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Serving communities
across Bedfordshire and Luton

HAPPEN

Artist Zena Jay Ellis worked with young people from the Parkside Estate in Houghton Regis to produce a mural for the local community. Happen assisted Parkside Voice, the tenants and residents association, in identifying funding and an artist to carry their project forward.

About HAPPEN

HAPPEN is a creative programme with a social agenda. We are helping to put the arts at the heart of everyday life in Bedfordshire, for the benefits of all its residents. We invest in local creative talent that has the potential to make a positive difference to communities and demonstrate why the arts are intrinsic to a healthy society. Our projects are intended to explore how artists can help to address the issues that are critical for quality of life for people in Bedfordshire. Each project involves a number of stakeholders and depends upon identifying external funding sources. HAPPEN works across a number of key areas, including:

Children & Young People

All young people in Bedfordshire should have an entitlement to participate in the arts, both in and out of school. Our belief is that children of all ages thrive on creativity. We want to demonstrate that increasing opportunities for young people to engage with the arts will raise standards in schools, increase confidence and self-esteem, and help to communicate a more positive image of young people.

Finals Night - the culmination of a 12 week participatory arts project with pupils from South Luton High School and with support from The Mall, Arndale shopping centre, Arts and Business, Crime Concern, and Luton Borough Council.Twisted - a new dance commission by Bedford-based arts organisation Two Thirds Sky and Happen designed to enliven Lime Stree in Bedford town centre, as part of a programme of outdoor performances during 2006. Happen worked with Bedford Business Improvement District and over 22 local and regional arts providers.Students present their project proposals to a panel of judges. The central theme being how the arts can assist in the fight against antisocial behaviour and give a voice to young people.

Sustainable Communities

Bedfordshire is a growing county that faces considerable change to its population and environment. The arts have a role to play in developing social cohesion, and creating identity and distinctiveness in our communities.

Economic Regeneration

The arts have their own economic value, forming part of the creative industries sector that is the fastest-growing in the UK. In addition, the creativity and inspiration of the arts can be a powerful ingredient for businesses in raising their profile or sharpening their cutting edge. In our view, the arts can bring creativity and dynamism to the process of economic regeneration, whether in town centres or industrial estates.

Working with South Bedfordshire District Council, Arts Council East and Slough Estates the regionally acclaimed photographer Martin Figura produced a new body of work based upon changes to the industrial landscape, local peoples lives and the potential for community and economic regeneration.Happen negotiated without charge workspace for artist Paul Pibworth at Bedford I Lab spanning 12 months. In return Paul contributed creative thinking and a range of activities for tenant businesses designed to raise their profile.New photographic work by Martin Figura

Artist Development

One of HAPPEN’s key aims is to support and develop local artists who want to work in different settings. HAPPEN maintains a database of professional arts practitioners, living or working in Bedfordshire, and seeks out opportunities for them to further their practice.

Illuminated letter formations by Paul Pipworth for Bedford I Lab. Paul introduced the phrase GET CREATIVE to the facility and its surrounding carpark and green spaces. There were opportunities for visitors to I Lab to create new words of their own a bit like Countdown with Carol Vordeman!Happen commissioned artist Joanna Callaghan in 2006 to explore in video the role of arts in regeneration. This social documentary and animated landscape was premiered at the Building Creativity conference in Luton’s Hat Factory.Happen supported a group of Bedfordshire based performers to establish a new dance company. Pictured is one of the first performances from the new company TWO THIRDS SKY.

If you would like to learn more about HAPPEN's work, or see examples of recent projects then why not have a look at the HAPPEN website.

HAPPEN is funded by Arts Council England and the five local authorities in Bedfordshire and hosted by BRCC.

If your inclination is to see, and do, things a little differently and if the opportunity to be a partner in these changes is of interest, either as an organisation or as an individual, then please contact HAPPEN on 01767 626461.

HAPPEN c/o The Smithy The Village Old Warden Bedfordshire SG18 9HQ

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Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity. Contact: info@bedsrcc.org.uk Registered charity no 1061538.
A company limited by guarantee and registered in England no 3327628.