EMPAF took a delegation of 21 people to provide a diverse and rich representation of the participatory arts from the East Midland to the International Community Arts Festival (ICAF) in Rotterdam last weekend.

We have added a whole range of categories to help website members describe your work and website users search. Simply login, go to your profile, click on edit then categories and choose as many of these that help describe your work. If there are any terms missing add them to the tags of your profile. To find people and organisations working in various arts forms click on directory and enter word or phrase in the search box or choose a category to find all the profiles that match!

 EMPAF have joined forces with colleagues in the West Midlands to co-ordinate its second National Symposium for Participatory and Community Arts’ Leaders, Directors, Project and Development Workers

If you would like to discuss your work and ideas: ask questions; share experiences; make new contacts and find out more information about a range of issues all in a relaxed, informal atmosphere join us at one of our forthcoming free networking events.

Plans are underway for another national symposium. Taking place this November watch this space for more details or join the website now!

Watch this space for more details on the forthcoming series networking events taking place this Autumn in Northamptonshire. Dates confirmed so far include Friday 1st October in Corby and Monday 4th October in Kettering with more dates coming for Northampton, Wellingborough and Brackley.

It is with great sadness that EMPAF must relay the news that John Buston has died. He had been diagnosed with cancer last year and died at home on Saturday. It was he who, as a young member of the Arts Council of Great Britain staff pioneered community arts as a valid expression of creativity and as Director of the old East Midlands Arts Board he was a tremendous champion for community and participatory arts. His memorial service will be held at Little Missenden Church, HP7 0RA. All who knew him are welcome. it takes place on Friday 2nd July at 2.30 pm.

The EMPAF conference video and the animated 'Talking Heads' video are now up on youtube. Check them out by following the link from the EMPAF organisation profile.

Check out the new publications on the Resources page:

EMPAF are collating examples of programmes of work or projects that have been funded to meet Local Area Agreement (LAA) National Indicators (NI's) to use for advocacy and raising awareness of the community and participatory arts in relation to LAA's with key stakeholders.

The EMPAF website will soon include new features such as specific issue based and geographical interest groups and a directory with more advance search mechanism. The development of these is underway right now and will be launched in the next couple of weeks.

The next free EMPAF Network Event takes place on Wednesday 27th January from 10.30am to 3pm at The Palace Theatre, Newark

"Passion, Partnerships and Empowering" the one day, National Conference exploring and celebrating partnership working and the participatory arts on 16th October at Derby QUAD will now feature a resident performance poets for delegates to stick comments to.

Join us on Friday 16th October at Derby QUAD for "Passion, Partnerships and Empowering People", a one day national conference exploring and celebrating partnership working and the participatory arts.

The report of the EMPAF National Symposium, which took place on 31st March 2009, is now available to read or download from the Resources section of this site.

Plans are underway for the EMPAF National conference on 16th October 2009 at Derby QUAD. Entitled "Passion, Partnerships, Empowering People" the one day event aims to bring together those from the community / participatory arts and other sectors who work in partnership in the development and delivery of participatory and community arts in the UK. Exploring and celebrating partnership working, the conference will involve a combination of inspirational speakers, workshops and a wide range of opportunities to take part in lively discussion and activities. More details to follow soon.