Bristol City Poet Caleb Parkin, innovative performers Desperate Men and award-winning Youth Dance Company Hype Dance are set to perform in front of UK politicians and policy makers as part of this year’s Big Tent Ideas Festival on 11 June 2022, Queens Square.

‘Our artistic selves are the part of us that gives us freedom, expression and happiness. A society that denies us access to the Arts also denies us opportunity for change and celebration" Angie Belcher, Comedian

They join a packed programme that includes political debates, arts, a Speaker’s Corner, Community Fayre and a Dragon’s Den-style pitching competition and will feature Government ministers, the Head of the UN Refugee Programme in the UK, Twitter’s former most senior executive in Europe and the Chair of the No Place Left Behind Commission of political debates.

As part of the festival we have joined forces with Bristol DIY Arts Network to shine a light on Bristol’s diverse and rich cultural offering and have invited cultural leaders in the city to take part in keynotes and panel discussions that will explore the role of culture in driving change in the city and what ‘City of Culture’ means for an independently creative city like Bristol.

Guests include director of Knowle West Media Centre Carolyn Hassan, CEO of Quartet Foundation Suzanne Rolt, Executive Director of St Pauls Carnival LaToyah McAllister-Jones and Melanie Rodrigues, founder and CEO of Gritty Talent as well as comedian and writer, Angie Belcher, who hit UK headlines recently after successfully gaining funding for ‘comedy on prescription’.

Trinity’s involvement in coordinating this is part of our Heritage Lottery Funded Art of Resistance, a two-year project that seeks to platform art from social movements throughout Bristol’s history.

Ticketholders will have the opportunity to communicate with leading politicians, including the Mayor of Bristol, local councillors and Bristol’s MPs, and shape the discussion. In a constructive and non-partisan environment, more akin to a music festival than a political conference, ticket holders will be able to:

• Tell the Science, Research and Innovation Minister, George Freeman MP, what businesses really need to thrive

• Ask Shadow Leader of the Commons, Thangam Debbonaire MP, how policy-making can be made more inclusive

• Talk about Ukraine with Lib Dem Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Layla Moran MP, and Chief Executive UNHCR (UK), Emma Cherniavsky.

• Enjoy performances from some of Bristol’s best artists

Book your tickets for the Big Tent Programme now at www.bigtent.org.uk

As part of the take-over we asked cultural and community organisations across Bristol to submit content for a film about Bristol's cultural offer. This film was shared the delegate including MP's and policy makers.

Trinity teamed up with Radix to programme a two-hour takeover at this year’s Big Tent Ideas Festival 2022.

Radix is a UK Think Tank whose work re-imagines societies, their Big Tent Festival is an opportunity for the public to take part in conversations to help shape UK policies.

For the festival we curated a jam-packed slot featuring keynotes and panel discussions to reflect the power and benefits of arts; personally, socially, and economically. St Pauls Carnival Executive Director LaToyah McAllister-Jones, Bristol Ideas Acting Director Naomi Miller and Knowle West Media Centre CEO Carolyn Hassan used their unique experience to discuss ways to democratise decision making and build ownership of arts and culture.

Gritty Talent Founder and CEO Melanie Rodrigues and TV industry consultant and specialist discussed the regional role of Bristol as a city of culture and its relationship to creative industries. Comedian and Writer Angie Belcher discussed arts for health & well-being whilst Quartet Community Foundation CEO Suzanne Rolt led a keynote on art for learning and social change

The programme also featured performances from City Poet Caleb Parkin, Hype Dance, Desperate Men, Edson Burton, Sheila Hannon and Lottie Ball - all showcasing Bristol's rich cultural offer.

Keep an 👀 out for filmed snippets of the take-over and join in the wider conversation about what culture means for you and the city.

Trinity believes that the best art is created and experienced by the 67 million voices that make up UK society today. This is why we support and nurture creative communities, creating opportunities for artists and communities to co-create and experience culture together.

"I can't tell you how much we enjoyed it. It was perfectly pitched for this age group. This is exactly what we need more of” - Head Teacher from school’s audience group

Collaborating with communities

In March 2021 we launched an ambitious community arts project, 'What I Want To Be, What I Want To See' that asked communities to share their hopes and dreams for the future, post-pandemic. From this initial idea we commissioned community arts practitioner Michelle Roche to collaborate Newton Network and the local community to programme a series of ‘creative happenings’.

