“I really enjoy working with Sadie, she is driven, patient and determined to raise the profile of the Arts and Heritage in community projects. As part of Bideford Bay Creatives, I worked within a number of community projects. Culture Show was a great project that connected visual artists’ work with installation and display of Art works in a number of local businesses; Sadie was professional, organised and visionary in producing an Arts trail that raised the profile of both local artists work and businesses in Bideford. The First Fridays events were also a great feat: working with a number of different artists and performers to celebrate the arts, culture and heritage in a small town” (Rosie, Artist and Committee Member)
Sadie established Bideford Bay Creatives (BBC) in 2009 in response to there being a large number of creative practitioners with no formal way of networking, sharing ideas or generating new projects to bring vibrancy and creativity to the town centre and surrounding area. Under her vision and leadership, BBC have created and delivered a variety of successful projects, focusing on Cultural Heritage and history with an emphasis on cultural tourism, economic regeneration, community involvement and partnership working.
BBC continue to develop and devise new projects and opportunities for cross art-form creatives to work with the community, local businesses and organisations to bring arts and culture into the public realm, often in unexpected ways. This incldues the commissioning of new work – music, theatre, film making and visual art and craft.
Inspired by the American model, First Fridays in Bideford provided a platform for musicians and artists to perform in public and in partnership with town centre businesses who opened late and served food and drink.
Tales of the Riverbank offered a programme of themed walks, talks, workshops and exhibitions about the river’s historical use, flora and fauna, the environment and the river’s relationship to the town.
Culture Show, full of inspirational surprises, worked with visual artists to create exhibitions and interventions in non-gallery and public spaces including town centre murals and artworks in shops, hairdresser’s and other unusual venues.
“I worked with Sadie as an artist in an art festival in Bideford 2 years in a row. I painted murals for the community on empty buildings, we both had immense enthusiasm for the project which showed. She was very helpful and kind, well organised and articulate. She was great at directing me and helping me with what I needed at the time and was always available to chat if needed. I would love to work with Sadie again and indeed I hope too!” (Mel, 7th Pencil)
The Way of the Wharves project was significant in working with the community to research, identify and celebrate the historical use of Bideford’s Eastern wharves, uncovering the shipbuilding, fishing, merchants, and mining heritage.
