Follow us down the rabbit hole, as we delve into the weird and wonderful world of art. Brace yourselves as our gang of intrepid hosts take you around the country to experience an array of magnificent arts projects. From theatre and comedy to dance and beyond, they’ll be diving head-first into some hair-raising and heart-warming events.
It’ll be immersive, innovative, and sometimes downright odd but, above all, it’ll be wonderful.

Community Channel have launched an original six part series, Wonderland, with the support of Arts Council England, exploring how participants and audiences experience the world of art and the positive effects arts have within our community. The series will articulate and increase awareness of its activity, engaging new audiences to take part.

The series launched in May and the Community Channel have shone the spotlight on voluntary arts projects to local and national audiences as they take center stage in the episodes.

As well as the staring roles Community Channel held intensive communication skills and content creation training workshops for 30 voluntary arts organisations across England, all facilitated by Media Trust's expert trainers.

TX times: Monday 9:30pm, Tues 9:30pm, Fri 9:30pm and Sunday 2:30pm and 8pm.

Watch Community Channel on Freeview 63, Sky 539, Virgin Media 269, Freesat 651, Youtube, BBC iplayer, TV Player and BT TV.

Episodes:

Episode 1- Experiential (participatory)
• Part 1- Raw Sounds- end of term gig for an organisation that runs music workshops for people with mental health needs. A youth led educational charity that uses the power of creative expression to help young people reach their full potential- presenter Nick Bright (Radio 1 Xtra DJ)
• Part 2- Café Art- Café Art are an initiative showcasing artwork created by people affected by homelessness or are socially vulnerable. We visit a workshop and exhibition opening of a photography retrospective- presenter Nick Bright (Radio 1 Xtra DJ)

Episode 2- Spatial (place-making)
• Part 1- Now Gallery- presenting an event "Colourblock" celebrating the new colour block cranes being put into the Greenwich peninsula. The event features a talk, live art and film. Now Gallery champion the regeneration of the local area (part of a drive Where Pioneers Live which sees the reshaping of Greenwich area through art)- presenter Rani Price, ex- CBBC presenter
• Part 2- Chickenshed- event called Tales Big Day Out. An all day workshop to engage children and their families in theatre. Chickenshed are an inclusive theatre that do lots of outreach work amongst the local community- presenter Rani Price

Episode 3- Movement (dance/ golf)
• Part 1- The Albany- run weekly event called Meet Me At The Albany, an all day arts club for over 60s (dancing, arts, choir etc.)- Suzi Ruffell, comedian
• Part 2- New Art Exchange- Doug Fishbone’s Leisureland Golf at New Art Exchange in Nottingham, a socially conscious interactive art installation that invites the audience and the community to take part in the art. The presenter will be playing a round with the artist and some members of the community and talking about the power of art participation- presenter Suzi Ruffell, comedian

Episode 4- Sensory (music)
• Part 1- Carousel/ Constant Flux- Both organisations create opportunities for musicians with learning disabilities. This is a gig called the Rock House showcasing disabled musical talent. Presenter- Dan Mitchell, comedian
• Part 2- Bristol Reggae Orchestra- a unique and uplifting community project. A collective of 40 local musicians drawing their influences from reggae- we visit one of their rehearsals. Presenter- Dan Mitchell

Episode 5- Visual (art/ dance in surprising places)
• Part 1- Creative Black Country- an organisation which encourages local people to create and experience more art and culture. We are going to see the Desi pub installations and attend a traditional dance- presenter Aatif Nawaz, Desi comedian
• Part 2- Duckie- ran a weekly event called the Posh Club, an elegant event for older people in Crawley. Features high tea and musical entertainment with a black tie dress code. Helps older people combat loneliness- presenter Aatif Nawaz

Episode 6- Experiential (immersive)
• Part 1- Lakeland Guides- These guides are leading- Catbells Festival of Light, this guided walk to light up the spine of Catbells is in aid of Nepalese flood victims. Presenter- Pippa Evans, comedian
• Part 2- Havin A Laugh- a programme designed to use comedy to help with mental health. Doing a gig/ workshop at an arts festival. Presenter- Pippa Evans, comedian

ENDS

Notes to Editor
For more information please contact [email protected]
07967 052 462

About Community Channel
Celebrating its fifteenth year of passionate and committed broadcasting, Community Channel, funded by Big Lottery Fund, is the only TV channel for communities, charities and the people who make the U.K. a better place for us all.

The channel is warm, embracing, sometimes funny, often surprising and offers a window into recognizable lives across the UK:
• Available 24-hours across TV platforms in 26 million UK homes
• Available streamed and on-demand through six platforms
• 12 million unique TV viewers last year with 2-2.5 million viewers each month

Key Demos
• Adults 35-54, 54-65 with an even mix of men and women viewers
• Representative viewing across the UK nations
• Viewers are mainstream and mid-market - city terraces, small towns, suburbs, older viewers
• 86% of viewers learn more, 62% feel differently, 44% are inspired to do more for other, 20% do more in their community – becoming directly involved with a topic they watched

The channel’s Do Something Brilliant campaign in partnership with Big Lottery Fund supports 2,000+ charities across the nations through outreach, training, amplifying stories and boosting their support through TV series, digital content, newswire, social media and media partnerships.

About Arts Council England
Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2015 and 2018, we plan to invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and an estimated £700 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk