From the Junction Arts archive, a lantern making workshop in Bolsover in 1995
Back in July 2016, we were thrilled to learn that our director Christopher Bevan had been commissioned to direct an exciting new documentary project for Junction Arts, a Derbyshire based participatory arts organisation. Established in 1976 and celebrating their incredible 40th Anniversary this year, the JA40 project was created by the organisation to look back at their history through archiving their past work and developing a short film that would tell the story of how they Junction Arts came to be. The film was created and supported with funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
“Working over the last five months on this project has been a fascinating and rewarding experience. I’ve had the chance to delve into the history of an organisation rooted deeply in rural communities where arts exposure is not as prominent, and to get a glimpse of what this has meant to those local people over the past 40 years is both inspiring and moving.
I’ve also been able to interview key individuals from throughout the history of Junction Arts including former team members, artists, participants and representatives of the organisation’s funding bodies including Arts Council England, Bolsover District Council and Derbyshire County Council. The 20-minute film was produced from hours of interviews filmed over the duration of the project and I hope that the end result will be a lasting tribute to Junction Arts’ work to bring art to the communities that need it most” – Christopher Bevan, Director ‘JA40: The Junction Arts Story’
Filming at the Bolsover Lantern Parade in November 2016
The film screened for the first time in early December at a private event for the Junction Arts team, funders and associates of the organisation. In early 2017 the film will tour the areas in which Junction Arts has been based over the past 40 years. The film has been released online too and is available to view below.
About Junction Arts (via www.junctionarts.org)
Junction Arts is a participatory arts organisation and charity based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. We have built a reputation, during the last 40 years, for delivering outstanding, transformational work in the arts through partnerships and collaborations within the rural areas of the East Midlands. We believe that the arts changes people’s lives, builds confidence and skills, increases communication and supports community and personal empowerment. Our primary aim is to increase and extend access to high quality arts through inspirational, innovative participatory arts projects and through partnership working and collaboration.