Trinity was exited to welcome IDLES band to the Centre in January 2021, as part of a socially-distanced film for their single Carcinogenic.

"Venues are at greatest risk because they are mostly small businesses, not interested in profit or investors but in the nourishment of creative, open-minded, critical thinking."

Mark Bowen, IDLES

(NME, Jan 21)

Each band member performs in some of Bristol's most loved grassroots music venues, including The Louisiana, Exchange, The Mother’s Ruin, The Old Duke, and of course The Trinity Centre.

The film was in support of Independent Venues Week that, with support from Music Venues Trust, have been working to raise the profile of grassroots music venues impacted by lockdown restrictions.

Speaking to NME about Independent Venue Week, guitarist Mark Bowen said: “Now more than ever independent musicians and the music industry at large need to unite to keep from being decimated. Between the pandemic and a government who not only don’t care about the future of the arts (especially independence within the arts) but take a pro-active role in its diminishment, independent venues are at greatest risk because they are mostly small businesses, not interested in profit or investors but in the nourishment of creative, open-minded, critical thinking.”

Click here to read the full article in NME.

Image Colin Moody

Art of Resistance is a 2-year project exploring 100 years of social activism, protest, and civil disobedience in Bristol, and the art that underpinned each movement.

We're looking for people who have artifacts or stories they would like to share to help build this picture of Bristol as a city of art and activism.

Whether your #resist story or art relates to Workers Rights, Women’s Equality, Anti-Racism, Anti-Fascism - or something else we haven't thought of - we'd love to hear from you.

In particular, we're really interested if any artwork, including poetry, textiles, posters, banners and ephemera, music and performing arts that were used to support and capture the spirit of different movements throughout the ages.

#GetInvolved

If you have digital material you can upload it here: Art Of Resistance Submission form.

If you have a physical item or would like to discus taking part in an interview to tell your own story, please contact info@trinitybristol.org.uk

Keep up to do with the project and other Trinity news and event sign up to our mailing list here.

The project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Trinity Centre will remain closed for public events and gatherings until such times as restrictions ease. Trinity has been and will continue to closely monitor Public Health England guidelines in relation to the COVID-19 situation, in order to respond as necessary.

We will be working to adapt and deliver some activities online as part of grant funded projects - including the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund - and will liaise with community partners to make sure we support any coordinated responses to support those most vulnerable during these difficult times.

Ticket holders

We will communicate via our website and mailing lists regarding all cancellations or postponed events. All tickets will be valid for rescheduled dates, however if you would like to request a refund, please do so by contacting our bookings team on info@trinitybristol.org.uk and include the event name, date and the email you used to make the booking. Please note, that it may take time to respond to refund requests.

Hirers

Please contact your Booking Coordinator via email about your planned event to discuss either postponing and rescheduling or cancelling your event.

Advice for the Community

We urge individuals to follow Public Health England guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19 - do not leave your home or mix with anyone outside your own household unless absolutely necessary.

If you or anyone else in your household are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 - a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste - get a test as soon as possible and stay at home until you get the result.

If you are unsure or need to check symptoms, visit the NHS COVID-19 Self Assessment.

Trinity has been working to create opportunities for children and young people in our local community of Old Market, The Dings and Lawrence Hill to access to arts and well-being activities during the COVID19 pandemic.

“Many families we support don't have gardens, computers or printers to benefit from online resources many organisations created. It is important to remember about this digital inequality and therefore packs like those prepared by Trinity Centre are particularly valuable. They contain colourful booklets with inspirational ideas ... to cheer up those who can only dream about their own gardens”.

Pat Pinkowska, Community Engagement Officer, Up Our Street

As part of this work we have created two activity packs full of creative ideas, ranging from make your-own Bird Feeders, to singing Lullabies to learning more about Resistance Movements in Bristol - all devised to do in the home.

Working with our community partners including local primary schools and Eastside Community Trust we have delivered over 900 activity packs to local children and young people.

Trinity's Summer and Winter Activity packs are also available as a free download . They have been devised by the Trinity team and designed by Group of 7.

The packs have been made possible thanks to grant funding from Children in Need, Power to Change and Quartet.

