Support for the sector
OPPORTUNITIES, SUPPORT AND NEWS THIS WEEK
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Art, Action, Beyond Two Cultures, with Dr Chila Kumari Singh Burman: Watts Gallery
Watts Gallery present this event as part of their Watts at Home program with Dr Chila Kumari Singh Burman. Dr Burman has been at the forefront of socially engaged practice with her powerful images exploring cultural identity, gender, representation and class. In this conversation she will be joined by eminent art historian Professor Lynda Nead to discuss the roots of her practice and ideas of personal and political agency in her works for the public realm. You can read more about this talk and book a place by clicking here.
Theatre Commission, With Flying Colours: Plymouth Cultural Education Partnership
With Flying Colours is a school-based play-making project for children and young people in Plymouth. Working with professional artists/companies, children co-create plays based on their own ideas and experiences. This coming year each school will work with artists to develop their ideas into a school play and a series of pop up pieces. These will be supported by parents and the local community and performed as part of community-based festival in July 2021. Plymouth Cultural Education Partnership are looking to commission a South West based theatre company to devise and perform a brand-new production by/for/with children and young people (aged 8 -13) in Plymouth as part of this project. The commission involves a period of research and development with 4 primary schools and 1 secondary school in the Whitleigh/Southway area of Plymouth. For more information or to have a conversation before applying contact: Ben.Vleminckx@theatreroyal.com or call 01753 230544
Disability History Month: Together 2012
Together 2012 CIC has launched a five-week free online festival, which began on 11 November and celebrates Disability History Month. Together! 2012 runs cultural clubs & activities for people with disabilities and is led by disabled artists. They have launched “Making History”; a month of accessible carnival arts, drama, family activities, film, live art, music, poetry, puppetry, storytelling, visual arts & more - all free and from the comfort of your own home. You can find out about the programme and what's involved by clicking here.
Participation Producer, Creative Cultures: Creative Scene
Made possible due to support from Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries (increasing opportunities for those from socio-economic backgrounds which are under-represented in the arts and cultural sector) This role with Creative Scene will involve making connections with young people in North Kirklees and, with support from the team, will be tasked with devising a programme of events and activities that engage young people in our local area. You can read about the opportunity in more detail, including information on how to apply, by following this link.
Playwriting Workshop with Atiha Sen Gupta: Down Stage Write
Join Playwright and screenwriter Atiha Sen Gupta in an online workshop, hosted by Down Stage Write, exploring the different writing styles of playwrights. Ranging from naturalistic to the absurd, join in on a journey delving into the words of writers like Arthur Miller, Harold Pinter, Caryl Churchill, Roy Williams and Dael Orlandersmith. The session will also ask questions like; what makes an arresting writing style? Have you experimented with different writing styles before settling on one? And once chosen, is a writing style fixed forever or something that can evolve with time? To find out more or to book a place click here.
Opportunity for artists: Seed Sedgemoor
Seed Sedgemoor are calling for expressions of interest from suitable community-based artists/artworkers with experience in social arts practice, to work with their local community to co-create artworks to be installed on First Bus buses in and across Sedgemoor in 2021. This is a paid opportunity to work on a major project, currently under the working title of 'Art First' Seed are seeking expressions of interest from artists (or teams of artists) to develop, facilitate and deliver artistic outcomes on up to three parallel projects. You can find more information on the projects and how to apply for the opportunity by following this link.
In Conversation, Indigenous Artists' Panel: Still/Moving
Join artist collective Still/Moving and Survival International in partnership with Dr Stephanie Pratt and Melinda Schwakhofer, invite the artists Cannupa Hanska Luger, Candessa Tehee, Ian Kuali’i and Jules Koostachin to discuss the complexities of the 400 year Mayflower history and their individual artist practices, in a panel chaired by art historian Dr Stephanie Pratt. Tickets for this talk can be booked here.
Illustrator: Pins and Needles Productions
Pins and Needles Productions are currently working on the development of a new digital adaptation of an epic classic about invasion. Their experiments involve looking at the space between theatre, film and gaming and how to create an immersive and interactive digital piece. As part of this project they are looking for 4 illustrators to help with the testing and development phase in of the work. You can find out more about the opportunity by following this link.
Eric-Paul Riege: Red Brigade Films short documentary
STTLMNT present this film featuring artist Eric-Paul Riege as part of a documentary series which is releasing a new feature each week as part of their winter programme. The STTLMNT video series is not only a response to the current state of the world, but illuminates the proactive nature and resilience of the artists, bringing back a sense of unity in a time where social engagement is limited. You can find out more about seeing this work and the STTLMNT winter programme by clicking here.