Throughout 2021 Michelle, Newtown Network and local residents created a programme of activities including a weekly 'coffee morning and lantern making' session that culminated with a mid-winter Dolphin Parade. Residents also took part in a series of collective actions – a community painting day and a public playlist of their favourite songs – sharing the unique identity of this vibrant corner of Bristol.

Creating opportunities for children and families to access and shape culture

Spilt Ink Theatre Company was awarded the Young Audiences Commission, which was introduced following a consultation, to offer more young people and family activities. Through our on-going partnership with local school St Nicholas of Tolentine, the company delivered a series of workshops collaborating with over 60 children to devise a new work, ‘Home’ that culminated in a public sharing in May 2021.

Trinity joined forces with Take a Part and Hannah Moore primary school to deliver 'Art Club', a project for children and their families to explore what culture they enjoy and what issues matter to them. Art Club took place for 12 weeks after school and included group trips to visit organisations such as Spike Island and The Bristol Museum, meeting staff and volunteers and having an opportunity to ask questions and see behind the scenes of some of the biggest cultural venues in the city. We will also be hosting a pop-up exhibition of artworks created by children and families who took part in the project.

Supporting the development and sharing of new and exciting work

In the summer we welcomed a range of performances in our pop-up outdoor venue, in the community garden and, for the first-time since Mar 2020, inside the building. This included a Trinity ‘take-over’ by associate artist Roxana Vilk, The Vilk Collective and immersive tech-artists Squid Ink with their 'Lullabies Celebration' celebrating the culmination of Roxana’s Lullabies project. The project collected and responded to songs from the many languages spoken in Bristol and beyond. Roxana is continuing to develop her creative practise including performing at St Georges Hall and through her residency at Watershed’s PM Studio.

Through micro-commissions and subsidised space we continued to support the creation and development of new work, including Houston Dance Company who devised Like Mercury in the Fyfe Hall. The show was selected to be programmed as part of the spring season of theatre and dance in 2022 and premiered to sell-out audiences. The show explored gender, sexuality and identity and positive feedback from audiences included people commenting that the show ‘taught me to embody and celebrate my sexuality’. The company will be touring the performance in the UK throughout 2022.

Click play to watch Stokes Croft Lands Trust's campaign video

As part of our continued commitment to advocating for shared community and cultural spaces, we have pledged £1,000 to become a shareholder in the Stokes Croft Land Trust, matching the pledges of grassroots arts groups, The Invisible Circus and Artspace Lifespace.

“PRSC is a contemporary example of radical art in Bristol that represents the themes we’re exploring in our heritage project. Though this pledge, we hope to strengthen our ability more closely with PRSC and create shared outcomes for communities in relation to the art of resistance theme.” Rhiannon Jones, Programme Director

In early 2022, Trinity published the ‘100 Beacons’ report: A Community Canvas - building the case for community infrastructure, to shine a light on the importance of – and understand the risks posed to – Bristol's community and cultural assets. This report identified sustained underinvestment in civic assets coupled with the city’s rapid regeneration, poses a risk to Bristol’s unique identity that has led to it regularly topping the list of the "best places to live in Britain."

Bristol is a city renowned for its cultural offer and its activist spirit. However, parts of the city such as Stokes Croft that have historically shaped this identity have seen a huge growth in private development, which has already impacted on the cultural offer of this locality, with artists leaving Hamilton House in 2018, due to increased rents.

In response to this, the Stokes Croft Land Trust (SCLT) has been created to purchase 17-25 Jamaica St, Stokes Croft, which is home to the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft HQ (PRSC), in order to protect one of the area’s remaining cultural landmarks. Through a community shares offer, members of the community and like-minded organisations are able to come together to help ensure the building stays in the hands and ownership of artists, protecting its use for the benefit of the community. This is a model much like the Cube Cinema, which secured its building back in 2012 through community fundraising.