©Sham Ahmed

Meet Dr Edson Burton, Working Class Equality Researcher for the Art of Resistance project.

Dr Edson Burton is a historian, writer and curator living in Bristol since 1994.  Old Market, & Edson joined the Trinity staff team in 2010 to lead What’s Your Trinity Story Project, since then he has led the ground breaking Old Market Study Vice & Virtue, Bridges & Heart & Soul projects. He is co-author of What’s Your Trinity Story & Vice & Virtue. He is a regular voice on local and national radio and television.

His areas of interest include the history of Old Market and the transatlantic slave trade. He is co-author of What’s Your Trinity Story, Vice and Virtue and the poetry collection Seasoned.

Edson is also heading up the project as Heritage Curator. Please get in touch with him if you're interested in getting involved with the project.

Click here to read about the other #Resist Researchers.

Thanks to the flexibility of funders and emergency grant support, we have been able to continue to dedicate resources towards delivery of planned renovation and conservation works.

We have made some much needed access improvements to our well-used Community Garden, installing a ramp and pathway around the garden, so that everyone is able to visit and enjoy the space.

Emma Harvey, CEO said: "The Trinity Garden is an invaluable green space within the locality, particularly right now when getting outside is one of the only things people are able to do. Making it accessible was a key priority for us to make sure physical access is not a barrier to enjoying nature."

Prior to the November 2020 lockdown, Trinity were hosting socially distanced family garden sessions for local people, to encourage people to get outside and learn about gardening and permaculture. The access works will mean that future workshops and sessions will be able to better cater for all needs and will also include the installation of raised beds for people with mobility issues.

“We live on the 7th floor in our flat. I was scared to come as I don t like bees but I love it here now, I can't wait to come back!’”Abdir, age 7 garden workshop participant Summer 2020

Glyn Everett, Trinity Chair of Trustees said; "Making every part of Trinity as accessible as possible to all our community groups and other users has always been a top priority, and I was so pleased and proud of the Trinity team to have achieved this work during Lockdown."

The live capital works phase includes internal renovation works to the Graffiti Room, which was started just prior to the escalation of the global crisis.

The room has been transformed - removing a blocking wall and installing a glass balustrade to reveal the stained glass window and restoring original features. We have installed more suitable flooring and acoustic panels and - most importantly - fixed the heaters in the space so that we will be able to warmly welcome the community back into the space once restrictions begin to ease.

As well as access and restoration, we have also given our downstairs WCs a much needed facelift to make them Covid-Secure for when activities are able to resume.

Our Digs Project to install container units on site has been paused pending the outcome of a revised feasibility study, to inform the capital works programme in response to COVID19. We are liaising with match funder Power to Change as well as the architect team regarding revised timescales.

This latest phase in our capital works programme is being supported with funds secured prior to the pandemic from Power to Change, Nisbet Trust, Derbyshire Environmental Trust, Bristol City Council, private donors and other match funders and emergency funds.

Uchenna Dance deliver a dance workshop at Trinity in 2018. Photo @Khali Ackford

Trinity is pleased to announce that, as part of the Bristol Dance Futures ‘Dance Connect’ programme, five Bristol-based dance practitioners will be funded to undertake year-long residencies in organisations across the city.

The residencies are an opportunity for practitioners, organisations and communities to collaboratively develop a programme of dance activity. Artists will explore and develop ways that dance can be enjoyed and experienced by new and existing audiences and participants across the city.

'It was great to see such high-quality applications and be part of the selection process with a different perspective from the health sector'

Karen Lloyd, Active Ageing Bristol

To ensure a wide range of voices and perspectives helped select the Dance Connect Residencies, the project's Producer Deborah Baddoo invited Karen Lloyd from Active Ageing Bristol and Zannah Chisolm, Artistic Director and CEO Pavilion Dance South West to sit on the selection panels, alongside members of the Dance Futures steering group including independent artist Deepraj Singh.

With the COVID-19 pandemic likely to exacerbate impacts of pre-existing health conditions, two projects will look at the importance of using dance to improve and support good emotional wellbeing and health:

Lerato Dunn will work will work with Southmead Development Trust and Sirona Care to explore how dance can contribute to the physical and emotional health, with the aim to develop a ‘Dance on Prescription’ model that can support vulnerable people.

