About Norca

Since our formation in August 2001, Norwich & Norfolk Community Arts Ltd. has established itself as a major community arts provider, establishing a range of innovative and exciting programmes. The organisation's remit covers the whole of Norfolk but our work has tended to be focused on the City of Norwich. This is where we have established our track record, with our experience developing around Norwich's deprived communities. We have always had strong links to these communities and have been physically based within one or other of them since we started. NORCA received charitable status in December 2001.

Our focus on community development has given us a unique perspective in the field of community arts. NORCA has developed innovative projects and initiatives, which often have objectives above and beyond their artistic focus. Although we profoundly believe in involvement in the arts for its own sake, we also recognise and support the indirect value of artistic activity - for inclusion, hard and soft-skills development, community building, confidence and aspiration. Where possible we also try to leave something behind to take the work forward - active groups, long-term engagement, new networks, practitioners able to develop their own practice.

NORCA was originally formed to run a community arts venue, Waterloo Park Pavilion, which we gave up in July 2006. Although a difficult decision to make, it was clear that the Pavilion was not meeting the aspirations that we had set for it and we decided to concentrate on project and programme development, where we have had considerable success in gaining funding and delivering exciting, groundbreaking arts provision. However, community facilities are close to our heart and we still feel there is a desperate need for such facilities in Norwich. We will continue to explore the provision of such facilities as opportunity allows.

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We believe that everyone is creative, and that creative and cultural activities are a fundamental part of our lives. Through involvement in the arts, NORCA will offer people the opportunity and tools to be active, confident participators and creators, and help communities discover, develop and use their ability to express themselves through creativity. We seek to engage people actively in the creation of culture.

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Core Activities are:

• improving Access to the arts,
• increasing Participation in the arts, and
• providing opportunities for Training and the development of Skills, at a variety of levels.
• the development of Resources for community arts groups and the wider community.

Core Principles are:

• Excellence, in all aspects of our provision.
• Creativity, both in our work and in the way we run our organisation.
• Partnership, with those who support our aims.
• Opportunity & Inclusion, arts for everyone.
• Development, & recognising the role of the arts in individual and community development and regeneration
• Innovation, seeking new and exciting initiatives.

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Over the last five years NORCA has developed a number of priority areas, from research, consultation and experience. These are:

Table 1: Priorities

No.	Priority Area	Objectives
1.	Provision for young people.	Encourage involvement in the arts. Provide activities not otherwise supported. Achieve continuous music provision from pre-school to 18yrs. Link provision to Arts Awards.
2.	The development of arts and vocational skills.	Create a range of activities, projects and programmes that offer the opportunity to develop skills. Encourage involvement in the arts at all ages.
3.	Use of the arts in the development of transferable skills.	Build into all arts work. Develop opportunities for those who are unemployed, have low or no skills levels, or work in low-income/low skill jobs, to improve their employability and opportunity through involvement in arts projects.
4.	Professional development.	Develop opportunities for practitioners to increase their skill levels.
5.	Support access in areas of deprivation, where there is less opportunity for involvement, or where there is some block to access, e.g. the cost of it.	Ensure that activities are affordable/accessible to everyone. Develop specific programmes for areas of deprivation. Develop provision where the level and cost of equipment is prohibitive because the maximum number of participants makes it economically unviable, e.g. music technology or video.
6.	Cultural Diversity	Develop support for Black & Minority Ethnic groups and individuals with regards to the arts. Broaden the cultural offer for Norfolk as a whole. Develop opportunities for people with disabilities.
7.	Inclusion	Develop projects that bring together a diverse range of participants to work together.

Based on consultation, research and interests we have also developed areas of work in which we tend to concentrate. This is not to the exclusion of others areas but does mean we are able to develop specialist experience and provision. Some of this work is based on partnership with other 'specialist' organisations, for example Future FM for radio work, and some projects may require us to provide a much wider range of activities, e.g. the Reedham Music Project, in which case we are flexible to the needs and wishes of participants.

Table 2: Key areas of work developed or under development

Music	Music technology
	Singing
	General music making, including songwriting, DJ skills, band development, etc.
	Pre-school (new area)
Media	Video
	Internet
	Journalism
	Creative writing
Carnival	Carnival network
	Carnival development
Theatre	Creative theatre, including music theatre
Enviroment	Exploring the use of the arts in environmental education

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Trustees

NORCA is managed by a board of Trustees who meet at least four times a year and report to NORCA members at the AGM. Membership of NORCA is open to any person or organisation that agrees with the objects, who applies to the Trustees and whose application is accepted by them.

 The current Trustees of NORCA are:

• Pat Howe
• Laura Biggart (Chair)
• Annie Laver-Vincent
• Ben Binns

The skills of the Trustees gives NORCA a strong foundation in organisational and business development, community education and training, community arts and local government. We are continually seeking to add to the breadth of skills and experience, so if you would interested in becoming a Trustee please get in touch with us.

We would like to thank past Trustees for their energy and input in getting NORCA to where it is today - George Eve, Jane Walsh, Simon Hartshorne, Andy Wells and Rev. Nicholas Vesey.

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