Swale – A Celebration of Cultures
6th-12th October 2008
Evaluation
Swale – A Celebration of Cultures’ overall aims were to highlight cultural diversity and strengthen community cohesion.
Swale – A Celebration of Cultures was held over a period of seven days; Monday 6th October 2008 to Sunday 12th October 2008.
In that time a total of 60 separate events were organised, of which five did not take place due to performers / speakers later being unable to attend.
Overall the audience figure for the week was
For a complete breakdown of numbers attending events see Appendix 1.
Exit Surveys (Appendix 2) were carried out at the open events during the weekend and questionnaires (Appendix 3) were given to the audiences at the library events during the week. Both methods attempted to gain information on whether the events were:
· Enjoyable
· Increased knowledge and understanding
· Increased skills
· Changed attitudes or values
· Helped build a stronger and safer community
Exit Surveys
Approximately 119 people were counted as part of the surveys. 27% were male, 73% female. Age ranges highlighted an even spread of people, with only the 18-25 age group under-represented.
Overwhelmingly the majority of the audience were White British – 91%. 6% were Black African and 3% were Asian.
Not surprisingly, as all the events during the weekend took place in Sittingbourne, 65% of the audience were from Sittingbourne. 4% came from Faversham and 4% Sheppey, with 5% from Medway, 20% from Kent and 2% from outside Kent.
Objectives
Asked to rate the events from 1 to 5 (with 1 as low and 5 as high), the following data was gathered:
Enjoyment – 82% rated the events high at 5 with a further 12% putting them at 4.
Learning a new skill – 48% rated the events high at 5 with 19% putting them at 3.
Increasing your knowledge or understanding of other cultures – 36% rated the events as high at 5 but 27% rated the events as not applicable.
As this is one of the major outcomes sought for the festival, perhaps the kind of events programmed needs to be re-assessed for future planning.
Encouraging a healthy lifestyle – 46% rated the events high at a 5 with 12% putting them at 4. 25% also rated these events as not applicable.
The results above are difficult to judge by, as many of the events could be categorised as encouraging a healthy lifestyle eg. pilates, or about cultural diversity eg. Chinese dance but do not necessarily cover both.
The survey asked if there was a need for a greater sense of community in Swale. 83% agreed that there was a need, highlighting the fact that community development work needs to continue.
In addition, the survey asked if a festival of events, such as the Swale – A Celebration of Cultures, would help achieve a greater sense of community. 92% felt that they would help play a part in this aim.
Questionnaires
The events that took place in libraries used questionnaires for the audience and teachers, since many of them were invited school classes.
Generally the ratings for all aims were high but scores for supporting cultural diversity and deepening understanding were again variable due to the nature of the events, with circus workshops scoring low on this.
Future planning
The majority of comments received from the public regarding future suggestions were for better promotion and advertising (16).
Promotion
There was a long lead in time to the October Festival and several pieces were put into local media from June onwards aimed at raising awareness eg. Diversity poster competition, stall opportunities, awards nominations.
Events diaries were posted on Diversity House, Swale Borough Council and Swale Arts Forum websites.
An editorial was written for Dancing in Kent which has a countywide distribution, as well as an advert on the back cover of Nubia magazine (a magazine for Black Africans).
Posters were produced in August highlighting the forthcoming range of events and some individual posters were available in electronic format for viral marketing and local printing.
Programme leaflets were produced and distributed through Swale libraries.
Many of the events were highlighted in Kent County Council’s Black History Month events leaflet, with links to the full programme via websites.
Partners attended other Kent cultural diversity festivals eg. Maidstone’s Mela and the Medway Festival, in order to promote the Swale events.
During the week, Meridian TV recorded footage at several of the library events and was featured as background to a piece on Black History Month on Tuesday 7th October.