Rachel James, who leads Dance For Parkinson's at Trinity, will be working with Fresh Arts to create a high-quality dance programme supporting the recovery of elderly and frail patients, designed to help them to get home quicker.

Trinity will be working with both Lerato and Rachel to programme activity in our role as the Arts & Health Dance Hub for the project.

The following collaborations will see artists connecting with new communities strengthening dance participation beyond the city centre:

Penny Caffrey and Helen Wilson will be collaborating with Filwood Community Centre to create a number of different ‘dance happenings’ to promote a positive sense of place within communities.

Katy Noakes will be working with Knowle West Media Centre explore ways to bridge the gap between street and contemporary dance in Bristol.

Dance Connect is an initiative by Bristol Dance Futures - a consortia of Bristol arts organisations and independent artists, that aims to create a vibrant dance ecology across the city, so people of all ages can engage with high-quality dance.

Dance Connect is supported by funding from Arts Council England

Youth Music's support of Making Tracks, a two year partnership between Trinity, Ace and Basement, means that we are able to reach young people (11-25) across the city to, means that we are able to reach 100's of young people each year and offer music-making opportunities, including 1-2-1 sessions, industry insights with leading artists,  showcase events, leadership skills and much more.

"Working with Trinity has created a platform and safe space for me to share my music, with no judgement... Trinity have made me feel very welcome and introduced me to like-minded people. It's given me a real confidence boost to continue this musical journey. " Esme

Many young people who take part in the project are experiencing challenging circumstances and we have continued to deliver activity throughout he pandemic- find out more here.

We were delighted to be approached by Youth Music for an opportunity to showcase just some of the young people who take part in the project as part of their Winter Music Campaign.

Jasper, Esme and Thomas, all who take engage with the project, recorded  songs to be part of the campaign - and we could not be prouder.

Their videos will be shared by Youth Music across Twitter and Facebook in December, or you can visit our Youtube channel to listen.

Trinity is operating as a Covid-19 Secure, multi-use venue.This means we are operating in a safe way to ensure that the spread of Covid is minimised with any activity happening on our premises. We will work with hirers to ensure that activities or events are thoroughly risk assessed and running in line with Government Guidelines. Please see below what each of the Tiers implemented by the government will mean for events happening at Trinity.

Tier 3: VERY HIGH ALERT

What can happen:

• Wedding ceremonies & wakes – up to 15ppl
• Group activities for under 18s (including indoor physical activity)
• Rehearsals
• Performances for the purpose of live streaming
• Filming
• Formally organised support groups - up to 15ppl
• Parent and toddler groups
• Capacities will be assessed on a case-by-case basis

What cannot happen:

• Conferences or meetings
• Adult group exercise classes / activities
• Wedding Receptions
• Film screenings or talks
• Live music / club nights
• Any performances with audiences (inc. sharings)
• Private Parties
  
  

Tier 2: HIGH ALERT

What can happen:

• Socially distanced shows or performances where audiences are seated and follow the rule of 6
  - Live music 
  - DJs
  - Theatre
  - Cinema
• Meetings and conferences that are essential, following reduced room capacities and social distancing
• Wedding ceremonies, receptions & wakes - up to 15ppl
• Group activities for under 18s (including indoor physical activity)
• Indoor activity for over 18s (including indoor physical activity) can go ahead subject to social distancing rules - however we recommend against the return of high-risk groups
• Filming
• Rehearsals
• Live Streaming
• Organised outdoor gardening groups (for voluntary, training or education purposes)
• Capacities will be assessed on a case-by-case basis

What cannot happen:

• Conferences or meetings which are not essential, or could be postponed
• Adult group exercise classes / activities for high-risk people
• Wedding ceremonies or receptions over 15ppl
• Club Nights
• Private Parties
  
  

Tier 1: MEDIUM ALERT

What can happen:

• Socially distanced shows or performances where audiences are seated and follow the rule of 6
  - Live Music
  - DJ's
  - Theatre
  - Cinema
• Meetings and conferences, following reduced room capacities and social distancing
• Wedding ceremonies, receptions & wakes - up to 15ppl
• Group activities for under 18s (including indoor physical activity)
• Indoor activity for over 18s (including indoor physical activity) can go ahead subject to social distancing rules
• Filming
• Rehearsals
• Live Streaming
• Organised outdoor gardening groups (for voluntary, training or education purposes)
• All activity / event capacities will be assessed on a case-by-case basis

What cannot happen

• Club Nights
• Private Parties
  
  

For all queries please get in touch by phone 0117 935 1200 or email info@trinitybristol.org.uk before 18th Dec 2020 or on / after 11th January 2021.

