Funding from Norwich LCSRB has been vital in the enabling NORCA to develop its community arts provision and to develop as an organisation. This project was based on our commitment to the principle of lifelong learning and belief that arts-based activities can have a significant impact on quality of life, including developing personal skills such as confidence and literacy, addressing issues such as social exclusion, developing sense of community and community involvement, and improving employability. NORCA was funded by LCSRB over a two-year period during which we were able to:

• Establish an ongoing programme of arts activities that offers a wide range of ‘at cost’ and subsidised activities.
• Provide a wide range of activities and training over the two years, particularly in carnival arts, craft activities, video arts, music technology, music making, IT, and Web design. Much of this was delivered directly to groups and organisations in deprived parts of Norwich, with positive results in terms of increasing participation in the arts, increased educational activity and participants going on to get jobs or to full time education.
• Purchase our mobile multimedia facility, and develop and pilot the Sound & Vision Roadshow, where the facility is used to teach skills in music technology and video arts to young people. This went on to form the basis of our Making Tracks programme.
• Develop and run a wide range of projects directed at LCSRB wards aimed at meeting our remit of trying to improve quality of life through involvement in the arts.
• Provide support for the development of a number of community arts groups through our advice clinic.
• Enable the artistic development of a number of arts companies/groups based in LCSRB areas, including the involvement and development of volunteers.
• Reinforce the value of arts activities with regards to regeneration and improving quality of life.
• Establish the Pavilion as a major new resource for arts groups and organisations.