Cllr Terri Reid
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
Shortlisted
Best Local Authority Arts Champion - Councillor 2019
Cllr Reid has campaigned tirelessly for the Arts in Basingstoke and Deane throughout her career as a Councillor. She cares passionately about the organisations and the people within them and she has undertaken the herculean task of educating her fellow councillors on the importance of Arts and Culture. As deputy Leader of the Council she has been an invaluable voice in very hostile times for publically funded arts organisations. She was instrumental in enabling Proteus to move from a pre- fab hut housing an office and rehearsal room, to a beautiful Edwardian ex-infant school – enabling us to transform it into the Arts and Community hub it now is – a direct driver in the company achieving NPO status this year. Terri has ensured that Basingstoke not only has a national and international producing company in Proteus, but also a mid-scale theatre space in The Haymarket and a world class concert hall in the shape of The Anvil.
Cllr Reid has always encouraged partnerships – both between Arts organisations and with the Council; she was instrumental in getting the council to commit to Basingstoke festival which has commissioned over 20 Artists and companies to make work; including Ockhams Razor, Natural Theatre Company and Nearly There Yet. She also was instrumental in commissioning the Basingstoke Day of the Dead festival which ran for three years, bringing international Artists Copperdollar into the town to collaborate with Proteus on a unique event which saw over 3000 people participating.
Terri Reid has enabled Proteus to secure 5 year funding from the council – an agreement that has revolutionized the company’s ability to make work, and has enabled Proteus to sit at the heart of the community. Proteus Creation Space has welcomed over 100,000 people through its doors to participate in Arts activities over the past four years – a massive impact on the Cultural health of the borough only made possible through her hard work and commitment.
As the only female member of Cabinet, her feminism has been a beacon for women leaders in Basingstoke and Deane and she has supported female Artists and feminist theatre. Cllr Terri Reid is a force of nature and an incredible advocate for the Arts, without her tireless work and support, it is doubtful that any of the companies and cultural buildings currently based in Basingstoke would be here.
What our judges said:
An outstanding example of personal commitment and leadership, with an important recognition of women leaders in the arts and their contributions.
"Cllr Terri Reid is a valuable voice of support for female artists in her area. The work undertaken by the deputy leader has promoted a local culture of accepting cultures value to its community, and matching that knowledge with proper backing. It's so exciting to think what Proteus will deliver in the 5 year funding programme and in their new home. This Councillor brought the Proteus group in from the (literal) cold of a shed, into proper professional facilities. Exemplary local advocacy and delivery.
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