Applications are now open for a brand-new £6,000 Research and Development commission

Thanks to the Cultural Recovery Fund we are inviting Bristol based organisations or artists to apply for a new commission  to support a Young Audiences Research and Development project. The successful company/artist will work toward creating a live performance or experience made for Young Audiences aged 3-10 years. We welcome artists of any practice and working in any art-form to apply.

Trinity is a cultural-hub for the city, where people of all ages and backgrounds come together. As well as hosting 600 capacity live music performances we also programme theatre and dance in our flexible studio space.

Our building sits at the meeting point of three distinctive and diverse Bristol wards - Easton, Ashley (St Pauls) and Lawrence Hill - whose residents make up Trinity’s local community. In these difficult times, we believe that the arts can bring together communities and we want to commission a piece of work that will do just that.

We’re looking for a Bristol based (within a 20 mile radius of Trinity Centre) artist or organisation, who will Research and Develop/ Create an experience for young audiences that is welcoming and accessible to people from all walks of life including young audiences who may not speak English as a first language and young audiences with disabilities.

The Research and Development period must take place before 12th March 2021.

This commission is for R&D but we expect that the results of the R&D will be shared or showcased in some form.

We will provide:

-£6,000 commission fee (Please note that you must have a bank account in your organisation’s name or be registered as self-employed)

-Opportunity to use our Trinity building space as in-kind support to develop the project

-Advice and guidance from relevant members of staff at Trinity and relevant partners

-Opportunity to share progress of the project with community members, industry professionals and other artists. We particularly welcome applications from artists whose experiences are less visible in 'mainstream' arts programming.

Please note.

All work carried out as part of the commission must adhere to current Covid-19 regulations and guidelines.

We will be hosting a Zoom call on 8th December at 4pm for an informal Q&A session around the commission.

This opportunity is now closed

The book features a co-written essay by Trinity team members Emma Harvey and Dr Edson Burton titled In a diverse society, is freedom of speech realisable?

The pair discuss the challenges of balancing free speech with building safe and inclusive intersectional community spaces. They reflect on experiences where competing equality agendas have led to conflicts, highlighting the complexities faced by those managing public spaces in fostering open dialogue while ensuring inclusivity means just that.

The book brings together a diverse group of commentators, activists, and academics to explore who gets to exercise free speech, the consequences when powerful voices are challenged, and how free speech has been weaponised in various debates.

It delves into the spaces and structures of speech, such as mass media, universities, public events, political rallies, and the internet, and investigates how acts like censorship, boycotts, and protests have evolved historically and inform present discussions.

Other essays include:

Gabriel Moshenska: Anatomy of a 'trigger warning' scandal Moshenska recounts a personal experience where his inclusion of content warnings in a course on the forensics of genocide and modern warfare became the centre of controversy and the broader context of academia and free speech

Shaun McDaid & Catherine McGlynn: Free speech and preventing radicalisation in higher education Examines the impact of the UK's Prevent duty on free speech within universities, advocating for its abolition, highlighting how the policy inadvertently suppresses legitimate discourse in higher education.

Paul Whickman: Teaching 'freedom of speech' freely Whickman reflects on his experiences teaching literary censorship and free speech and discusses the importance of fostering a respectful and diverse environment to encourage open dialogue.

These essays, among others in the collection, provide nuanced perspectives on the multifaceted debates surrounding free speech, its limitations, and its implications in various societal contexts.

The free speech wars: How did we get here and why does it matter? edited by Charlotte Lydia Riley is available to buy from Manchester Univeristy Press, £14.99