THE DROITWICH Arts Network (DAN) has named Standard editor Tristan Harris as its first honorary patron.
The 43-year-old will play a key role in promoting and supporting a string of arts-based community events and activities, including visual arts, performing arts, photography, media, written and spoken word, music and crafts.
DAN chair Helen Karakashian said Tristan and the paper had always supported the arts in Droitwich so he was the ideal choice for the role.
She said: “He has had poetry and short stories published in anthologies, written songs and plays, edited a literary magazine and presented on hospital and community radio.
“He performed a brilliant comedy stand-up routine at the ArtsFest last year and his children’s play, ‘Little Green Fingers’, staged in the Norbury Theatre’s studio was a great success.
“We are delighted he has accepted our invitation to be patron.”
Tristan said. “Over the years, in my role with the Droitwich Standard, we have been involved a lot with DAN and the activities it puts on for the people of the town.
“It’s fantastic that residents get to participate in such a wide range of arts-based activities. Not only is it great for participants to be able to show off their creative skills and sides but, with the arts proven to help with mental health and well-being, it is also helping keeping Droitwich healthy.
“I am honoured to be asked to be the honorary patron and I’ll be doing my bit to make sure as many people as possible know what DAN is doing and how they can get involved.”
This year DAN held a highly successful art exhibition at Hanbury Hall and is organising a display of mail art to be held in Droitwich Library later this year.
The network delivered Droitwich ArtsFest in 2017 and 2018, DAN will also organise next year’s festival, to include art, music, dance, drama and creative writing events across the town.
DAN mounts several art exhibitions each year and has a monthly programme of meetings and activities.
To find out more about DAN go to www.droitwichartsnetwork.org, or search Facebook Droitwich Arts Network.