Newspaper coverage included a piece in Your Swale that included the front page and a piece inside. The KM Faversham News had an article on 4th September,
Partnership comments:
Comments from surveys:
“more multi-cultural events”
“venue for talks too open – needs to be more interactive”
“hard to get the connection to diversity” – self-esteem talk
“perhaps a different layout of leaflet – putting headings eg. dancing, talks”
“nice sense of support amon volunteers and leaders”
More events at weekend for children – library events during the week for over 5’s were not useable as children were at school”
“Absolutley amazing group!” – Bloco Fogo
|
Date |
Time |
Event |
Venue |
Target Audience |
Number |
Evaluation |
Comments |
|
Mon 6th - Sun 12th |
Gallery Times |
The Long Room – Figurative works from Swale based artist James Allchin |
Polka Dot Art Gallery, Teynham |
Adults |
|
Number visiting |
|
|
Monday 6th October |
10.00am-10.30am |
Lucy Young from the Ying Tao Chinese Assoc present Traditional Chinese Tales & display |
Sittingbourne Library |
School Children Y2/3 – Murston Infants |
41 |
Questionnaire for teacher |
Invited Audience |
|
Monday 6th October |
2.00pm-2.45pm |
Four Seasons Theatre Group Acting Workshop |
Sittingbourne Library |
School Children Y3+ - Woodgrove Primary |
0 |
Questionnaire for teacher |
Performers did not attend |
|
Monday 6th October |
4.15pm-5.15pm |
Presentation of awards for Poster competition |
Sittingbourne Library |
Competition winners and families |
77 |
Number of entries |
Adults and Children |
|
Monday 6th October |
5.30pm-7.30pm |
Interdenominational Church Service |
Crescent Hall |
Local Churches |
|
Numbers attending
|
|
|
Monday 6th October |
7.40pm-9.00pm |
Freedom Songs Workshop |
Crescent Hall |
Local Churches, Choirs, Song Groups |
|
Numbers attending
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday 7th October |
10.00am-10.30am |
Ying Tao Chinese Assoc present Traditional Chinese Tales & display |
Faversham Library |
School Children Y2/3 – Ospringe School |
27 |
Observation Questionnaire for teacher |
Invited Audience |
|
Tuesday 7th October |
2.15pm-2.35pm |
Story Time – multi-cultural stories |
Sittingbourne Library |
Pre-school children 2-5 yrs Playgroups |
10 |
Observation Questionnaire for parents |
|
|
Tuesday 7th October |
11.00am-11.45am |
Four Seasons Theatre Group Circus Workshop |
Sheerness Library |
School Children Y4+ - Rose Street |
30 |
Observation Questionnaire for teacher |
Invited Audience |
|
Tuesday 7th October |
6.30pm-7.30pm |
Talk – The social and economic inclusion of ethnic minorities in the regeneration of Kent |
Sittingbourne Library |
Local Business Town Centre Management Small Business Support |
0 |
Questionnaire left on chairs |
Speaker cancelled at very short notice |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weds 8th October |
2.00pm-2.30pm |
Boogie Tots – music & dance for pre-school by Sammie’s Hip Pop Dance |
Sheerness Library |
Pre-school children 2-5 yrs Playgroups |
3 |
Observation Questionnaire for parents |
|
|
Weds 8th October |
2.00pm-2.45pm |
Four Seasons Theatre Group Circus Workshop |
Faversham Library |
School Children Y2-4 – St Mary of Charity |
30 |
Questionnaire for teacher |
Invited Audience |
|
Weds 8th October |
7.15pm-8.15pm |
Book Group Discussion on Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart |
Sittingbourne Library |
Swale Reading Groups |
0 |
Questionnaire sent to groups after event |
No groups took part |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thurs 9th October |
10.30am-11.00am |
Boogie Tots – music & dance for pre-school by Sammie’s Hip Pop Dance |
Sittingbourne Library |
Pre-school children 2-5 yrs Playgroups |
14 children 11 adults
|
Questionnaire for parents |
|
|
Thurs 9th October |
10.45am-11.15am |
Multi-cultural Baby Bounce & Rhyme |
Sheerness Library |
Pre-school children 2-5 yrs Playgroups |
20 |
Questionnaire for parents |
|
|
Thurs 9th October |
7.00pm-8.00pm |
Africans in Britain – a two thousand year history |
Faversham Library |
Open to All |
20 |
Questionnaire left on seats |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Friday 10th October |
10.00am-10.30am |
Public Health talk – The Expert patient |
Wyvern Hall |
Health Professionals Local GPs Hospital PCT |
3 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Friday 10th October |
11.00am-12.00pm |
Fulston Manor School - Samba Workshop |
Wyvern Hall |
School Children Y4+ - Kemsley |
23 |
Questionnaire to teacher / group |
Invited Audience |
|
Friday 10th October |
12.00pm-12.30pm |
Talk - Cultural understanding / acceptance in building stronger and safer communities |
Wyvern Hall |
SBC / KCC Voluntary Groups |
0 |
N/A |
Speaker unable to attend |
|
Friday 10th October |
1.00pm-1.30pm |
Talk - Mental Health and Self Esteem |
Wyvern Hall |
Health Professionals Local GPs Hospital PCT |
7 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Friday 10th October |
2.00pm-3.00pm |
Pilates Workshop by Your Body Pilates |
Wyvern Hall |
Age Concern Active Retirement Health Prof Local GPs Hospital PCT |
7 |
Exit Survey
|
|
|
Friday 10th October |
3.00pm-3.30pm |
Public Health in Swale |
Wyvern Hall |
Health Professionals Local GPs Hospital PCT |
9 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Friday 10th October |
4.30pm-5.30pm
|
Soco Demonstration & Workshop by Dance Junction, Rochester |
Wyvern Hall |
Age Concern Active Retirement Health Prof Local GPs Hospital PCT |
9 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Friday 10th October |
5.30pm-6.30pm |
Salsa Demonstration & Workshop by Latino Passion Salsa Club |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All
|
0 |
Exit Survey |
Performers unable to attend |
|
Friday 10th October |
6.30pm-7.30pm |
Jamaican Dance Hall Demonstration & Workshop |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All |
4 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Friday 10th October |
7.00pm-9.00pm |
Two 5 mins Romany Films – Varda & Gry & I’m only a gypsy what do I know prior to Son of Rambow |
Bluetown Heritage Centre, Sheerness |
Over 12 |
9 |
Questionnaire |
|
|
Friday 10th October |
7.00pm-8.00pm |
Chrysalis Jazz Trio |
Polka Dot Art Gallery, Teynham |
Open to All |
0 |
