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Guggleton Farm Arts

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About Guggleton Farm Arts

Hi there, I am Deanne and I'm fundraising for The Gugg. We're a Community Interest Company, an Asset of Community Value and have just won a prestigious award from SME News: Arts and Creativity Social Enterprise of the Year for the South of England. The Gugg is a not-for-profit company that proactively seeks to provide many forms of art, to anyone in the local community, and beyond; in a supportive, non-judgemental and safe environment, to enhance the wellbeing and abilities of all involved. GUGGLETON FARM ARTS is a Certified Social Enterprise and accredited member of SOCIAL ENTERPRISE UK. We are based in the farmyard buildings of a old farm in Stalbridge, Dorset. The farm is now up for sale by the family that owns it and we are fundraising in order to be able to stay in our home, continue and expand our work and create a sustainable future for the CIC for our community. We will be exploring all avenues in order to find the funds required, and this particular one is all about raising match funding to help us access grants. Thank you so much for anything at all you are able to contribute. 5000 individuals used the Gugg in 2023 to help them live happier lives, lets make sure they can continue to do so please! On site we have established: A craft shop selling only locally made items – ‘As the crow flies’. A gallery showing local artists’ work – ‘The Milking Parlour’. An ‘Art Barn’ – in which to create messy work! An ‘Art Stable’ – in which to create less messy work. A ‘Textile Loft’- or ‘sew and so’ space. A ‘Men’s Shed’ – or ‘whittle and whitter’ space which is a member of the national UK Men’s Shed Association charity. A ‘Potty Shed’ where we throw clay about. An entertainment area in our open sided barns called ‘The Dutch Barns’ Stage’ which is used for live performances, regular open mic evenings, plays and film screenings. We support local bands, singer songwriters and soloists by giving them access to a welcoming and appreciative audience. There are 6 artist studios on site inhabited by creatives, solo practitioner/SMEs. We hold several regular events that also support the community: We hold a weekly peer group music improvisation group – ‘The Guggles’ [25 members]. We hold a weekly peer group learning an instrument group – ‘The Gurgs’ [8 members]. We provide after school lessons in arts and crafts for local children and support the local school in providing extra-curricular arts activities – ‘Guggleheads’ [30 children a week]. We have provided arts and crafts lessons for HAF [Holidays and Food] on behalf of Dorset Council [40 places]. We have provided English lessons over shared craft sessions for Ukrainian refugees, funded by the Dorset Welcome Fund [40 individuals and their families]. We held a 4 month long programme of ceramics classes called ‘let’s go potty’ for local primary school aged children funded by a grant award from the Culture and Community Fund from Dorset Council [120 children] We stage a yearly opera event – ‘Guggbourne’ bringing the art form to an excited new audience [app 80 in the audience – plus the support of 3 opera professionals through paying them] We hold a yearly comedy event ‘Stand Up @The Gugg’ app 60 in the audience – plus the support of 6 acts each time through paying them] There is a monthly spinning and textiles group [15-20 makers] There is a monthly Carer’s support and crafting day [10-15 attendees] A twice weekly food membership ‘larder’ supplied by FareShare UK [app 80 families a week] A very popular, weekly, Open Mic session for local musicians and a regular audience [60-100 in the audience weekly from beginning April to end October plus 6 – 7 acts a night of varying sizes. Cover bands, poets and original singer songwriters] Weekly Coffee Companions and Knit and Natter groups, in partnership with the Social Prescribing Team from the Blackmore Vale GP practice. [both regularly attended by 10-20 individuals a week] Art and crafts workshops [at least 4 a week of 4-6 people plus the paid time of tutors] Talks, spoken word events and demonstrations. [anything from 5-100 in attendance] We partner with other local groups and provide a venue for community celebrations, some of which have been: The Christmas lantern parade – c200 participants – plus lantern making classes prior. A Right Royal Bit of Fun – Jubilee Celebration entertainment and tea Lest We Forget – exhibitions and talks for the Royal British Legion 100 Anniversary We in turn support other communities and have raised just under £6,000 for groups such as the DEC fund for Ukraine, the Stalbright group and the local Amateur Archaeological society. Every year we offer both work experience and volunteering opportunities to local young people and adults. These have ranged from school supported and instigated arrangements, informal arrangements directly with families and Duke of Edinburgh award candidates. Since incorporating as a CIC the number of young people we have helped in this way is 16. We also work closely with local companies, particularly Thales UK in Templecombe, to offer away days, team building and volunteering opportunities, regularly throughout the year and have hosted their entire regional management team. We have a very engaged creative committee of around 34 people varying in ages from 18 to 73. It is a key part of our intention to ensure that, both young and old, feel agency in their lives and come together to create opportunities to exercise this. Many of our exhibitions and community events have their origin in this group and many of them also volunteer with us. We have a group of 40 volunteers who promote, manage, staff and create all the initiatives that develop at the site. Whilst we ensure that all artisans, performers and tutors are paid the correct amount for their services the site and all its activities are staffed entirely by volunteers. Thank you for reading our story.

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