“Stokes Croft is a significant artistic destination in Bristol. With the scale of redevelopment happening and in the interests of social welfare, Trinity wants to help ensure our city’s cultural spirit and radical identity is nurtured. We’re working with the PRSC team to celebrate Bristol’s history of art in protest and we want to pledge our support for the Stokes Croft Land Trust so future generations of misfits have a space to call home.” Emma Harvey, CEO, Trinity Community Arts.

The Fundsurfer set up to help the SCLT purchase its first building and bring it into community ownership is already over 50% of the way towards their minimum target of £272,000.

Trinity’s commitment also supports our current work to document and celebrate 100 years of art and activism in Bristol through the National Lottery Heritage funded project, Art of Resistance.

Click here to pledge your support to Stokes Croft Land Trust today

Roxana Vilk's Lullabies Celebration Day. Photo credit Khali Ackford

The past few years have been a testing time for our industry. Looking to the future, we want to change how we work together in Bristol and the South West — as a small group of venues, we have started thinking about how as a collective we might find moments in the year to link our pathways and programmes for artists, celebrating and sustaining them alongside platforming their work in the places they call home.

Throughout March, join us in exploring what a connected city offer for theatre-makers might look like. Co-delivered by Trinity, Bristol Old Vic, Tobacco Factory Theatres and The Wardrobe Theatre and with input from many others, Connecting the Dots is a joined-up initiative piloting how we can work together to present and cross-promote shows, free workshops, meetups, residencies and open forums for artists and audiences here in the South West.

This is a pilot – a work-in-progress, even. It’s the beginning of an idea pulled together at pace with a want from all of us to build for the future. The initiative will have events that take place in-person and a small digital programme. We want to know what you think of it and to hear your feedback and your ideas for what this could become.

With love, Trinity, Bristol Old Vic, The Wardrobe Theatre & Tobacco Factory Theatres.

Important information

We will gladly book interpreters and/or captioning for any events as needed. If you have booked for an event and require interpretation, captioning, or another access adjustment, please email and we will book it.If possible, please give us at least 5 day’s notice so we can ensure captioners/interpreters are available.

All rooms are wheelchair accessible via lift and have access to accessible and gender neutral toilets.

These workshops are offered for free but if there we have a limited number of stipends available for those that might experience financial barriers to attendance. This could go towards travel, your time, etc. To request one, drop us an - stipends will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Find out more

Head to Bristol Old Vic's website to find out more about the programme of activity by following this link.

Exhibition open from 12.30pm Saturday and 10.30am Sunday.

A series of inspiring talks have been programmed throughout the two days. See below for more details.

Day 1: Art, Roots, Revolution

From reclaiming nature, the landscape and the body to building alternative communities, Bristol’s many protest movements are linked by a common thread. They aim to bring us back to the roots of what makes us human and connected. Across this day we explore the many ways in which creativity is central to protest and reconnection.

Please click through the hyperlink on each talk session that you wish to register for:

• 1.30 pm Performance from Rider Shafique

• 2 pm Arts as Activism - Tom Marshman, Michelle Curtis, Rider Shafique

• 3 pm Digital Keynote - Mikaela Loach

• 3:45 pm Ring The Alarm - Deasy Bamford, Doug Fransisco, Rosina Al-Shaater

• 4:45 pm Special Guest Keynote: Melissa Chemam

• 5:45 pm Reclaim Space - Chris Chalkley, Rita Lynch, Freddy Sygrove

• 6:45pm Performance from Rita Lynch

Workshops led by Bristol City Poet Caleb Parkin, hip-hop artist Craft D, Ruth Ramsay, and more.

Day 2: Call This Equality?

As International Women's Day nears, artists and activists will explore challenging questions around classism and sexism and celebrate female desire, the body, asking how far, if at all, women have made progress in reclaiming the body.

• 11am Pay and Equality – TBC, Angie Belcher, Rhiannon White

• 12pm  Body and Soul - Isadora Vibes, Tamatha- Ann Lovett, Lucy J Turner

• 1pm Key Note - Rommi Smith

Our talks programme will be followed by performance Dry Season by Kat Lyons. Please click here for tickets and more information.

Resistance is never futile

Entry is Free – Walk ups allowed but please pre-register for the session(s) you wish to attend to help us manage numbers.

