18 Mar Dr Gregory Boardman delivers keynote at the Lancashire Arts Exchange
Producer Dr Gregory Boardman shares how successful music education project, ‘Lights, Camera, Score’, can inspire meaningful, local, joined-up delivery of cultural activity during keynote speech.
Last week, as we continue to support the English Chamber Orchestra with their learning, participation and community programmes, company director of Little People Big Noise, Greg Boardman returned to his hometown to attend a gathering of arts practitioners from across Lancashire.
It was a full-day conference exploring the future of cultural education and creative careers across Lancashire for artists, educators and cultural leaders and local decision-makers.
Ahead of the event, Alex O’Toole, Director of Arts Lancashire, stated that:
Schools, colleges and universities need clear pathways, resources and partnerships, while the local arts sector needs stronger, more coordinated routes to engage young people and support their progression into creative careers.
Participation at the English Chamber Orchestra (ECO), to highlight the amazing ‘Lights, Camera, Score’ (LCS) projects that Little People Big Noise (LPBN) have been delivering up and down the country the past six years.
Greg took to the stage at Blackpool’s beautiful Grand Theatre to deliver the keynote address, Policy in Practice. The headline theme of his contribution focused on joined-up, meaningful partnership building upon and strengthening local resources – and how the philosophy behind LCS might be replicated across Lancashire.
What began as a primary schools initiative, has grown to include public facing concerts featuring the professional musicians of the ECO, whilst providing opportunities for young people of all ages to show off their storytelling and musical skills.
Back in 2024, LPBN delivered its first projects in the Calderdale region with the support of Calderdale Council and Calderdale music. Following through on Dan Newell’s vision for projects that overcome barriers to access, ‘Seeds of Hope’ has become an important development of our project work. This year’s films will provide sparks of inspiration for community gardens which will be built around Calderdale.
With LCS projects expanding and reaching new schools and music hubs, we are excited by the stories and music being generated by our young participants. Through our collaboration with the ECO team, we are busy delivering excellence at all levels from the primary classroom through to the concert stage, and we look forward to continuing conversations with new partners.
We would like to thank Alex O’Toole and her team for curating a brilliant and thought-provoking event.
You can learn more ‘Lights, Camera, Score’ here.
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The Billy’s Band Team!