COFFEE TALK with Ralph Lister | June 12, 25

Ralph Lister on UK based rural development organisation »Take Art«

Ralph Lister has led »Take Art«, a UK-based rural development organisation with a specialism in rural touring, for 30 years. »Take Art« is a non-building-based arts development organisation located on a farm in rural southwest England. It is funded by »Arts Council England« (ACE) and has an annual turnover of approximately €650,000. He led the first »SPARSE« project from 2018 to 2021 and also oversaw »Take Art’s« involvement in Ruritage, a Horizon-funded rural regeneration project from 2018 to 2022, in which its rural touring programme served as a model. He co-led the first »Perform Europe« project and was a founding member of the National Rural Touring Forum, representing UK rural touring schemes. Through »Take Art«, he also carries out advocacy, research, and evaluation functions for »SPARSE Plus«, contracted by the lead Italian performing arts partner, »AMAT«, based in the Marche Region.

In his talk, Ralph shares the story of building »Take Art«, its activities, and its importance to the Somerset region in southwest England, as well as his role in the EU project »SPARSE Plus« and its invaluable research insights on dance in rural areas.

»SPARSE Plus« is presented (by Bêbê de Soares) in another one of our Coffee Talks.