Art of Resistance is a two-year, National Heritage Lottery Funded project charting 100 years of protest in Bristol.

The camera has long played a vital role in producing alternative narratives and creating a counter point to mainstream depictions.  Image from 'Activism Through the Lens' credit Khali Ackford/ Trinity Community Arts

Bristol based photographer Khali Ackford came to prominence following his powerful photographs capturing the spirit of the Black Lives Matters movement in the city. The events of which led to the toppling of Colston and a ripple effect around the globe.

“I’d seen his work and know the level of work that he brings across – that was the main attraction, to aspire to get to that level.” Zack, participant of Activism Through the Lens

In autumn 2021, as part of the Heritage Lottery funded project Art of Resistance, Trinity commissioned Khali to create a hands-on workshop series that would explore the role of photography in challenging the dominant narrative and highlight its power to support marginalised voices.

Khali designed the programme to introduce participants to his own journey as a photographer and offered opportunities to connect with his peers, including bringing leading artists/activists to sessions. He supported the group with key technical skills such as tips for shooting with DSLR’s, how to capture the spirit of protests through a lens, as well as shooting in a studio environment.

The programme included a mini-personal project, whereby participants used the skills they had learnt to create studio images that amplified the issues that were most passionate to them including the role and dedication of front-line NHS staff during the pandemic.

Art of Resistance continues to offer a programme of events and activities throughout 2022, including The Final Frontier, a two-day festival in March. The Festival features Mikaela Loach, who famously took the UK oil industry to the High Courts in 2021, as well as Bristol ‘artists and activists’ Doug Francis (Invisible Circus) Chris Chalkley (PRCS) and Michelle Curtis whose iconic paintings of ‘The Seven Saints of St Paul’s challenged stereotypes of the African Caribbean community that make the central Bristol ward their home. Click here to buy tickets.

Making Tracks music programme for young people

Making Tracks was a four-year music making project delivered by Trinity in partnership with Basement Studios and ACE.

We worked with young people challenging personal circumstances offering space and guidance to develop their skills and confidency through music-making.

Activities included 1-2-1 and groups sessions delivered by professional musicians working in the industry, covering a wide range of music from guitar and bass to rap and post-production.

Trinity works in partnership with pupil referral units, schools and organisations to provide regular support and guidance, to help young people re-engage with school, find internships, work placements, employment opportunities or to go onto higher and further education.

90% of young people taking part in Making Tracks saw an improvement in their musical practise and 85% reported that they have improved confidence and self-esteem.

Making Tracks was supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders Youth Sector Support Fund.

If you are a young person who would like to take part in music making activities at Trinity or if you know a young person who would like to take part, please get in touch.

Trinity stand in solidarity with the Bristol DIY Arts Network and call to keep Culture at ‘arm's length’

Arts organisations from Bristol have come together to create #67MillionVoices, to raise awareness of the possible risks to the future of creative freedom of expression in the arts.

As many were buried in the National Portfolio application, the newly launched Reviews of Public Bodies programme announced it will examine the operations of all arm’s-length bodies in England - including the Arts Council, the BFI, the National Lottery Community Fund and Historic England - to assess whether "they should be abolished or retained" (The Stage, 16 May 2022)

The UK have always held a firm ‘at arms length’ stance to the arts and heritage sector. Over the last two years, pressures from the 'Common Sense Group' has  sought to reduce this independence, and have lobbied the Government step in and take action against charities and arts organisations whose work is not in keeping with 'British values'.

What does it mean to be British and who should get to decide?

DIY believe diversity is strength. It makes our art better, our heritage stories richer and Britain greater.

It is the job of arts and heritage charities to reflect on our past and recontextualise history for audiences in the present day.

The presentation of narratives counter to those that we may be more familiar with is not about, ‘doing Britain down’. Instead, this provides us with an enriched learning environment and builds a more accurate picture of what it means to be British today.

This freedom of expression is critical to the arts and enables us to celebrate our diversity.

