A NEW forum for all the arts in the district is coming to fruition – more than six months after it was first mooted.

Creative St Albans aims to be at the centre of the artistic community, providing a website and organising events for local people involved in creative activities.

The idea was first aired at a meeting last October attended by more than 80 people from across the creative spectrum who gave strong support to the formation of an independent voluntary group to represent the arts.

A steering group took forward the ideas that were raised and a constituted body has now been established. Some administrative back-up is being provided by the team run by the council’s arts development manager Jo Askham.

At the beginning of this month local artist Katharina Kubrick-Phelps agreed to chair the committee and has already taken an active role in plans for the future.

A spokesperson for the group said: “Many of the independent creative organisations in the district can feel isolated and don’t know where to turn for support.

“It’s even more difficult for individual artists and performers who work alone and might not have the expertise or the wide network to promote themselves. Creative St Albans hopes to provide practical support for these people and a central focus for local residents to find out what’s going on in the district.”

Membership of Creative St Albans is open to anyone involved in the arts who lives, works or studies in the district and the organisation is keen to hear from local performers, musicians and artists.

The executive group has pooled its resources and come up with an extensive list of groups and individuals across a range of art forms but they know there are many others out there whose input would be welcomed.

Creative St Albans is planning to launch its website in September with the intention that it should form the hub of communication between artists and those interested in their work throughout St Albans and the surrounding district.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the organisation should contact Lyndsay Haynes on festival@leisureconnection.co.uk