The history of TAAG
TAAG was formed to improve communication between artists and art organisations and to further the Arts in the area through collaboration and mutual support.
TAAG Arts Action Group 2007 - 2024
30th November 2007 - Open meeting to discuss Visual and performance Arts in Teignmouth at 6-7pm at Carlton Theatre – Guest- Steve Matson-TDC Service Delivery Leader.
2007 Teignmouth Arts Advisory Group formed, with representation from Visual and Performance organisations in Teignmouth, to have a cohesive Arts policy/stategy for the Carlton Theatre development and to compensate for the loss of an Arts Officer at Teignbridge District Council.
May 2010 TAAG CIC takes possession of Teignmouth Community Association (formerly Swanson’s showroom) and opens in August 2010 with an exhibition of ‘Inside Trail’. Anachronism changed to Teignmouth Arts Action Group as now have a Community Art Centre building to manage. Volunteers worked to make it immediately habitable and the improvements continue to this day. NB. The building had been used in August by TRAIL from 2007.
2010 – Advanced plans for the £7,000,000 development of the Carlton Theatre shelved due to the changes in local government from Lib Dem to Conservative. Liz Lockyear and Roger Smith were members of the Design Committee representing TAAG.
November 2014 press release Teignbridge allocates £2.5 million to New Carlton Development. Liz Lockyear and Roger Smith work closely with TDC officers and were on the Project Panel committee. TAAG management expertise, data and visitors numbers were included in grant applications for Coastal Community fund and Arts Council grant.
2014 it is clear that TAAG will not be in Pavilions (New Carlton) and requested a 25 year lease to continue at TAAG Arts and Community Centre site – refused – nominated TAAG building in 2015 as a Community Right to Buy property – now agreed.
2015 TAAG included in Local Development Order (LDO) with no provision for its future at the same time as the Back Beach Arts Quarter initiative, supported by Teignmouth Town Council, is underway.
2019 TAAG offered first refusal on the purchase of the building. Negotiations continue with Teignbridge District Council over the precise details of space etc.
2020 TAAG CIC registers as a Charity and becomes TAAG CIO - (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) registered number 118801. TAAG closed for removal of the rear by Teignbridge Council to finalise the area that we will purchase.
October 2020 purchase completed following great support from the people of Teignmouth.
2021-2023 The TAAG building was mainly closed due to the Council demolishing the workshop space at the rear, COVID, and work to survey the building, remove asbestos, obtain planning consent for future plans, and carry out refurbishment work.
During 2021/22 we had the use of the Beachcomber on Teignmouth seafront and were able to use this for exhibitions, workshops and fundraising.
After COVID and refurbishment we reopened the ground floor of TAAG on 29 July 2023.
Additional Information
TAAG has been at the forefront of the strategy for Arts since 2007 when ART ceased to be a statutory requirement by Local Authorities. Accepting that leadership was in our own hands a round robin support system was introduced and by working alongside performance arts, TAAG has been instrumental in making Teignmouth into an ARTS town.
The Arts and community Centre is home to the TRAIL (the popular sculpture trail on Teignmouth seafront), Information Hub and is used regularly by Teignmouth Art Society. There is a wide variety of art workshops, language teaching, book clubs, philosophy etc. There are regular volunteer stewards in place every day from 10am -5pm and extra cover for evening events.
TAAG is also called upon to support many other organisation with a few examples listed below:
Providing family art workshops for Carnival and other events requiring art/crafts.
Used by many non-art organisations such as Teign Transition – clothes swap.
Two week exhibition in January for 40+ Teignmouth Voluntary Organisations and Societies.
Hosts for Biennial International Art Exhibition.
Organise community lantern parade for Christmas lights switch on.
Hosted opening presentation for Flood defence scheme.
Additional rehearsal facilities for the Teignmouth Players.
TIDE – 2 week Multicultural Festival – Contributions from Malaysian Embassy-
Awarded medals by Russian consortium for participation in the Yuri Gagarin 50th Anniversary.Hub for Devon Open Studios.
Poetry Festival start up and ongoing venue.
The above are just a few of the activities at TAAG which run alongside up to 50 art exhibitions a year.