People Express is a professional arts organisation, originally set up in 1990, the organisation was set up as a response to the closure of industries in South Derbyshire.
People Express is ran by a board of voluntary trustees and is currently revenue funding by South Derbyshire District Council, Derbyshire County Council and is a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) with Arts Council England. We are a key member of EMPAF (East Midlands Participatory Arts Forum) championing the promotion of the regions strength and range, quality and diversity of arts organisations.
People Express believe everyone has creative skills and potential, and by supporting experiences they need to feel part of the wider, wonderful world of the arts.
Participatory arts projects provide a choice of art forms as well as the artist’s skills, based on tailoring a project around the skill levels, individual needs and the wider aspirations of the group. Within participatory arts projects the role of the professional artist is to assist with progress, passing on their skills and using them to lead and inspire when needed and then to step back, support and encourage.
It is the participants (of all ages and abilities) and the group working together that become the writers, performers, designers, creators and makers. ‘Participatory arts’ is one of a range of ways of providing happenings, workshops, classes and festivals.
