Gecko Arts and Media is a not-for-profit Company (limited by guarantee) that operates in the West Midlands of the UK. GAM gives exposure to artists and art forms from outside the UK, and develops participation with the public and with UK artists. We organise exhibitions of 2D/3D artwork from outside the UK (commonly from Latin America), utilising empty retail units in town centres so that the public can enjoy the art. We also organise live music events in the Midlands, bringing music from other European cultures to neighbourhoods in Wolverhampton and Birmingham, such as live flamenco music and dance. This exposure contributes to cultural exchange and cultural cohesion. Our organisation is member of the Skills Funding Agency’s specialist provider Network for the Creative Industries, and we are contracted by a number of agencies, NGOs and universities to advise on engagement with the sector and strategies for skills development. Gecko Arts and Media is also involved in delivering a series of EU-funded projects, EDUC-ARTS being one of them. This project is a Grundtvig partnership funded by EU Lifelong Learning Programme and involves the following countries: Greece, Romania, England, Italy, France, Portugal, Cyprus, Spain, Denmark and Turkey. The main aim of the partnership is to develop an educational guide for lifelong learning based on good cultural education practices, called “Educ-Art-Manual”, as the main deliverable, especially designed for adult training.
