Big news! Today, the entire Nonsuch Studios team are thrilled to announce that we have been appointed as the programme managers and producers of Ashfield Creates!
Big news! Today, the entire Nonsuch Studios team are thrilled to announce that we have been appointed as the programme managers and producers of Ashfield Creates; a three-year, community-led programme that’s set to develop arts, creativity, and culture across every community in Ashfield, enabling more people than ever before to access amazing arts activities, creative events, and opportunities in the district.
This appointment will see us at Nonsuch, lead and deliver the programme with the communities of Ashfield, appointing key project staff and bringing the ambitious vision of the programme to life from April 2025 onwards.
Having worked closely with Ashfield District Council and a wide range of Arts and Community partners since 2023 to develop and successfully applying for a £1million grant from Arts Council England; this appointment now enables the Nonsuch team to continue this crucial work and bring the exciting ambitions of Ashfield Creates to life until Autumn 2027.
At the heart of the programme, Local Creative Networks will be established in Hucknall, Kirkby, Sutton, and across Ashfield’s rural villages, to engage communities with creative activities, events, and experiences.
There will also be commissions for artists, a creative workforce development programme and dedicated resources to ensure activities embed access. The programme aims to reach over 160,000 live audience members, over 14,000 Participants, 250 volunteers and over 500 creative practitioners.
Edward Boott, Artistic Director & CEO of Nonsuch Studios says:
“The entire Nonsuch Studios team is absolutely delighted that we have been appointed as the programme managers and producers of Ashfield Creates. Having worked extensively in Ashfield since 2019 and supported much of the ground work, designing and shaping of the Ashfield Creates programme, we really can’t wait to get started and begin creating some truly amazing moments and experiences.
Having already ran lots of consultation sessions and spoken with hundreds with artists, organisations and individuals over the past two years, we know how important this investment is and understand how crucial it is to ensure this funding genuinely reaches everyone across Ashfield; building creative skills, providing amazing cultural moments and supporting their stories to be told.”
Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council says:
“Ashfield Creates is something we are proud to be part of to encourage arts and creativity across the District. This is an exciting development in the project and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Nonsuch Studios as the new Programme Manager and Producer. They have already done great things as part of the Ashfield Creates team and we look forward to seeing what the future holds.
The arts are something I have always been passionate about and this £1 million investment is already helping us to reach more people and groups. Creative industries are an excellent economic benefit as they bring skills and employability to the District. Creative events also bring people into areas where they spend and support the locality.
We have had some excellent feedback so far on what you would like to see happen across the District and it shows how much enthusiasm there is out there for this”
It is expected that with this appointment, programme activity, opportunities and events will begin from April 2025 onwards once a full team is in place and whilst the organisation and management of this will be led by Nonsuch Studios, Ashfield Creates will place the residents of Ashfield at the heart of how decisions are made within the programme, shaping what they want to see happen as part of the programme.
Local organisations, individuals and community groups will work with the dedicated Ashfield Creates staff to plan regular activities across dance, theatre, art, music, and craft. The co-created programme will include weekly local events and performances, and range of a yearly community arts festival, as well as large-scale events and festivals working with national and international artists.
Already, since the programme was announced in July 2024, over 1,400 people have engaged in creative events, meetings and consultations that have played a crucial role in shaping the next stages of Ashfield Creates and will also result in the creation of Ashfield’s first ever Cultural Strategy that will support arts, culture and creativity until 2035 and will be launched later in the spring.
For now, residents can continue to have their say on the Ashfield Creates programme via the consultation survey and sign-up to find out more via the Ashfield Creates Email Newsletter, both of which can be found on the Ashfield Creates website: ashfieldcreates.co.uk
Those interested in joining the Nonsuch Studios & Ashfield Creates teams can check out our current Job Opportunities now.
