New Director of the Arts for the Bedford College South Bank Centre Toby Clark has been meeting talent spotters and art sponsors.
Sculptor turned professional musician Toby, is keen to encourage students to get more involved with activities in the town and has met with BedfordBID Director Christina Rowe to find out how the Love Bedford community works.
Combining a Fine Arts degree and an MA in music production with performing arts management, production credits and session work as a guitarist on TV and in the studio, from Wiley to Joe Cocker, Toby brings together, in one, so many aspirations of students.
Most recently working at South Thames College, Toby now leads the arts team at Bedford College which includes Nigel Clauzel (performing arts) and Alan Parsons (art and design).
Toby would like to bring the South Banks Arts Centre to the top of the billing list when people are thinking of “arts school” or studies in performing arts.
“Not being from Bedford, I have been so impressed with the fantastically resourced department with its purpose-built Art and Design building that feels like an original art school, excellent theatre and performing arts and music rehearsal spaces and recording studios
“The South Bank Arts Centre is a centre of excellence and we want Bedford College to be the first choice option for those who take their creative practice seriously and want to get on with building their skills, knowledge, portfolio and progressing to Higher Education, whether that’s within our own award-winning HE provision or at university.”
Situated on the South Bank of Bedford’s River Great Ouse, the arts centre includes a fully functioning theatre space, fine art facilities, high tech graphic design suites, media, film and photography facilities as well as an exhibition gallery. In addition The Arena alongside Cauldwell Street is a rehearsal space for musicians.
Bedford College students are regularly involved in filming or supporting live action and performing arts, or in creating artworks for local businesses. At the end of each summer term they put on a variety of exhibitions and shows on and off campus.
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