Exciting Start to New West Somerset Creative Project organisation

A passion for creativity united the members of the steering group at the inaugural meeting of the West Somerset Creative Project at Williton held last night (31 March 2008) at the Mason's arms in Williton. Although, I am now a member of this steering group, for the official minutes, please visit the West Somerset Creative Project blog.

On the one hand there was the very practical issue of the money needed to to be raised rapidly to be able to buy the West Somerset Council meeting rooms which are envisaged as an ideal opportunity for premises for the proposed West Somerset Cultural Centre.

On the other hand, it was generally agreed putting people who enjoy creativity in touch with each other and the creation of a movement of people to enable this objective was critically important too.

Transparency and openness to all in the general public who are interested in participating in or progressing the creative arts in West Somerset was also seen as essential.

Regeneration was seen as a key benefit arising out of the Creative Project and the Cultural Centre. Jobs would be created at the Cultural Centre and local creative businesses would have a larger pool of people interested in enjoying their work from within West Somerset and also people visiting the area.

The quality of life for local people would also be enhanced both for creative amateurs and for people who enjoy accessing their work.

It was an exciting meeting with lots of promise for benefits for West Somerset and surrounding areas and with the strong agreement of the need to work with and support organisations who are already working in the local creative industries.

A blog has been set up called West Somerset Creative Project for the public to visit and participate in the Creative Project and policy discussion.

I urge everybody who cares about creativity and the creative arts to get involved. The list of creative activities is very long and open ended but it includes painters, musicians, dancers, poets, writers, crafters, sculptors, photographers and more. Whatever your creative pursuit, the West Somerset creative Project is a wonderful opportunity for us all to work together and achieve real improvements for the creative industries both amateur and professional in West Somerset.

But it can't be done without your help ... So visit the West Somerset Creative Project blog, tell us who you are and start talking to people who, like you, care about being creative.

Bye for now

Rob