Emrys Green Voice Team Bronze Silver Gold

Well here we are, embracing 2014 with a vengeance. Is this the year you'll achieve your artistic ambitions? Perhaps it will be the year you get your Gold Arts Award!

I start writing this in a place ideal for contemplating rural arts, the New Forest. Having spent a week down on the south coast, the fresh air and rurality reminds me of where I grew up. I've lived in cities for the last 6 years and a large town for about 5 years before that, so rural arts had become a thing of the past.

Well, here on Voice it's 'affordable art' month and I know that's handy after the Christmas splurge. For me it's not about the Boxing Day spend bonanza, or even the cost of presents. It's the cost of travel to see everyone and the meals out!

I've enjoyed reading the articles and items posted to voice just in the first week or so of the month. I'm sure there's many more to come!

I'm doing something unusual right now, creating a short blog post direct to Arts Award Voice. I've just been spurred straight in to action

Halloween to me always seems like a great opportunity for interactive arts And creating daring work. My background is Theatre and the concept of Theatre of the Oppressed excites me. Direct audience engagement and creating something that not only wows audiences but brings them in as participants too.

Polictics is key to life. Our democratic system is the cornerstone of our society. And arts are a foundation upon which to build. You should embrace politics, and make of it what you will.

I'm taking a slightly new slant this month. Partly because I've been terrible over the summer and ashamedly got out of the habit of my regular blogging. But I hope that this blog becomes a useful resource for our exciting new Gold Hub - a dedicated collection of resources and support on Voice to help you complete your Gold Arts Award - so I'm going to improve the regularity.

A talented musician who has created a surreal performance which makes good use of props and projection!

Fine character comedy for the light hearted free fringe goer pre-dinner.

A well presented musical featuring a talented cast. A great way to see in your afternoon.

Just go see his show. You'll laugh, I get the feeling it will be different laughs every night.