Discovering Hidden Lands - The Stanchion

Funded on
12 Jul 2022

A partnership project with strong community values and engagement through the creation of workshops to see a landmark artwork at Milton Creek Country Park, responding to its rich history and ecology.

£16,030 Raised of £15,657

30 Backers

102%

Costs

Hiring of 2 eco artists for delivery of 6 workshops £3,650
Project Manager £3,000
Workshop Materials £2,250
Artist expenses £1,966
Project Assistant £1,000
Celebratory event £1,000
Park Ranger Assistance £1,000
Venue Hire and equipment for 2 days £300
Photographer £250
Clay firing £200
Other + £200

Venue and staff hire 1 day £200
Target: (inc. fees) £15,656

https://ideastest.org.uk/

In 2012 a group of Swale & Medway-based voluntary and arts organisations, led by Swale CVS, successfully apply for funding from the Arts Council England’s new Creative People & Places (CPP) programme.

Since then, Ideas Test works to create a vibrant arts ecology in Swale and Medway that brings new opportunities to celebrate the area by:

Supporting community cohesion, enhancing the quality of people’s lives using collaborative co-creation models to inspire
Support and celebrate the rich diversity and history of the area
Remove barriers to participation in creative life, regardless of class, economic background, race, sexual orientation, neurodiversity or disability of any kind

We have worked in Swale for the past nine years with ‘a good understanding of the communities we serve, and care deeply for the people and issues within them’ (Partner Evaluation Report 2021). Our impact is measurable; over the pandemic, we realised a 15% increase in audiences from the low engagement group and 83% of these were from the area, up from 79% in 2019. We successfully bid to Arts Council to be in its National Portfolio from April 2022, securing funds for 3 years.

Partnership and collaboration are critical to the ways that Idea’s Test work with communities and we use collegiate co-commissioning principles. Relationships and trust have been built over a long time and everyone has an equal place at the table. We value the skills ideas and knowledge of our community and we are also richly supported by a consortium of local organisations which includes our former lead for the CPP grant, Swale CVS.

We’ve had the ambition to help create something big in Milton Creek Country Park for almost half a decade. As an arts charity that works with communities, we wanted to make sure the people of Milton Regis and Swale had a voice in what we did. In 2021 Creative Estuary came to us with an opportunity to do a large scale art project - we knew exactly where we wanted it to be. Working with them and representatives from local heritage and community groups, we chose what kind of lasting art we wanted to see in the park, to celebrate the area, its heritage, and its people.

Ideas Test has a strong track record of successful fundraising and the artist has indicated that he is able to scale this work to meet whatever we achieve.

Project Owner: Ideas Test The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.