News from the Network - 10 May 2007
Contents
Feature
1. Condoms and Clowns in Guatemala – A Health Unlimited Project
Events
2. The No-ones – acta Community Theatre (Bristol, UK, May 2007)
3. Exiled Lit Café (London, UK – May & June 2007)
4. Shape Arts – Open the Door training events (London, UK – May- July 2007)
5. Conflict Zone (London, UK – 18 - 19 May 2007)
6. Link Up Event at Tate Modern (London - 30 May 2007)
7. Krocodile Klubs (Gateshead, UK June & July 2007)
8. Writing Resistance: The Literature of Exile (London - 21 June 2007)
9. Action space mobile - ‘ Cross the Sky’ (UK, June – September 2007)
10. Magnum Photographers Panel Debate (London, 11 July 2007)
Opportunities
11. Living Here project is seeking to appoint an evaluator
12. A UK wide competition for new sari patterns
13. Internship at FilmAid East Africa Office, Nairobi, Kenya
Resources
14. Youth Photo-reflect, South Africa
News and Projects
15. The British Sari Story
Feature
Each month we feature the work of one of our partners.
1. Condoms and Clowns in Guatemala
A Health Unlimited project
Health Unlimited’s K’iche’ Youth Project works with Mayan children and young people in the highlands, where more than 95% of the population lives in poverty.
The young people are very marginalised. They have poor sexual health knowledge, high rates of pregnancy and very poor access to contraceptives and health care.
The project aims to empower them by providing information about sexual health and contraception. It builds self esteem through involvement in social and vocational activities, and uses radio communications in their own language. It also aims to empower them to take their place in civil society, supporting their involvement in community development committees and a legalised Youth Association.
Part of the work involves an alliance with the Proyecto Payaso (Clown Project). Young indigenous people are trained in popular theatre and as clowns in order to engage the community in discussions on sexual and reproductive health issues in a non-threatening and fun context.
As young people begin to juggle and tell jokes in the Maya K’iche’ language, they introduce key messages on HIV. A broom is produced and a condom is placed over the tip. The audience giggles and titters, but it’s hard to be offended when you’re laughing. As the audience gets up to leave, the young clowns hand out leaflets giving advice on safe sex and HIV/AIDS. Fun and learning go hand in hand. That’s why the group calls itself El Cómico Grave - “The Serious Clown".
Martin Drewry – Health Unlimited
For further information visit: http://www.healthunlimited.org
Events
2. The No-ones – acta Community Theatre
Bristol, UK, May 2007
acta Community Theatre's new show The No-ones will be touring Bristol neighbourhood in May before playing a week at the Bristol Old Vic in September. The show is about six ordinary women who enter a talent contest in search of fame and fortune. The path to success is marred by a dramatic turn of events and the audience becomes witness to how real life issues change the women's lives. Despite having a serious message, the play also has a musical element to it showcasing a variety of well-known 60's songs.
For more information, contact acta on (0117) 953 2448
or email info@acta-bristol.com
www.acta-bristol.com
3. Exiled Lit Café
London, UK – May & June 2007
On Monday 14th May at 7.30 pm
In the Footsteps of the Word Gatherer
On a rare visit from France and performing in English and French: Yvan Tetelbom: the Jewish performance poet born in Algeria and exiled in France with Polish roots. Accompanied by Cristiane Bonnay: classical accordionist, born in Dakar, Senegal.
Please write a Poem for Peace. After the performance below, we will be inviting people to read their Poem for Peace.
Chair: Jennifer Langer
On 4th June at 7.30 pm
Shireen Pandit prize winning South African short story writer and novelist, Soad El-Rgaig - Libyan writer, Chinwe Azubuike -Nigerian poet and activist and Roda Mire - Somali writer
Chair: Nathalie Teitler
Both at Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2
£4 and £2 EWI members
on Thursday 7th June at 7 pm
'A Mouthful of Africa'
A collaborative theatre production focusing on stories of African political, social and edible food; the African exiled writer/performers portray the ambivalent imagery of memories of home, food and yearning in the place of exile. Their concerns of the personal interact with the political significance of food in areas disrupted by war and migration, with edible food being an integral part of the production!
There will be post-performance discussion and an opportunity to enjoy an African buffet.
£10 to include food and £5 concessions. Please book in advance by sending a cheque made payable to Exiled Writers INK at 31 Hallswelle Road, London NW11 0DH
For more information on Exiled Writers Ink and these events visit:
www.exiledwriters.co.uk
4. Shape Arts – Open the Door training events
London, UK – May- July 2007
We understand that disability access and equality can be a daunting subject. Whether you’re an artist, employer, artsworker, manager or marketer; whether you work for a venue, theatre, museum, gallery or any kind of arts, cultural or leisure organisation – we have Open the Door training to suit you! Book now for…
Organising an Accessible Event - 16 May & 5 July 2007
Customer Care – A Tool Kit for Front Line Staff - 23 May, 26 June & 20 July 2007
Disability Equality – Language, Legalities and Logistics - 30 May & 28 June 2007
Accessible Marketing and Publicity - 30 May, 21 June & 17 July 2007
Developing Participatory Arts Activities - 7 June & 12 July 2007
Employing Deaf and Disabled People - 7 June & 18 July 2007
Developing a Disability Action Plan - 27 June & 19 July 2007
Deaf Equality: Artists, Audiences & Participants - 3 July 2007
To book
Email: openthedoor@shapearts.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7619 2616
Minicom: 020 7619 6161
Cost: From £80 to £120 + VAT (depending on the size of your organisation). 25% discount for any additional places that you book. Lunch is included.
