Why do you think people in the South Holland and Boston areas don’t get more involved in the arts?

I encounter unselfconscious enthusiasm for art projects in primary school children, older children and adults tend to lack that confidence and many need persuasion to try new things. Not unusual maybe, but when added to the barriers of cost, accessibility and pressure of time, participation in organised arts is a low priority.

What do you think should happen to encourage people to get more involved in the arts locally?

Projects should be taken to the communities that are not served by formal theatres or art centres, we need to start by building relationships with our least engaged communities, over a period of time, not just quick delivery projects.

What ideas do you have for exciting, innovative ways to get more people involved in the arts in the area? Please also estimate how much it might cost.

I’d love to see local choirs and amateur singers join together in a huge singing project celebrating the landscspe and life of the Fens – wouldn’t everyone sing if Gareth Malone was involved?

I’d also like to see an arts trail around the area, eg sculpture, land art, willow weaving, painting, scarecrows, stained glass, mosaic etc. each village creating their own piece of ‘art’ with visiting practitioners backed up with a printed guide to the trail. Walks, cycle rides, drive routes all planned along the trail, linking villages and towns.