Voluntary Arts England is part of the UK-wide organisation Voluntary Arts which provides a voice for the amateur arts sector across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

We promote participation in the arts and crafts and work

towards an empowered, participative, fulfilled and

healthy civil society.

Contact us 0191 230 4464info@vaengland.org.ukwww.vaengland.org.ukTwitter: @vaenglandVoluntary Arts EnglandPO Box 1056 Newcastle NE99 1UE

What we doVoluntary Arts England acts as a bridge between two sectors - the arts, and the voluntary and community sector. We offer a wide range of services including:

• Advice and information to help voluntary arts groups develop and connect with their communities

• Lobbyingandadvocacytoraisetheprofileof the sector

• Volunteer development to build capacity

• Participation campaigns to involve more people in the arts

We work with arts organisations, government, funders, national umbrella bodies, local authorities, media organisations and other key partners.

AdvocacyVolunteer Development

Participation Campaigns

Information

Voluntary Arts Network is registered in Scotland as Company No 139147 and Charity No SC 020345 RegisteredOffice:54ManorPlace,Edinburgh,EH37EH.

www.vaengland.org.uk

Examples of our work...We encourage people to take part in the arts and crafts and help amateur arts and crafts groups to work effectively in their communities.

We run public events andhigh-profilemediacampaigns in shopping centres, hospitals and non-traditional venues.

We raise the profile of amateur arts

which now feature in Arts Council England’s ten year strategic framework for the arts ‘Achieving Great Art for Everyone’.

The Running Your Group section on our informative website has over 150freeBriefingson all aspects of running an amateur artsorcraftsgroup.Youcanalsobenefitfromstep-by-step interactive guides to running a group, access to research reports and a weekly enews. Sign up at www.vaengland.org.uk to take advantage of all our resources.

We run the pioneering annual Epic Awards scheme recognising excellence in the amateur arts. www.epicawards.co.uk

The voluntary and amateur arts and craftsMostamateurartsgroupsintheUKarecreatedby local people coming together because they want to sing, dance, act or share a passion for an artform or craft.

They are grassroots, community-based organisations and most

exist with little or no public funding. They make a vital

contribution to social cohesion, health and wellbeing and generate

tourism, particularly in areas where publicly-funded arts

provision is negligible.

We work with nearly 200 specialist national umbrella organisations, including the British Federation of Brass Bands, theLaceGuild,MakingMusic,theNationalOperatic and Dramatic Association and The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles.

Northumbria Basketry group

There are approximately 49,140 amateur arts groups across England, involving 9.4 million people actively participating in arts and crafts

Rockhopper MorrisPhoto © Barry Goodman, The Morris Federation

‘Scouse Mental Health Day’ Photo: © Voluntary Arts