A Rural Jigsaw
Dorset Magazine|April 2020
Imagine trying to place 70 performances across 50 rural locations in Dorset. This is all in a day’s work for Artsreach, one of the country’s oldest rural touring schemes
Fanny Charles
A Rural Jigsaw

When the new Artsreach seasonal programme lands in your inbox or on your doormat, there is always a frisson of excitement. What dance, theatre, music or puppetry performances are coming to my village, or to one nearby?

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Artsreach, one of the oldest of the country’s 30 rural touring schemes. Its co-director Kerry Bartlett gives us an insight into how the pieces of the programming puzzle fit together; and it’s no mean feat!

“There are three key stages in any touring scheme’s cycle of programming. Firstly, our small core team compiles a menu of productions to present to our volunteer promoters.” Productions are selected through recommendation and research, using feedback gathered from other touring schemes, promoters and audiences, showcases, and by investigating unsolicited information sent to Artsreach.

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