www.canterburyartscouncil.org.uk 2008/9 From the Chair… As Canterbury Arts Council’s new Chair, I would like to express unreserved gratitude to our out-going Chairman, Alan Boniface, for his superb work over many years for the arts locally. I can only hope that I prove half as effective. This is, I believe, a truly exciting time for CAC. Our fine website has generated widespread interest, including from the Marlowe Theatre.We are confident it will become the one-stop website for all local arts activity. As ever, we are keen to foster talent through our Young Persons’ Bursary Awards.Anyone reading Anastasia Kuatkhina’s inspiring interview (right) must surely agree.There is so much talent out there… Indeed, I reckon enabling young people to blossom through the arts is possibly CAC’s most important role. Finally, my sincere thanks to the executive committee for their hard work, especially Stewart for this Review and Brian for the website. Sara Kettlewell How did you hear about the CAC bursaries? Poster in Dance Warehouse and heard you’d previously given a bursary to a ballet dancer. How was the selection process? Fine! The 30-minute interview was in a big room, so I felt at ease because I was far from the judges! I had a lot to say about my work. How much did you get and what did you use it for? The original bursary was for £300, but CAC raised it to £350 to cover the whole cost of my course. I was over the moon! It paid for a 5-day Customized Cutting and Fitting course (Part 1) at London College of Fashion. This taught about womenswear pattern cutting techniques using personal direct body measurements, a technique used to produce bespoke garments for individual clients. What did this mean for your creative development? The knowledge I gained was a huge help. For example, I now know that in serious couture 2 mm is a big difference! I learned to take my designs from paper into reality, I gained confidence in producing blocks and clarified my career path. The course also gave me a better chance of getting into the university I want to go to next year - Central Saint Martin’s, London. Is the CAC bursary scheme worthwhile and how might it be improved? The scheme is certainly worthwhile, with a great newspaper feature. Perhaps in future you could (1) help with travelling expenses, which in my case were really high, and (2) advertise the bursary opportunities in the newspaper, so more people are aware of it. Would you encourage others to apply? If so, why? I would definitely encourage others to apply.The scheme broadened my skills, knowledge and confidence. It would do the same for others. Perfect fit: Award Winner Anastasia Kuatkhina on her CAC bursary Playtime captivate Oman New President A very warm welcome to our incoming president Dr Michael Bukht OBE
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www.canterburyartscouncil.org.uk
2008/9
From theChair…As Canterbury Arts Council’snew Chair, I would like to express unreserved gratitude toour out-going Chairman,AlanBoniface, for his superb workover many years for the artslocally. I can only hope that Iprove half as effective.
This is, I believe, a truly excitingtime for CAC. Our fine websitehas generated widespread interest,including from the MarloweTheatre.We are confident it willbecome the one-stop website forall local arts activity.
As ever, we are keen to fostertalent through our Young Persons’Bursary Awards.Anyone readingAnastasia Kuatkhina’s inspiringinterview (right) must surelyagree.There is so much talent outthere… Indeed, I reckon enablingyoung people to blossom throughthe arts is possibly CAC’s mostimportant role.
Finally, my sincere thanks to theexecutive committee for theirhard work, especially Stewart for this Review and Brian for the website.
Sara Kettlewell
How did you hear about the CACbursaries?
Poster in Dance Warehouse and heardyou’d previously given a bursary to aballet dancer.
How was the selection process?
Fine! The 30-minute interview was ina big room, so I felt at ease because Iwas far from the judges! I had a lot tosay about my work.
How much did you get and what did youuse it for?
The original bursary was for £300, butCAC raised it to £350 to cover thewhole cost of my course. I was overthe moon! It paid for a 5-dayCustomized Cutting and Fitting course(Part 1) at London College of Fashion.This taught about womenswear patterncutting techniques using personal directbody measurements, a technique usedto produce bespoke garments forindividual clients.
What did this mean for your creativedevelopment?
The knowledge I gained was a hugehelp. For example, I now know thatin serious couture 2 mm is a bigdifference! I learned to take mydesigns from paper into reality, Igained confidence in producingblocks and clarified my career path.The course also gave me a betterchance of getting into the universityI want to go to next year - CentralSaint Martin’s, London.
Is the CAC bursary schemeworthwhile and how might it beimproved?
The scheme is certainly worthwhile,with a great newspaper feature.Perhaps in future you could (1) helpwith travelling expenses, which in mycase were really high, and (2)advertise the bursary opportunities inthe newspaper, so more people areaware of it.
Would you encourage others to apply? If so, why?
