About
The Foundation for Citizen Arts
The Foundation for Citizen Arts utilises theatre and related participatory arts to promote democratic engagement and economic literacy.
Origins of the Foundation
Solent Peoples Theatre was formed in 1976. Between 2003 and 2009 the company specialised in the creation and delivery of activities and training to promote democratic engagement and financial literacy using theatre and related participatory methodologies (in particular the use of electronic audience voting equipment).
Activities ranged from performance and workshop programmes to facilitating engagement events such as Political Speed Dating; from helping run engaging and entertaining public meetings to training local authority officers to do the same.
The work was delivered in schools, community centres, residents groups and council chambers. In total the company worked with over 200 schools, 50 local authorities and with a number of government departments and other agencies (Local Government Association, Home Office, Electoral Commission, Ministry of Justice, The Healthcare Commission, The Children's Commission) and the European Parliament.
The ongoing demand for the democracy and economic literacy programme became such that the core SPT staff team have formed The Foundation for Citizen Arts to further this work. This new umbrella organisation will continue Solent Peoples Theatre's pioneering programmes in the fields of political and financial literacy and work with partners in other art forms with a view to becoming a national advocate for the use of the arts to strengthen and promote democracy.
No other arts organisation in the country offers such a comprehensive and expert approach to democracy and economics.
Work will take place across three distinct strands:
- Citizen Arts UK : Our democracy and economic literacy programmes for adults, young people and public/voluntary sector organisations throughout the UK.
- Citizen Arts International : Working with international partners to develop 'train the trainer' projects for the delivery of arts based democracy and economic literacy programmes.
- FCA Consulting : Consultancy work with the private sector, with a particular emphasis on applying participative and developmental methodologies to business training and processes.