the Arts & Culture Sector
Plus Those Who Deliver Arts & Culture
& Creative Practitioners
Somerset is defined by its arts & culture sector: Our cultural organisations, artists, musicians, performers & proud history of creative expression are a crucial part of our identity, vitality, wellbeing, economic & community growth.
As a membership & service organisation working on behalf of this sector, we believe in supporting the growth of arts and culture organisations, communities & their audiences.
Andrew Knutt
Chair & Director
Support, Strategies & Representation
We are the Somerset trade organisation for the arts & culture sector supporting community groups, practitioners & businesses.
Arts & Culture Enterprise Development
Access our skills to maximise commercial income or community impact in the arts, culture & heritage world, through digital and physical events and training and workshops to help build your ideas and projects.
Representing & Advocacy
Our team makes sure that the arts & culture sector is represented at local authority and governmental level to ensure financial and strategic investment opportunities come into Somerset and to our local arts and culture providers.
Vibrant Arts & Culture
Our key aim is to make Somerset a vibrant place of arts and culture. To invite the nation and its people to experience this arts and culture which in return uplifts economic growth, communities and indivduals.
A Case for Arts & Culture
We support the case for arts and culture investment from both private and public perspectives. To be the voice of the people and regularly canvas them to help deliver democratic evidence for investment.
Partnerships & Links
To develop strong partnership to help deliver diverse cultural activity, bringing communities and consumers together for great cultural experiences, health and wellbeing, tourism and great entertainment for all.
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Love for arts & culture
We are passionate about the arts and culture sector. From arts, music, theatre, dance and more. You won't find a more supportive organisation who understands the sector.
Communities & pro's
Not only do we consider the subsidised cultural sector but also the commercial, amateur and participatory which, after all, are where most people find their cultural engagement.
Industry experience
Our team and board proactively work in the arts and culture sector and offer over 100 years of combined experience in the creative industries.
Largest network
We are the biggest multi-creative county wide network setup to support the growth & prosperity of the arts, culture & creative industries.
Our county wide mapping programme, supported by all Somerset local authorities, is designed to paint a picture of the creative sector and how it contributes to those who live, work and play in the county. Help us by simply signing up for free as a member and get a free profile page on our website.
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Reclaiming a Venue in Taunton Will Regenerate County Town & Community
A campaign to reclaim the Mecca Bingo building in Taunton as an arts and culture venue is creating a buzz amongst local councillors and the public as the campaign reaches over 2000 signatures and is set to drive more public support. The ‘Project Gaumont’ team lead by Somerset Arts Business Cultural Alliance and Creative Innovation
June 28, 2023 -
SABCA Advice Leads to Project Growth
We were pleased to hear from SABCA member Corrinne Curtis who obtained advice from SABCA at the early stages of her project. Through hard work and determination Corrinne has achieved overwhelming success for The Nornen Project and we would like to share here comments sent to us: We spoke a couple of years ago about
June 21, 2023 -
Emergence, an immersive audio-visual installation by SABCA Member, This is Loop, debuts at Canary Wharf’s Winter Lights Festival this January
Montgomery Square, Canary Wharf, E14Wednesday 18th – Saturday 28th January 2023 As part of Winter Lights 2023 at Canary Wharf, This is Loop (a SABCA Member) is presenting their most ambitious work to date: a major audio-visual artwork, Emergence. Conceived and built by artists Harriet Lumby and Alan Hayes, the co-founders of This is Loop,
January 19, 2023 -
Arts & Culture Conference 2022 Resources Now Online
Entitled ‘The Future of Arts & Culture in Somerset’, the conference that took place on 11th Oct 2022, explored the implications and changes that are happening in Somerset and in the arts and culture industry and how research and new ways of thinking can help better planning for the future. The conference comes at a
November 8, 2022
I have been involved in many of SABCA’s events and cannot think of a better organisation to support the arts and culture sector in Somerset. It goes from strength to strength. The vast knowledge and business support that I have seen practiced in both digital and physical environments are second to none. It is one of the most essential sector support groups in Somerset as we have a lot of arts, culture and creativity here and I support all their work now and in the future.
As a organiser of several music events & clubs in Somerset we have had the privilege of getting support from SABCA. The updated regular resources and links to further funding and knowing what’s going on in the industry has helped us considerably & it has been great to belong to a network that has the business of arts and culture at the heart of what they do. This mapping and directory is just one way they are helping to secure a future for Somerset’s arts & culture.
The tireless and long-established work by SABCA needs to survive and flourish, being a necessary central co-ordination and powerful voice of arts and culture in Somerset. This sector has consistently been overlooked, yet its economic importance has become exceptionally clear in the current Covid crisis. The visitor economy in Somerset is worth £1.3bn and the creative sector is an integral part of this, with associated employment highly significant.
