shademakers and Brown’s providing us with the perfect setting. Alongside that the schools, teachers and pupils that have engaged with the project and taken on board the themes and resources and will continue to make use of them in the future. This enriched offer to our schools has really helped to make this project something larger, with a lasting legacy and certainly a day we won’t all forget in a hurry!”

From the IOW: Jubilee Celebrations at Osbourne House

On Tuesday 7 June schools and young people from across the Isle of Wight came together at Osborne House for an outdoor concert celebrating the Platinum Jubilee. A wonderfully wide-ranging programme included rock bands from secondary schools, primary choirs, the Isle of Wight Music Centre ensembles and soloists performing in the carriage ring outside the main house while spectators sat on the Durbar lawn having their picnics.

In the run up to this project the Isle of Wight Music Hub worked with many primary schools and the home learning network to teach our specially commissioned Jubilee Song It’s The Platinum Jubilee composed by Jo Downs. The concert closed with a massed sung performance of this song with 100s of students from primary schools represented singing together in this appropriately Royal setting.

This event was organised by the IOW Music Hub and the Education team at English Heritage with sound a production support from IOW based production company Widget.

Nia Collins, IOW Hub Lead says:

“Well I think we can safely say that the future of music on the island is in good hands! We have seen such an incredible array of musical talent on display this evening and there’s something very special about being able to do this in such a magical and historically significant setting as Osborne House”