Eastern Ear was founded in 2017 with main ambitions; to produce live events that brought exciting experimental music to Norwich, and to develop a community of improvisers in the region.

The Plank is an open community of musicians, artists and occasionally dancers, who come together in various combinations twice a month. They play together from a totally diverse range of perspectives, skill sets and experience.

Sessions take place over two hours where a group of participants take part in periods of structured activity, spontaneous improvisation and guided play. The Plank usually takes place at the Shoe Factory Social Club in Norwich but tours to other spaces and venues across the county such as in in 2020 when The Plank toured various churches in Norfolk. The Plank is a safe place for ideas to be tried and where play can occur in its purest form.

In 2023 we received funding from The Ranworth Trust to invite a number of guest artists to lead sessions, to share their unique experience and approach, as well as using a number of new venues and spaces. This exciting and challenging programme coincided with our decision to hand over the project to its members.

Since October 2023 the project has been led entirely by its members and is not associated with Eastern Ear. The group continue to meet monthly at Ambition's Graveyard (visit here for details, and how to join).

We have used our extensive experience of running The Plank to launch a new project in 2024 - The Communal Ear. Informed by the free play and experimentation The Plank offered, The Communal Ear supports audiences and practitioners of new and experimental music in the East, through performances, workshops and exhibitions in specific spaces and places