Bas-Arts-Index is, as they say on their website, a home for Basildon's creatives to connect and collaborate. Having been a member for some time I decided to ask them some questions, with the aim in mind to expose to the general public and anyone who is interested in the local arts, all the good that the Index do and how they help give exposure to their members, amongst other things.
They are Basildon's first interdisciplinary, artist-led directory/network. With the mission to provide an online space for Basildon's creative individuals, groups and organisations who are either born, living, working in or making work about the Basildon Borough. Their hope is to connect local creatives which in turn will generate activity, collaboration and to help support a cohesive arts ecology.
There are currently six Bas-Arts-Index members in the working party. This consists of Ben Stewart, Anthony Marriage, Laura Whiting, Aaron Shrimpton, Maxine Newell and Shaun Badham.
The members who answered my questions were: -
Maxine Newell - MN
Ben Stewart - BS
Shaun Badham - SB
Anthony Marriage - AM
LH I think it's amazing what you do for your 117 members (last time I counted) which consists of individuals, bands, music groups, organisations and venues. Not forgetting the Friend of the Index, namely Essex Film Collective. You give a lot of exposure to Index members and I have never paid a penny! Will that always be the case? It's great but can see that it may be something that might change?
SB I personally think it's important that the Index remains free and accessible for all its members, which is a core ethos for the Index itself.
BS Agreed.
MN Agree.
LH I can see the benefits of awareness of other creatives and the possibility of collaboration, I assume this is what gave the initiators the idea to do this in the first place. Were there other reasons?
SB What you have said is spot on, the Index has always been about connectivity. As we know there are so many amazing creative individuals, groups and organisations who are either based in or have a close connection to Basildon, but for many we don't always know who is out there or how to get in touch. This is a core motivation of the Index, particularly the role of the website, where people can find local creatives and know how to get in touch with each other.
MN I have been an active member of the Index since 2018. Being a member of the Index has been invaluable. I have in the past tried to establish art in Basildon, getting involved in many projects. However, the Index has given me more opportunities than I have ever had before. The information that we receive, for example the newsletter, has kept me informed of possible opportunities in and around the local area. It allows us to stay connected with other artists. Being an artist/creative in Basildon can be isolating, and quite lonely.
The great thing about the Index is it provides a platform for members to showcase their work but also can be contacted through the website with regards to open calls and other opportunities. I have managed to secure paid work as an artist in Basildon, an example was working with Basildon District Council on an installation outside the Council offices in Basildon in response to fly tipping and the cost to the Council. It was a very controversial project that opened up a whole debate on the use of Council funding and the Arts.
LH Can you tell me how the socials have been going? How has the Bas-Arts-Social itself been going? Also, the Bas-Film-Club and the Bas-Arts-Playlist? Do you get people interested in the Bas-Art-Crits? I think I would have relished them had I come straight out of university.
AM At present we've had a terrific turn out, including different people with diverse artistic skills, some regulars and some new. It absolutely feels like a safe space for artists to congregate, relax and share knowledge. Be that either as a hobbyist or as an occupation. Even just a place to chat. A comfortable atmosphere is generated by everyone being perceived equally and listened to.
SB The Index has run various activities, which tend to commence organically from an Index member saying they might be interested in something or might benefit. So, for example, at a social event someone mentioned having a space for receiving critical feedback on their art from fellow Index members, saying it would be helpful. So we ran a few crit sessions at the Creator Space in Basildon Library. During the pandemic we ran an online film club, which also came from a recommendation at a social, and I think the playlist project with Gateway might have been the same. Coming out of the pandemic a member's wide survey was put out to see what sort of activity members would like to see continue running, or what new activities to start. From that survey, the crits, playlists project and film club, organically came to an end. Though the socials have remained and have become a monthly fixture. Though, there is nothing stopping us from picking back up past activity, of course if the desire/need was there from members. I think as an artist-led group, we can be agile and adaptable, which I think is a positive. So, if something isn't working we can just change it.
LH Actually I've wondered recently, when did the group start? When did the majority of people join? For example, did the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020 slow things down or accelerate membership?
SB The idea of the Index started at the end of 2018, which commenced with local conversation about this potential resource, and whether it would be useful for others. The initial target was set that if 20 people signed up, I would build a website. The first iteration of the website officially launched in December 2018. Since then, the membership has been steady, with around two sign ups per month. I think because online activity happened during the pandemic such as online socials, film clubs, playlist projects, membership didn't seem to slow down. But since the formation of the Index working group in 2023, the membership has definitely seen an increase.
LH Please tell me about collaborations that have become very beneficial for people who met through the Index, with the permission of those people involved?
MN Before COVID I attended a crit, where as a group of Index members we got together to talk about our projects. This group of creatives gave me the confidence to apply for an MA, which I completed during COVID.
LH How would each member of the working party like to see the direction of Bas-Arts-Index go in the future. What would they like to see or get out of it?
Conversationally, I have written two local history books about Basildon, showing glimpses of the towns heyday in the sixties when amazing bands came to the town to play and when Basildon was sparklingly new and looked quite futuristic to many. You're free to comment on this if you want to or not, but there seems to be a bit of gloominess about the Basildon area, especially with delayed projects, can things be turned around and how can Bas-Arts-Index help?
AM I think there is an excellent opportunity to regenerate Basildon town in both the physical world and the digital world. Two development plans could simultaneously occur using the presence of the Bas-Arts-Index website. BAI is a vast, accessible source of creative individuals that deserve the recommendation and opportunity to promote their home borough, setting its individuality apart from other regions of Essex. Increased awareness of Basildon's talent can lead to a more active use of the Index's original role and function. This purposeful role would spotlight its significance in restoring Basildon New Town's reputation.
BS I'd like to see BAI become a staple, strong and reliable part of art in Basildon, both for artists and those looking to hire a practitioner! In my time I've seen things come and go (as I'm sure many other local artists can attest to) so having something that we as a group can rely on is very important.
MN I would love to see an artist-led studio/gallery space in Basildon town centre. A space that has longevity, sustainability, and that will give artists/creatives, young and old a place to meet, collaborate and just be artists.
LH Thank you all so much for giving me your time in doing this. I've been missing a trick by being such an inactive member. Hope to see you at a social soon!
Contact: -
Email: - bas.arts.index@gmail.com
Facebook: - https://www.facebook.com/bas.arts.index
Instagram: - @basartsindex
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