Here's how to support this work:

✔  Keep culture 'at arm's length' #KeepItArmsLength #HandsOffOurHeritage

✔  Uphold the Human Rights Act #ProtectHumanRightsAct

✔  Protect freedom of expression #ProtectFreedomofExpression

✔Write to you MP, download a template letter

✔Amplify #67MillionVoices on social media

✔ Get Informed – read the online timeline of events so far

#67millionvoices make culture - use yours today

Bristol DIY Arts Network is an independent gathering of arts organisations and arts practitioners, large and small, who deliver cultural programmes within the city of Bristol. We meet regularly to advocate for the sector and to discuss and inform policy.

Like Mercury Residency Bellatrix and Emma Houston Dance Collective. Photo credit Khali Ackford

Newtown 50th Anniversary street party. Photo credit Newtown Network

Joy Crookes. Photo credit Khali Ackford

Family garden sessions Oct 2021. Photo credit Trinity Community Arts

Trinity Impact infographic. Apr 2021-Sep 2022

We have been so grateful for the support of funders, donors, members, artists, audiences, volunteers, the team and everyone who has been involved in Trinity's journey this year.

We were able to adapt our programme so communities were able to access arts and culture through these challenging times.

Respond. We programmed activities for 625 children, young people and families, including Forest School, family garden days, 1-2-1/small group bespoke music provision and skills-based workshops.

“These young people can have some much-needed downtime, in a safe space, with supporting adults. Many of them have described the Wednesday night sessions as a lifeline” Helen Peder Refugee Council | Children’s Adviser (Bristol)

Amplify. Through Art of Resistance, we celebrated the role of creativity in some of the key social movements of the last 100 years, programming nine events and project-based activities attended by over 274 people.

Empower. We provided 285 paid opportunities for artists, companies and freelance event staff alongside five entry-level roles at Trinity, paid at the Real Living Wage.

Community partners were able to re-launch regular activities at the Centre, such as Hype Dance and Gerry’s Attic dance groups. We also supported Aid Box, Black Creatives and St Mungos to set up new regular groups, providing services and activities for some of those most in need during the continuing pandemic.

48 volunteers helped to deliver activities and mobilise others. This included gardening sessions in our community garden and a neighbourhood celebration event in August with a new ‘Newtown Network’ of local residents.

We welcomed back live music/club nights inside the building. With sell-out performances from Sam Fender, Teachings in Dub and Black Midi.

Over 2600 people came along to our in-house programme, Trinity Presents. From taking part in lively discussions about Soundsystem Culture (Roots, Reggae and Resistance) to experiencing Roxana Vilk's immersive Trinity take over (Lullabies Celebration) to sit-down-raving in our pop up venue early in the year.

Finally, we’re looking forward to welcoming back Caring in Bristol for their Caring at Christmas day shelter, Dec 24-30, providing a warm welcome, hot meal and good company for those experiencing homelessness and hardship this Christmas

Thank you to everyone for being part of this amazing journey, we could not have done this without you.

Trinity features in a film created by Bristol City Council, showcasing organisations in the city who are certified Real Living Wage Employers.

The film features Trinity team members Rhiannon Jones (Programme Director) and Jamell Ackford (Venue Manager) alongside Ben Openshaw and Harry Lewis who are both employed on a six-month internship as part of the DWP's Kickstart Scheme.

"Paying the Real Living Wage means we can support our workforce who, if we retain and nurture, will become future cultural decision-makers." Emma Harvey, CEO, Trinity Community Arts

Trinity became a Real Living Wage Employer in 2020, providing employees a fair, entry-level wage, calculated independently based on living costs.

Trinity believes that the best workforce is a diverse workforce and that by paying people a fair wage the opportunity to choose a career in the cultural sector is not limited to those who can afford to take on low paid internships.

Trinity joins over 65 Bristol employers, including Quirky Campers and Hargreaves Lansdown, as a certified Real Living Wage organisation, contributing to the nearly 2,500 employees who have seen an increase in their wages relevant to their day-to-day living costs. Find out more about Bristol City Council's commitment to becoming a Real Living Wage City here.

Lowkey, Photo Khali Ackford

Leading UK hip-hop artist, Lowkey is renowned for using spoken word and music as a form of activism and amplification. He was at Trinity to share the story of his journey as an activist/artist as part of Art of Resistance, a two-year Heritage Lottery project exploring creative acts of resistance.

