Profile: National Rural Touring Forum

August is Fringe time in Edinburgh, and as ever, the Scottish Rural Network have found the rural angle. We attended a talk by the National Rural Touring Forum (NRTF) to find our more about their work in bringing performing arts to rural areas. Watch our wee chat with Tom and Steffi from NRTF below.

National Rural Touring Forum from ScottishRuralNetwork on Vimeo.

The National Rural Touring Forum is an organisation that networks, develops, supports delivery of high quality creative experiences across the UK. The aim of the Forum is to support the strengthening of communities to bring professional work to rural venues.

NRTF members are made up of a national network of Rural Touring Schemes who programme menus of events that tour in their region. They also have artist, venue, promoter, producer and festival members all promoting and developing professional work for rural settings.

They provide their members with opportunities for training, making connections, showcases, research, discussion and advocacy. They sit on Arts Council Rural Stakeholders' panels to lobby for support in the rural sectors and highlight the importance of meeting the needs of rural audiences and communities. They also lobby at government level and throughout the creative and cultural sectors. Through research and advocacy, the NRTF aims to promote a better understanding of the value of rural arts and touring.

"It's so instantaneous in rural communities, you're really getting into the heart of it. When I go out to events I'm often the only person in the audience who doesn't know everybody else!" - Steffi Jessop, NRTF

There is a big difference between performing on the rural touring network and in Blackbox or urban theatres. Rural Touring performers need to me much more self-sufficient, they need to be able to get there, be flexible with get-ins and have minimal or easy set ups. What they get in return is a up close and personal experience with the local community. They will probably arrive with the audience, perform near the audience and then have a drink and a chat with them after. They may even be staying with one. It is not often you get this raw, instant and direct feedback from audience members on your production. It is unique and beautiful and incredibly rewarding.

A large part of what the NRTF is about is not underestimating rural audiences. Funding for the Arts is still a city-centric issue; travelling to large towns and cities to see productions can be time and financially prohibitive. There are also physiological barriers to some who don’t feel as comfortable in larger cultural institutions. Access to the arts is important for everyone in society. It is reasonable assume most people appreciate seeing high quality and innovative performance & art. This is what the NRTF are addressing and highlighting.

Across the UK there are currently 30-member schemes including Scotland, 1,650 promoting groups, 110,000 voluntary hours, 332,000 audience and over in £1,000,000 box office sales.

Find out more: http://www.ruraltouring.org/