Mission Statement
Busy Ape Arts exists to promote, encourage and facilitate positive thoughts, words and actions through art in all its forms; to create art; and to promote art in people's everyday lives.
Busy Ape Arts was founded in 1999 by three graduates of Manchester Metropolitan University. We are a not for profit company limited by guarantee and are based in Derwentside, County Durham. We have worked with public and private sector organisations all over the North East.
Our clients include:
Busy Ape Arts is currently run by two creative practitioners:
Abi Barker – Company Manager / Director
Abi - a founder member and the Company Manager of Busy Ape Arts - is at the centre of operations. Drawing from an arts background, Abi is instrumental in creating and realising all projects, taking responsibility for building partnerships, initiating programmes of work and developing a business strategy. Abi is also a drama worker and a visual artist specialising in painting. She has over eight years' experience of working in a range of community and educational settings. Abi was born and brought up in Derwentside.
Gemma Cumming – Community Artist – Visual Arts / Director
Gemma is a visual and community artist and founder member of Busy Ape Arts. She moved to the North East from the South Coast 6 years ago and has worked across the region in a variety of contexts. Gemma’s arts practice is ever-evolving and incorporates painting, puppet-making, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, mosaic, banners and black-light technology. Gemma also produces and sells her own work and her medium of choice is creative textiles and painting.
Busy Ape Arts has a database of approved artists who can be contracted to take part in specific projects as appropriate, so we can offer our clients an unrivalled range of skills and specialisms. We also have a Guidance Group of 11 members representing the local community and other organisations in the North East. The Group meets quarterly to review the company's progress and offer advice on the overall management and development of the company. The Group's Chair is Julie Form of Groundwork West Durham.
Contact Us
If you would like to contact Busy Ape Arts, find out more about what we do, or order an information pack, please click below and e-mail the Company Manager, Abi Barker.
Address: Busy Ape Arts, The Phoenix Arts Centre, Harelaw Gardens, Catchgate, Stanley, Co. Durham, DH9 8DB
Tel / ans / fax: +44 (0) 1207 28 22 28
e-mail:mail@busyapearts.co.uk