Before the event, Lowkey kindly joined students from Trinity’s music making project, Making Tracks, to chat about how he entered into his musical making career, the challenges he has faced, and some top-tips for the emerging musicians.

“I found this advice really helpful and I've since tried to begin putting some of it into action. Lowkey also spent some time talking about how to stay motivated and keep up a consistent creative output, and how important consistency over time can be to develop a career in any creative industry.” Feedback from Jo Joyce-Venables, who is currently on a six-month placement at Trinity, as part of the Kickstarter scheme.

Lowkey shared some helpful advice on self-promoting, sharing his own story of how to use different methods of finding audiences online and keeping them engaged, using the technology and resources that are available today. Many students, including Jasper, found his tips on using Patreon and other online platforms useful, commenting "It was really good that Lowkey gave us a few insider tips such as using Patreon."

We are really grateful to Lowkey for taking the time to chat with students. Connecting emerging musicians directly to professionals is an important part of young people’s journey on Making Tracks. Lowkey joins the likes of Benjamin Zephaniah and Dev (Idles) who have all offered their support to the project and the young people’s journey.

Making Tracks

Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders Youth Sector Support Fund.

Like Mercury rehearsal 2021 photo credit Khali Ackford

Trinity has been awarded £163k through the third round of the Cultural Recovery Fund, meaning that Trinity can continue to #behereforculture.

"We are really pleased to have the continued support of the Cultural Recovery Fund, the funding enables us to keep on reaching communities through culture and create a robust platform for which Trinity can thrive, now and in the future" Mijanou Blech, Chair of Trustees, Trinity Community Arts

Since April 2021, with the support of CRF round two, Trinity has employed/paid over 230 artists and freelance event staff. This third successful round of funding will enable Trinity to continue this commitment to the cultural workforce and the creative sector.

Alongside this, the grant will enable Trinity to continue to adapt the business in response to COVID19 and implement the long-term changes to the organisation to have a viable business model post-pandemic. The support from the Cultural Recovery fund will bridge a vital gap in income generation while revenue streams such as the Pay & Display Car Park, community and private hire, continue to recover from the impact of COVID-19.

The grant will be allocated to cover Trinity’s core costs (November 2021 – January 2022), including staffing and the maintenance of the Trinity Centre, a Grade II* Listed building, plus external fees including artist and partner commissioning develop a viable and sustainable programme for 2022 onward.

We were thrilled to hear we have received funding thanks to the government’s #CultureRecoveryFund so that we can continue to be here for you and #HereForCulture

About the Cultural Recovery Fund

Here for Culture is a movement that unites the public, government and cultural organisations in support of our fantastic cinemas, theatres, music venues, museums, galleries and heritage. Whether on the global stage or quietly in our own lives, culture inspires, uplifts, comforts and entertains us. In these challenging times, it’s our turn to continue to provide a lifeline and show our support. Everybody should have the opportunity to access a wide-range of high-quality cultural experiences, which is why it is so important that we support arts and cultural venues, cinemas and heritage sites in local communities to survive and thrive.

Nature & Play activities at Trinity

2019-2021

With funding from BBC Children in Need, Trinity delivered a three year programme of activities based in our Community Garden engaging, educating and connecting our local children aged 18 and under to a green space and to each other.

In the first year of the project, the garden team have worked in partnership with local schools and charities to welcome over 140 children to weekly Forest Schools and Gardening Days, as well as inviting families and friends from our local community to Summer Holiday Family Days.

Sessions are tailored to help support social and emotional development as many children and families who take part in the programme experience economic and social hardship.

During a Forest School/Gardening Day children take part in fire making, identifying plants, sowing seeds, and team building games as well as natural craft activities and free play in the garden.

Family Days, delivered in partnership with St Pauls Nursery & Children's Centre and Julian House charity, include storytelling activities, music workshops, natural craft workshops, insect hunts, and games

• 143 Children (aged 18 under) took part in 41 garden sessions and activities delivered in partnership with local schools (BS2) and charities
• 88% of children started to, or showed significant improvement in developing positive relationships
• 91% of children started to, or showed significant improvement in their self belief
• 87% of children started to, or showed significant improvement in their emotional well being