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sat 11th October |
10.00am-5.00pm |
High Street Stalls Inc Bloco Fogo 1.00pm-2.00pm, Four Seasons Theatre Group |
Sittingbourne |
Open to All |
|
Questionnaire |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
10.00am-11.00am |
Myths and Legends around the World |
Sittingbourne Library |
Children 6-10 yrs |
3 children 2 adults |
Observation |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
10.00am-12.00pm |
Red Cross Massage |
Wyvern Hall |
Over 50’s |
|
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
10.30am-12.00pm |
Living Library – talk to local figures and find out about their life and values |
Faversham Library |
Open to All |
12 |
Questionnaire |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
10.00am-11.30am |
English Folk Dance Display & Workshop by Faversham Folk Dance Club |
Crescent Hall |
Open to All |
5
|
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
10.30am-11.00am |
Line Dance Display by Pony Express Line Dance Club |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All |
10 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
11.00am-11.30am |
Hip Hop Street Display by Sammie’s Hip Pop Dance |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All – Teenagers? |
|
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
11.30am-12.00pm |
Line Dance Workshop by Pony Express Line Dance Club |
Crescent Hall |
Open to All |
10 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
11.30am-12.00pm |
Kent Fire Service – Home Safety |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All |
3 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
12.00pm-1.00pm |
Hip Hop Street Workshop by Sammie’s Hip Pop Dance |
Crescent Hall |
Teenagers |
3 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
12.00pm-1.00pm |
Pilates Workshop by Your Body Pilates |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All |
9
|
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
1.00pm-1.30pm |
Faversham Appalachian Cloggers Display |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All |
3 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
1.00pm-2.00pm |
Cheerleading Display & Workshop by Rainham Rangerettes |
Crescent Hall |
Children 4-16 yrs |
15 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
1.30pm-2.00pm |
Talk on The importance of community cohesion in the regeneration of Swale |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All |
|
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
2.00pm-4.00pm |
Frititi |
Borden Grammar School |
Open to All – tickets on sale at Avenue Theatre |
|
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
2.00pm-4.30pm |
Living Library – talk to local figures and find out about their life and values |
Faversham Library |
Open to All |
7 |
Questionnaire |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
2.00pm-2.30pm |
Belly Dance Display |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All |
7 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
2.30pm- 4.00pm |
Healthy Eating Workshop – Sheppey Healthy Living Centre Community Chef |
Crescent Hall
|
Open to All |
8 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
2.30pm-3.00pm |
Talk on Community Cohesion, Equality & Human Rights |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All SBC, KCC Officers Police & Fire |
|
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
3.00pm-4.30pm |
Magpie Dance Workshop |
Wyvern Hall |
KCC Adult Social Services |
36 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
4.30pm-5.30pm |
Risky Business – Sketches & Drama Workshop |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All KCC Adult Social Services |
36 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
4.30pm-5.30pm |
Faversham Appalachian Cloggers Workshop |
Crescent Hall |
Open to All |
9 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
5.45pm-6.30pm |
Bloco Fogo |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All |
17 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
5.30pm-6.30pm |
Argentine Tango Display & Workshop by Argentine Tango South East |
Crescent Hall |
Open to All |
2 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sat 11th October |
7.30pm-8.30pm |
Swale Arts Forum Bursary Awards and Swale Local Achievement Awards Ceremony |
Borden Grammar School |
Open to All – Tickets on sale at Avenue Theatre |
50
|
|
|
|
Sat 11th October |
8.30pm-10.50pm |
Lorraine Ayensu |
Borden Grammar School |
Open to All |
Exit Survey |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sun 12th October |
1.00pm-2.00pm |
Chinese Dance Display |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All |
5 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sun 12th October |
1.00pm-2.00pm |
Latin American / Sequence Workshop by Star Dance Club |
Crescent Hall |
Open to All |
5 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sun 12th October |
2.00pm-2.30pm |
Irish Dancing Display |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All |
70 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sun 12th October |
2.30pm-3.00pm |
Street Dance Display By Dance Dynamics |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All |
74 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sun 12th October |
2.00pm-2.30pm |
Latin American / Sequence Display by Star Dance Club |
Crescent Hall |
Open to All |
9 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sun 12th October |
3.00pm-3.30pm |
Flamenco Display |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All |
88 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sun 12th October |
3.00pm-4.00pm |
Irish Dancing – Cullen Academy Workshop |
Crescent Hall |
Open to All |
3 |
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sun 12th October |
4.30pm-5.00pm |
Russian Dance Display |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All |
0 |
Exit Survey |
Performer unable to attend |
|
Sun 12th October |
5.00pm-5.30pm |
Street Dancing Display by Inspirations Dance |
Wyvern Hall |
Open to All – Teenagers? |
|
Exit Survey |
|
|
Sun 12th October |
5.30pm-6.30pm |
Salsa – Latin Passion Display & Workshop by Latino Passion Salsa Club |
Crescent Hall |
Open to All |
|
Exit Survey |
|
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