For more information, contact:
Geraldine McNamara
Open the Door Training Manager
Telephone: 020 7619 2616
Email: geraldine@shapearts.org.uk
Website: www.shapearts.org.uk
5. Conflict Zone
Oval House Theatre, London, UK, 18 - 19 May 2007, 8.00PM
While considering that the world is becoming more and more inter-connected and that the problems of the underdeveloped world are being brought to streets of Britain through terrorism and immigration problems, Conflict Zone believe that UK audiences are growing hungrier for stories that try to understand the sources, causes and effects of conflicts in foreign countries.
In this presentation they will be concentrating on themes of discrimination, political conflict in their home countries and its implications on life here in Britain. The original and basic idea for the work as presented in the workshop is based upon: story telling, in the performers’ native and ancient cultures; stories and themes of conflict in their homeland; and personal experiences as immigrants, from conflict zones, into London. Their super objective as a company is to find a common ground - theatre language - that is based on those different cultures, history, ancient rituals and theatre tradition.
Conflict Zone is presented as part of First Bites: Oval House Theatre's ongoing series of works-in-progress that creates the space for artists to experiment and discover and gives the audience the chance to be a part of their creative processes
Box Office: 020 7582 7680
Tickets: £4
Further information: www.ovalhouse.com
6. Link Up Event at Tate Modern
Tate Modern, London - Wednesday 30th May -10am - 4.30pm
Link Up is the ongoing career development programme from Shape for deaf and disabled Londoners involved in the arts. The Visual Arts & Crafts Career Development Day on 30 May will provide advice and information for visual artists and craft makers including information on joining the Link Up Mentoring and Advice & Guidance scheme and the opportunity to train to become a paid Mentor or Advisor. It is a free programme including Networking Lunch.
Speakers include:
* Beatrice Mayfield, Maker/Development Manager, Crafts Council
* Stephen Beddoe, Programme Manager, Artquest
* Ben Cove, ACME Studios Fire Station Artist in Residence
Booking essential:
tel: 020 7619 6165 / 6175 fax: 020 7619 6162
minicom: 020 7619 6161 sms: 07958 705 615
email: linkup@shapearts.org.uk
web: www.shapearts.org.uk
This project is funded by the London Development Agency (LDA): the Mayor's agency for sustainable economic development.
7. Krocodile Klubs
Gateshead, UK June & July 2007
Forthcoming Krocodile Klubs - nightclubs run by and for people with learning disabilities.
15 June 2007 from 7.00pm-11.00pm
Cost: £2 - carers go free
venue: Caedmon Hall,Gateshead
12 July 2007 from 7.00pm-11.00pm
Cost: £4 - carers go free- via box office on 0191 443 4661
venue: The Sage Gateshead
contact us: 0191 4789200 or info@thelawnmowers.co.uk
website: www.thelawnmowers.co.uk
8. Writing Resistance: The Literature of Exile - the Voice of Exiled Writers
The Human Rights Action Centre, London - 21st June 2007
Exiled Writers Ink in Association with English Pen invites you to an exciting Con-Fest (conference – festival). The event will include readings, discussion and writing workshops including an opening session with eminent writers Moris Farhi, Gillian Slovo and Saadi Yusef. These will be followed in the early evening by performances in The Creative Space. There will be an evening event in Association with Amnesty International – “Writing Pain and Resistance in Exile”. Exiled writers from Palestine, Iraq, Zimbabwe and Uzbekistan will read from their work and then discuss the issues. There will also be a music-multi-media presentation focused on the persecution and suffering in Sudan.
Venue: The Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA
Cost of CON-FEST includes Middle Eastern lunch and evening event: £20 and £10: students and unwaged. Unemployed asylum seekers: free
To register, send a cheque made payable to: Exiled Writers Ink, 31 Hallswelle Road, London NW11 0DH
For more information visit www.exiledwriters.co.u
9. Action space mobile - ‘ Cross the Sky’
UK June – September 2007
Barnsley based, integrated theatre company 'Cross the Sky' is a group of adults, 16 of whom have learning disabilities and 4 Action Space Mobile artists. The company works to produce a piece of theatre annually, this years production is called the Transformation Station - a beauty salon.... a place where dreams and aspirations are explored.
The Transformation Station will tour to the following...
