Community

Our work to inspire and encourage young people, and our community, to get involved in the performing arts is an important part of what we do.

What we do

We engage with people, young and old, across the High Peak to provide opportunities to get involved in music and the arts. Some of this work is delivered through Platform 3, a new learning and engagement initiative run in partnership with Buxton Opera House.

Arts Award

We support young people who want to get more involved with the arts, build creative and leadership skills and achieve a national qualification.

After school club

We run a free after school singing club ‘Top Notes’ at Whaley Bridge Primary School on Tuesdays at 3.30pm. This club is available to all KS2 children in Whaley Bridge and the surrounding areas. To join, email emathews-aspinall@boh.org.uk

Summer schools

A musical summer school for 9–16 year olds designed to develop skills and teamwork.

Technical Youth Theatre Courses

Technical theatre training (lighting, sound and stage management) for 13-17 year-olds.

Kaleidoscope & Readers Group

The Kaleidoscope Choir and Readers Group are open to all in the Buxton area.

Let’s Sing

A practitioner and pianist visit a care home weekly for a term to run singing sessions, encouraging adults with dementia to sing.

Working with young people

  • Art Awards – introducing primary school children to the arts, taking singers and musicians into schools to inspire young people.
  • After school singing club – we run a free after school singing club ‘Top Notes’ at Whaley Bridge Primary School on Tuesdays 3.30-4.30pm. This club is available to all KS2 children in Whaley Bridge and the surrounding areas. To join Top Notes please email emathews-aspinall@boh.org.uk.
  • Summer School – a musical summer school for 9 – 16 year olds.
  • Technical Youth Theatre – age 13-17. An opportunity for young people to be trained in technical theatre – lighting, sound and stage management.

Schools and Colleges

  • Art Awards – introducing older pupils to the arts, taking singers and musicians into schools to inspire young people.
  • Internships – every year we offer festival internships to people who would like to work in the arts and events industries. The internships are a fantastic opportunity to get hands on experience in a variety of different roles. Past interns have secured jobs with prestigious institutions, including Bath Festival, Waterperry Opera Festival and at BIF itself.  Click here to read about singer Nikki Martin’s journey from intern to leading role.

Get Involved

  • Kaleidoscope Community Choir – a lunch time choir for adults, run at the Pavilion Arts Centre every Tuesday, 1-2pm, led by Carol Bowns with 20+ adults attending every week.
  • Adult Readers Group – a morning book club for adults with guest tutors every Tuesday during term-time. The group studies a text (book or play) for up to four weeks at a time. Each week works as a stand-alone session so that participants can dip in and out.
  • Let’s sing, Care Homes – a practitioner and pianist will visit a care home weekly for a term to run singing sessions, encouraging adults with dementia to sing.

 Image credit: Mo El-Fatih

 

Heritage Action Zone

Our location is very important to the Festival and we are playing our part in the cultural regeneration of Buxton with unexpected opportunities for joy, celebration and exploration.  Our mission is to connect artists and audiences in ways that lift the spirit and make the arts more accessible. We do this by presenting an innovative programme of opera, music & books with different access points.  The cultural programme in the High Street funded by Historic England will create a sustainable programme of events in Spring gardens, encouraging people to get involved at multiple levels.

Image: Capturing the Moment at Spring Gardens – a collaboration between Babbling Vagabonds and Illuminos.