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Community News

Bohemian Balcony starts to take shape

The arts community have rallied to share ideas and come together.
round a brand new arts space “The Bohemian Balcony is
known as the Bohemian Balcony, principally a space for all to use. I
which is tranforming the old want it to be, without sounding like
Palladium Cinema in Rodbourne. a broken record, a creative hub. But
Described by artistic director Dan to be a hub it needs to constantly
Rivers as a ‘community interest be buzzing, with people creating
project’, the new arts space stands different things and sharing them
just a stone’s throw from the Outlet with each other there and then. I
Village, and has been created as think as a community we can do
a forward thinking creative hub that.” The community response for the Bohemian Balcony so far has been substantial
to unite writers, film-makers, During early November, the team
theatre groups, musicians, artists, at Bohemian Balcony hosted an
photographers and all art forms open brainstorming session for
under one collaborative roof. people to come and view the space,
The Palladium opened in 1928 as hear from Dan and his team, and
a cinema and has more recently leave their ideas and suggestions to
served as a bingo club and later a further the cause.
printing centre. Many pledged their time to help
Dan, who has worked in with the ongoing renovations and
education for over 11 years, said: configuration of the Balcony and Swindon’s Palladium Cinema, opened Artistic Director Dan Rivers amidst
“I’m just always so happy to be in some exciting plans were discussed. in 1928, has also been used as a the ongoing work at Bohemian
this space and take in all its quirks. Dan said: “This is completely bingo club and printing house Balcony
The whole building is structurally in the hands of the people. We
sound, but we are working aren’t supported by arts funding, they do down there. This isn’t hosting a gig, the next a theatre
closely with the owner to make no grants or special treatment. We about us setting up a space to performance, then a writing and
this a historically respectful yet want to show what we can do on compete with projects like that at arts gallery, the possibilities are
artistically interchangable space. our own two feet before we sign all, but rather providing another truly endless.”
“I come from a theatre up to any kind of funding. This is by place in the chain. You could have If you think you can help get the
background, and I’ve always the community, for the community an idea down at Shoebox, develop Bohemian Balcony buzzing, or have
wanted somewhere that could in the simplest and most honest of it in the Balcony and go on to host some ideas on how to grow the
be used by creative writers, ways.” it somewhere else or back at one of arts community and want to get in
photographers, artists, musicians, “I’ve worked really closely with the two. touch, go to their Facebook page:
cinematographers, film people, just the Shoebox team, and I love what “One night we could be facebook/bohemianbalcony

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