Jabberwocky Market is here, by Caroline Pearce, Sept 2013

As it has now become the custom, I write a blog when we’re just on the precipice of something unknown. Luxi has really gone from strength to strength over the past few months and in less than a week our first full blown festival will already be over. As ever, there are an incredible number of people to thank, those who are turning up and volunteering or performing or any number of other things – but also those behind the scenes.  We have overcome all sorts of barriers and challenges in order to achieve a wonderful programme of events, thanks to all those people.

Last Monday I was lucky enough to be able to have lunch with a table full of some of the most awe inspiring producers about today. Helen Marriage from Artichoke and Louise Blackwell from Fuel, joined Sarah Shead from Spin Arts , Joanne Peters from 53 Degrees North, Anne-Marie Crowther from Panda and myself (who together with John Franklin our trusty admin, form Nexus – Northern Dance Producers). It was a fantastic discussion, on a really sunny September day, that reminded us of the value of tenacity and that the fear of not achieving is an incredible driving force. We are definitely and defiantly moving forwards to make bigger things happen with each other’s support.

After lunch, I visited the Creative Darlington board to tell them more about the festival and how their support has helped us develop what we hope will be a fantastic programme.

A couple of weeks previously, another Luxi dream became reality. We brought The Management Centre up to Darlington to deliver a bespoke two-day course in fundraising for the arts. The venue was the luxurious Rockliffe Hall, which perfectly complemented the sense of quality and attention to detail in the delivery and content of the course. Jules Bellingham, our trainer, was as fantastic as ever and artists and arts professionals from across the north east came together to share the learning. We have already used a number of things we learned or remembered in order to raise money for projects and to create mutually beneficial relationships with businesses and individuals.

Earlier in the summer, a session with a business mentor helped me to define the company’s motto and re-articulate some of our core purposes. Everything mentioned above really helps to demonstrate the realisation of our aims and objectives; and the motto? It’s there on the About Us page now…

Luxi helps light up people’s lives through arts.

Now, onwards and upwards, keep an eye out for Jabberwocky Market and if you’re interested, we’re already talking to people about programme and projects for spring and autumn 2014 – get in touch!