The Creative Arts Coordinator of a Cumnock arts organisation is eager to make a lasting impression on as many local people as possible as they enter their first full session with a new ethos.
While they're still known as CAMPS for short, the group formerly known as the Cumnock Area Music Production Society is now Cumnock Arts Makes People Smile.
Dale Parker, who is the Creative Arts Coordinator of the charity, says they aim to build lasting relationships with participants, members and the wider community through their four main core values: Achievement; Resilience; Togetherness and Self-Expression.
He said: "We’ve established a strong mission statement at CAMPS to ensure those in the community can contribute to the arts in a safe, nurturing and relationship-focused environment to promote experiences that benefit wellbeing and improve the quality of life for all.
"Our goal is to ensure that those core values are very evident when you walk into the building and are thread through our activities.”
Under the CAMPS umbrella, they offer groups for all ages from primary 1 all the way until later life. CAMPS want to invest in the whole person throughout their creative journey.
The Cumnock Youth Musical Theatre (CYMT) activity looks after the youngsters, with groups for P1-3, P4-7 and S1-4.
They also offer one-to-one instrumental lessons through their education programme called Edu-CAMPS with specialist teachers on different instruments and creating education programmes for youngsters.
Adult groups include CAMPS Perform MT, which is a pathway beyond CYMT to create progression for members of the community to grow their skills in arts as they progress through life. The idea that people can be involved in the groups and develop through life is something that is important to the charity.
Dale said: “We want ever single young person to leave the room thinking they can take on the world through our CYMT value: Yes to Life!
“We want to make them feel like they’re part of a team and we want them to thrive.”
Currently CYMT work towards two performances a year, but it’s not just about the young people on the stage, it’s about the whole operation behind that.
CAMPS has grown to launch a new CAMPS Choral Group which runs in blocks, twice a year, and offers an insight into a more classical approach to singing as a Choral ensemble.
Dale added: “A few weeks ago we started our first block of the CAMPS choral activity running from August to October which brings the highest quality learning environment to people in a rural area that ultimately deserve these opportunities - whilst maintaining a strong community and relationship-focused ethos throughout.
“These members of the community will also take part in our community showcase next Saturday, August 31, at Trinity Church in Cumnock.”
As CAMPS continues to grow the brand, Dale is confident that it can become a place for all.
He added: “I really want to hit home that Cumnock Creative Arts Hub (formerly the Barrhill Centre), and the home of CAMPS, is a safe space for people to pop in at any time and have a cuppa and read a book or listen to music or come in and have a natter!”
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