I would definitely encourage othersto apply.The scheme broadened myskills, knowledge and confidence. Itwould do the same for others.
Perfect fit: Award Winner Anastasia Kuatkhina on her CAC bursary
Playtime captivate Oman
New PresidentA very warm welcome to our incoming president Dr Michael Bukht OBE
Ca Review May09 13/5/09 2:09 PM Page 2
C R E A T I V E CA selection of the varied and exciting activities un
DID YOU KNOW? (1) THE FRIENDSOF CANTERBURYFESTIVALDid you know that membership ofthe Friends of Canterbury Festivalentitles you to priority booking forFestival events, discount on selectedevents and newsletters? Friends’Events in 2008 included Tom Crean’sshow “Antarctic Explorer”, a Flandersand Swann evening, the Festival Poetof the Year Competition and, in thepresence of Princess Michael of Kent,a stunning recital by Albanianviolinist Alda Dizdari, who laterperformed the Sibelius Concerto onthe last night of the Festival. 2009will see a night of Elizabethan music,a major piano recital and a summer’sevening with Classical Opera.
Contact Sylviane Martell (01227 452853)[email protected] details of how to join and supportyour magnificent festival.
Tina Carter’s Expressive Feat
Sounds New made a profound
impression with its celebration of
French musician Olivier Messiaen.
Artists included the BBC Singers,
the Ensemble Intercontemporain,
the Arditti String Quartet, the
London Sinfonietta and an
inspirational Kent Youth Orchestra.
Keen to serve the community,
relationships were strengthened
with Canterbury Christ Church
University and the Sidney Cooper
Gallery, and a new link forged with
the Orange Street Music Club.
Contact Sounds New, 1 Pound
Lane, Canterbury CT1 2BZ
(01227 780800).
Kent Music (Canterbury Centre)was generously sponsored byChaucer Insurance,WhitstableRotary Club, Ringways PLC andMrs Chappell. CCCU,ThanetFestival Choir, Crowthers ofCanterbury, Strode ParkRehabilitation Foundation andWhitefriars also kindly helped.Over 150 young musiciansreceived instrumental and vocalensemble experience and theAlpha Singers attended the ItalianInternational Mercantia Festival.The East Kent Girls’ Choir plansto exchange with ChoraleHarmonie and the YouthOrchestra to play in Rheims.Term-time rehearsals at SLGGS,Fridays 4.30 pm. Contact:Kerry Boyle (07919 215349).
Playtime Theatre Company, bouncingback vigorously after last year’s van theft,enjoyed a tremendous year of internationaltouring.Aside from regular schools’ visits inKent, the company performed in Germany,Holland, Belgium and Oman (twice).Thereare now plans to take its work to Malta andOman again in 2009. Join the bandwagon,Contact: [email protected]
Pride in Canterbury, aiming to raisethe level and awareness of lesbian, gay,bisexual and transgender art, cultureand entertainment in the area, put ontalks, entertainments and rehearsedreadings. Interested? See:www.prideincanterbury.org.uk
Ca Review May09 13/5/09 2:09 PM Page 3
A N T E R B U R Yundertaken by CAC’s near-90 affiliated members
DID YOU KNOW? (2) ST GREG’SLUNCHTIMECONCERTSDid you know that the highlysuccessful music department ofCanterbury Christ Church University,one of CAC’s foremost patrons, putson free lunchtime concerts duringterm time? No? Then read on... EveryWednesday, at 1pm in the St Gregory’sCentre for Music on North HolmesRoad, staff, students and friends of thedepartment perform hour-longconcerts for which no charge is made.The popular and enormously variedprogrammes have recently includedearly music, improvisation, showcase,string quartets, jazz, guitar, newcompositions and wind orchestra.Allthis in addition to the exceptionalticketed evening concerts by the BigBand, University Singers, MagginiQuartet, etc. Details (01227 782244)(24 hours).
The Diabelli Duo at a Canterbury Guitar Society concert
Flanders and Swann, Festival 2008
Canterbury Photographic Society
met weekly at Kent College for a
programme of talks, discussions and
social events.All with enthusiasm for
photography welcome.
www.canterburyphotograph.uwclub.net
Herne Bay Arts Group heldtheir successful spring and annualexhibitions at the United ChurchLower Hall, a popular Al Frescosummer exhibition on the sea
front and an evening meeting atthe First Over 60’s Club.
Demonstrations and lectures onthe first Friday of each month,
March - October, were also muchenjoyed. Interested Herne Bayresidents contact Pamela Hollands (01227 364947).
