Knowle West Media Centre is a member of The Bristol DIY Network – an independent gathering of arts organisations and arts practitioners, large and small, funded (Arts Council, Bristol City Council) and unfunded, all of whom deliver cultural programmes within the city of Bristol.
We meet regularly to advocate for the sector and to discuss and inform policy, as well as forming working groups in response to specific issues and to develop shared activity. This thinking feeds directly into the wider cultural conversations happening at a high level in the city through the Cultural Strategy Steering Group.
The group’s members work across different scales and different artforms; some specialise in participatory opportunities, others seek out an audience; some charge, some don’t; and some provide complex programmes that sit across a number of strands.
Together, we are committed to the successful future of our city, and the creativity of both Bristol and Bristolians.
Members of the DIY Network also meet in smaller working groups to focus on relevant areas. For example, KWMC’s Head of Research and Evaluation, Roz Stewart-Hall, coordinates the DIY Network’s Evaluation Working Group. This group’s mission is ‘to improve perceptions of and processes for evaluation across Bristol’s Cultural Organisations.’ The group aims to:
Bristol DIY Network members include Bristol Old Vic, Watershed, Knowle West Media Centre, Artspace Lifespace, Field Art Projects, Circomedia, Architecture Centre, Colston Hall, Bristol Culture, Room 13, The British Paraorchestra and Friends, Zion, The Trinity Centre and many others including independent artists.
If you are an independent artist, practitioner or smaller organisation unable to attend a meeting, you can share ideas, views and concerns with us via Theatre Bristol who help to administer the group, or one of the members. We are working on a bursary scheme to help those who are independent to be involved, particularly in working groups and sitting on the committee. If this is you, please contact us via Sarah at Theatre Bristol (sarah@theatrebristol.net) to discuss your requirements.
If you would like to find out more, please get in touch for more information via sarah@theatrebristol.net
If you would like to receive updates from The DIY Bristol Network you can sign up to the mailing list here.