27th June – The Academy Theatre, Barnsley
4th July – Kingstone School, Barnsley
11th July – The Dearne Theatre, Goldthorpe, Barnsley
18th July – The Wakefield Arts Centre, Wakefield
12th September – The Lamproom Theatre, Barnsley
26th September – New College, Huddersfield
further dates to be confirmed
For further information: tel:01226 391112
Email: contact@actionspacemobile.org
10. Magnum Photographers Panel Debate chaired by Charles Glass
Royal Geographical Society, London -Wednesday 11 July 2007, 7pm
2007 Magnum Photographers Lectures Series
Internationally acclaimed author, journalist and broadcaster Charles Glass leads presentations and a panel debate between Magnum Photographers who have specialised in covering the Middle East.
The Lecture will be accompanied by an exhibition of images taken by Israeli and Palestinian children, trained in photojournalism skills by PhotoVoice. Read more about the project.
The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR
Standard Tickets:£12
Concession Tickets (OAPs, Students, Friends of PhotoVoice): £6
Become a Friend of PhotoVoice and receive half price lecture tickets!
To buy tickets call: 020 7033 3878 or visit www.photovoice.org
Opportunities
11. Living Here project is seeking to appoint an evaluator
‘Living Here’ (Oval House Theatre) is a unique three year participatory arts programme led by a team of professional arts practitioners working with young refugees and asylum seekers in the borough of Lambeth. Oval House Theatre have established three artistic residencies in secondary schools with high numbers of young refugees and asylum seekers offering young exiles a range of artistic and social opportunities that are developed both in school and in their own time. Through Living Here, Oval House is establishing models of good practice and tracking the progress of young people. Using this evidence we aim to establish a case for participatory arts as a tool for supporting social and educational inclusion of young refugees.
For more information regarding the evaluation and application process please contact:
Stella Barnes, Oval House Theatre, 52 – 54 Oval Kensington, London, SE11 5SW
Tel: 02075826279
Email: stella.barnes@ovalhouse.com
Deadline for submission of proposals: 24 May 2007
www.ovalhouse.com
12. A UK wide competition for new sari patterns
Do you work with women's groups interested in clothes, design and textiles - or who are simply keen to express their experience through art? Don't miss a UK wide competition for new sari patterns.
This is a chance to talk about your life on a sari...Sixty years after independence, most sari patterns still tell stories from south Asia. We've seen temples and elephants, peacocks and mango trees. But what about patterns from this country? Showing fields of yellow rape seed or the M1? You don't have to be a fashion designer or an art student to enter. Anyone can pick up a pencil. Express what you'd like to say about your life in the UK in a pattern.
Winners' designs will be printed on new saris and displayed nationally.
More on www.britishsaristory.org.uk and www.bridging-arts.com
Email info@bridging-arts.com or call 020 8749 9010.
Closing date: 30 June 2007. Drawings to be submitted on a loose leaf sketchbook.
13. Internship at FilmAid East Africa Office, Nairobi, Kenya
FilmAid international invites applications from qualified university students or out of college graduates to fill the above position based in Nairobi. The intern will report to the Program Assistant and is a National position (for students / graduates in Kenya).
The mission of FilmAid International (“FilmAid”) is to use the power of film to promote health, strengthen communities and enrich the lives of the world’s vulnerable and uprooted. The desired impact of FilmAid’s programs is to facilitate social change through film and video by giving individuals knowledge and confidence, and by providing communication tools, information, and opportunities for people to come together to explore, debate and express ideas.
For more information on this and other opportunities at Film Aid visit www.filmaid.org
To apply please mail, e-mail or fax your resume and a cover letter indicating which position you are applying for to:
Human Resources
FilmAid International
24 East 23rd St., 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10010
humanresources@filmaid.org
Fax: (212) 529-1084
Resources
14. Youth Photo-reflect, South Africa
(Source: Photovoice website)
In September 2006 PhotoVoice began a digital storytelling programme working with youth infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. The project's aim was to equip young people with tools through which they can speak out about their personal experiences and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS whilst simultaneously providing them with valuable life and media skills.
A DVD of the digital stories created by participants in Youth Photo Reflect is now available.
If you would like a copy please email jo@photovoice.org with your address, the number of DVDs required, and details of how you intend to use the digital stories.
PhotoVoice welcomes a suggested donation of £3 to help cover the costs of distribution.
www.photovoice.org
News and Projects
15. The British Sari Story
The British Sari Story, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, presents new sari patterns from across the UK, reflecting the reality of British Asian life in this country. It gives British Asians the chance to celebrate their heritage and reaches out to people of all ages and communities across the country.
It also presents:
- saris from around India, with explanations of their regional significance
- saris collected by children at Barham Primary School, Wembley. These saris will be 'precious' in a different way with highly personal stories of their significance - why they were bought and when they were worn
- drawings of the interior of a sari shop in Tooting by artist Helen Scalway, part of research funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
It opens at Brent Museum on 28 September 2007.
Updates on www.britishsaristory.org.uk
The British Sari Story will be available to tour from end January 2008 and we are taking bookings now - please contact Susan Roberts on 020 8749 9010 or 0794 12 52 444 (info@bridging-arts.com)