The Canterbury Players, formed
by the successful amalgamation of
Canterbury Dramatics Society
(1923) and Playcraft (1951), offered
professional-standard productions in
the Gulbenkian Theatre (UKC), the
Horsebridge and Playhouse
(Whitstable) to large and appreciative
audiences. Contact: (01227 760295)
www.thecanterburyplayers.co.uk
Images Theatre Company continued to
offer poetry performances in schools and
added a curriculum-orientated visit from a
Victorian schoolmistress to their repertoire!
Their production of Monday Nights Have
Got To Be Better at Ellen Terry’s Barn
Theatre was a great hit. Contact:
Anthea Preston (01227 366288).
Whitstable Brass rehearsedweekly and gave fine concerts.Recruits to the “friendlyband’ contact Sheila Holness (01227 266248).
Canterbury Archaeological
Society, helping preserve the
local archaeological and
architectural heritage, conducted
winter lectures at CCCU
and summer excursions.
More information:
Brenda Lewis (01227 462005).
The Canterbury Branch of theDickens Fellowship prepared for theunveiling, at 11am on 7th February
(Dickens’ birthday) 2009, of a plaqueoutside Debenham’s, Guildhall St. to
commemorate his one and only publicreading in Canterbury. Enthusiasts
contact John Ingram (01227 472589).
Canterbury Camcorder
Club met monthly in the
Dominican Priory.
New members welcome:
Hon. Sec. Jean Holtum
(01227 464920).
Canterbury Musicians, renamedand renewed, gave a concert in theArden Theatre, Faversham thatraised £120 towards the theatre’sdevelopment fund. CM welcomesenquiries from people who areinterested in taking part in suchconcerts, or wish to make contactwith other localmusicians.Call Ian (01227 762547).
Canterbury Three Cities Associationlaunched its year with a springMayoral/3CA Membership visit toBloomington-Normal. In September,Martin Vye and Jason Robinsonattended the International YouthParliament in Vladimir - and werebriefly arrested for their pains! - andGeorge Conyne spent a few days inB-N. November’s half-yearly meetingfeatured a fascinating talk by Gill Pageon Russian Ballet. Contact:[email protected]
Ca Review May09 13/5/09 2:09 PM Page 4
Notes and NoticesPatrons
CAC wishes to express warmest thanks toits patrons for their generous support overthe past year and promises for the future:
• Canterbury Christ Church University• Canterbury City Council • Dean and Chapter of Canterbury
Cathedral • King’s School, Canterbury• University for the Creative Arts• University of Kent at Canterbury
Assistance givenOver the past year CAC has been delightedto support the following affiliated groupswith grants, underwritings andadvertisements:
• Canterbury Festival• Canterbury Gregorian Music Society• Canterbury Music Club• Canterbury Society of Art • Cantium Brass• CCCU Art & Design Dept.• Crowther Ensemble• Dolce Singers • Gordon Clarkson Productions • Herne Bay Organ & Keyboard Club• Historical Association - Canterbury Branch • Jazz at the Riverside• Kent Competitive Festival • Kent Piano Festival • Music at St Peter’s • Playtime Theatre Company• Sounds New• Whitstable Art Society• Whitstable Music Society • World Education Development Group
CAC also gave bursaries to• Anastasia Kuatkhina• Heather Leighton• Michael Trew
View from the PewAlan Boniface, arts aficionado and former long-standing chair of CAC, glancesback over the past year and sings the praises of a memorable choir.
One of the benefits of living in Canterbury is the high standard and wide variety ofmusic on offer. I have attended many excellent concerts during the year and havebeen hard-pressed to decide which I enjoyed most. I finally decided that it had to beSettings of the Song of Solomon and Music for Christmas by the small choir Cantemus.The choir generally give about three performances a year in St. Paul’s Church,Canterbury.This was an exceptionally challenging and partly unusual programme,mainly a capella but with some organ accompaniment by David Rees-Williams.
The first part featured music by a wide range of composers from Dunstable onwards,and included several rarely heard works such as Grier’s Dilectus meus mihi andSkempton’s Rise up, my love. The main works in the second half were O magnummysterium by Lauridsen and Ave Rex by William Mathias. In short - a programme thatwas refreshingly off-beat and challenging for both choir and audience.
This is, in my view, probably the best small choir performing in the area - often to adisappointingly small audience. Watch out for their next concert and try to give themyour support - they deserve it! AB
Ballet talk : Gill Page and Claire Robinson at the Canterbury Three Cities Association
Annual Review 2010Email contact details and copy/picsrelating to your activities in 2009 to
