About Fylde C.A.P.

Mission

We are dedicated to promoting Music, Art, Dance and Drama to enhance the communities of the Fylde by our own efforts in channelling local talent.

Aims

Fylde Community Arts Projects is a volunteer run organisation dedicated to supporting the arts in the Fylde area, covering Blackpool, the Fylde, and Wyre. Our organisation is supported by local government as well as business and private individuals; see the sponsorship page for details. We work with our sponsors and other organisations to create links between artists - practising or aspiring - and audiences.

We aim to work with local groups and individuals within the Fylde: in the planning, development and deliverance of activities, that will enhance and build a healthy, creative more cohesive community. All our projects and activities will help to unite people by delivering intergenerational or cultural activities that will improve relationships between young and older adults in the wider culturally diverse communities of Blackpool Fylde and Wyre districts.

These activities and projects will assist in supporting healthy and creative lifestyles, for all generations and special interest groups, using music, dance, art, creative writing, poetry and performance art as a catalyst for the development of projects throughout the year.

Outcomes

• Improved consultations with local councils and community interest groups
• Better working relationships between youth, older adults and culturally diverse communities
• More individuals finding creative and healthy outlets
• A wider sense of “community spirit" between the generations and local residents

Activities

• These will include At least one art competition and exhibition for adult artists living in the Fylde
• An annual poetry competition for 7-11 year old children
• At least 4 music and dance events with a culturally diverse theme
• Work- shops arranged by request from schools and local groups

Fylde C.A.P. History

Fylde Community Arts Projects formed as a voluntary group in 2005 following the successful launch of a book of poetry by people living around the Fylde community. The book was published to raise money for a local charity, Donna’s Dream House. It was sold by members of the group and in four months raised over £1100 for the charity. Fired with enthusiasm for encouraging more creativity in the Fylde, our own dream developed. Supported by a small grant from the Wyre Arts Development Officer, we formed as a working group in 2006. We began to promote other ideas for using art in all its forms. We help local people by providing a wider platform to play music, display their art and develop their creative talents.

In 2006 we organised and launched a short story writing competition and published the winning works in our own publication “Grist to the Mill”. We are now organising poetry competitions in Wyre Primary schools, running poetry workshops, as well organising the Marsh Mill music festival in August with the Marsh Mill Art Competition as a central feature throughout August. We promote other events at Marsh Mill in Thornton aimed at encouraging local artists, poets and performers to contribute.

Affiliations

We remain a non profit group of people from around the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde districts. As a local group we are associated with the Council for Voluntary Services. We are members of Folk Arts International.

Status

We give our services to the community. All the money we receive is used to help our future work and develop more projects or enhance existing ones.

We have public liability insurance and are registered with the Performing Rights Society. We maintain Health and Safety awareness and in particular look after the safety of vulnerable people involved with our events.