Change on Our Streets: reflections on Outdoor Arts UK conference 

I loved the rallying call from the keynote speaker, Clare Farrell, founder of Extinction Rebellion, who felt that we in the outdoor arts sector are perfectly placed to challenge “the multifaceted intersectional shitshow” with the work we make. We have the tools to resist the polarising narratives of division, and the community celebrations and festivals we create will help “build a Nation of Neighbours, not an island of strangers.” Joy is not frivolous, she said, but a positive force, one which can hold the artistic and civic life of our towns and cities together. She urged us to continue to use the authority of the streets “to defibrillate the collective imagination.”

And good to see “Wherever You Are, Whoever You Are, The Arts Are Yours: A Strategy for Joy and Belonging” launched.  

It calls for sector development, reinforces the need to gather evidence of the impact of the work on our communities, and it keeps building the case for investment, particularly now local authority budgets are under such pressure.   

It’s now available to download here  

It was warming to hear of other OAUK members that had travelled far and wide (including from Scotland, Wales and Ireland) to attend the conference. I think this shows the OAUK’s national influence and standing. 

We as a company very much appreciated the new format where the first whole day was set aside for artists and producers/festival organisers/bookers to connect with each other. We were able to easily talk to each other and demonstrate what we do, and the marketplace and pitching sessions were very valuable in feeling seen and heard as well as obtaining new contacts. 

The new sector strategy announced by OAUK is important, I feel: ensuring the sector stays focused on keeping outdoor arts at the forefront of people’s minds when making strategic planning and policy decisions. Providing a foundation for the future that reflects the diverse voices of the sector. 

I feel the Arts Council and big producers alike understand the importance of the outdoor arts sector in reaching people that are a), hard to reach and b), usually non-attenders of arts events. 

Overall, it was a valuable exercise to attend the conference as part of my plans to hand over my own company, Apus Arts, to the next generation; and as a Board member for Walk the Plank, it helps keeps me in touch with sector developments. 

I had the opportunity to attend the OAUK conference for the first time, representing Walk the Plank on a national level. The conference was a fantastic opportunity to meet new colleagues from across the sector, including The Culture House in Grimsby and Levantes Dance Theatre in London. 

OAUK’s director Sho Shibata’s opening speech on the second day highlighted the role of Outdoor Arts at a strategic level as a sector that is culturally democratic, breaking down social barriers and serving communities that have been traditionally overlooked.  

As a Project Manager currently working on Salford 100: The Wagon Train (commissioned by Salford City Council for the centenary cultural programme) I have seen first-hand how neighbourhoods in Salford can benefit from free, versatile events that bring communities together, having worked in places like Cadishead which is ranked as being more deprived than 63% of neighborhoods in the UK.  

This year's Outdoor Arts UK strategy is themed around joy and belonging, which feels incredibly pertinent; and after attending the conference I have been reminded me why Walk the Plank does the work we do: to enrich lives through shared creative experiences.