Trainee Curators: Falmouth Art Gallery, Royal Cornwall Museum, Wheal Martyn Clay Works
Falmouth Art Gallery, Royal Cornwall Museum and Wheal Martyn Clay Works are offering three exciting opportunities for individuals aspiring to develop a career in museums and galleries, as part of a wider programme led by Cornwall Museums Partnership. The Trainee/Intern Curator roles will offer a range of experiences aimed at developing the collections management and public engagement skills required of a 21st century curator. Each successful candidate will be employed by one of the three organisations, where they will fulfil the majority of the role but also have the opportunity to work at all three locations during the contract, gaining experience in three very different regional heritage organisations. To find out more about the opportunity, including how to apply here.
Artist talk: Class and identity, growing up on a brutalist council estate in London: Steve Burden
Bricks presents this talk from Steve Burden as part of their current series highlighting the work of local artists. Inspired by his experiences of growing up on the Pepys (a brutalist high-rise council estate in Deptford, south London), Steve's current practice investigates dystopian themes and ideas associated with British housing estates. These experiences are at the heart of his work and he is interested in exploring his working class roots, the urban context that he grew up in and is striving to understand how this has affected his persona, visual aesthetic and behaviour as an artist. You can sign up for the talk by following this link.
Challenge Accepted with Make AMPLIFY: Barbican Theatre ReBels
Barbican Theatre are running this online masterclass with Make AMPLIFY; an international team of artists, designers, writers, composers, choreographers, creative technologists and producers with bold ambitions and big ideas. The masterclass session will give participants the chance to find out about Make AMPLIFY, see some examples of their work and projects, and find out about 'Challenge Accepted' a project that will be running in early 2021 with the Barbican Theatre. For more information about the masterclass, or to book a space, click here.
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In Conversation:
GEM SMITH IN CONVERSATION WITH BARBICAN THEATRE 'ReBels'
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This week we caught up with our Plymouth partner's The Barbican Theatre to hear how they've been coping and adapting their ways of working during 2020.
Like for many local organisations Covid-19 and the first lockdown had a major impact on Barbican Theatre, who had just appointed a new CEO, Laura Kriefman, in February 2020. This delivered Laura the ‘ultimate baptism of fire’; having to close 2 venues, and find a new future for the organisation during Lockdown. Laura applied everything she learnt through her collaborative work worldwide about adapting, changing, doing more for less, in new ways, with different people to redefine the Barbican’s future.
The Barbican is committed to building Plymouth’s cultural voice. We have been working for 40 years with 12-25 year olds to inspire the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs to find their creative voices, which are often unheard.
During lockdown, and despite 5 of our team being furloughed, the Barbican team worked hard to continue to support their freelance practitioner community and all the young adults who participate in their classes. More than 40,000 engaged with online materials and classes during lockdown and this continues to grow month on month. The team also delivered 4 projects across the city, including a Back-alley Giant Puppet Parade in St Judes, performances of Singing In The Rain taken to the gardens of care homes across the city, a Digital ReBels dance and technology project The Butterfly Effect and the introduction of 'Coxside Cafe Acoustica' as a monthly event at Teats Hill Amphitheatre.
In September 2020 Barbican Theatre launched the new name and concept for their regular Talent Development classes: ReBels. ReBels are all part of one rebellious family - whatever their age and background, their creative voice will be heard, and their skills celebrated and developed.
Following lockdown there were of course many changes that had to be made to how sessions were planned and run, to maintain the safety of participants and the practitioner team. There are now more classes (an increase from 5 a week to 12 a week!) with additional venues to allow for smaller class sizes and safe social distancing. Additional time also had to be added between sessions to allow for additional cleaning of spaces.
Barbican Theatre wanted to ensure being a member of ReBels was accessible to all and so annual membership remained at just £60. For this single fee participants can attend as many sessions a week as they want. Introducing more classes has enabled the Barbican to offer increased employment for freelancers across Plymouth and increases the quality of training available for 12-25s.
A total of 113 places have been taken by participants ages 12-25 in subjects such as Character and Stage Combat, Online Stories, Comedy Sketches, Composing & Choreography, Theatre & Music and Catwalk Creativity. The quality of the work being created coupled with the attitude and dedication of our ReBels has been impressive. The way Barbican’s young people have adapted to the changes has been remarkable and the team know a huge part of this has been due to the commitment of their incredible ReBels Practitioners and Assistants. Plans for the next term of classes are now underway and include film making, VJing, urban storytelling, acoustic performance, dancing on cars and comedy ensembles.
While planning the first term of sessions all ReBels Practitioners were asked to consider the likelihood of a local or national lockdown and how sessions could easily transfer online. This was put into action from 5 November with the announcement of the 2nd lockdown. Due to excellent planning the moving of classes to Zoom has been very straightforward and the team are happy that the young people will not be missing out on these important creative and social opportunities. The Barbican are also working with the ReBels Young People’s community to identify those at risk of digital poverty to ensure they can still have access to the classes while online.
Barbican Theatre have also just launched our Digital ReBels online classes which will be held weekly on Tuesdays and via Zoom. By introducing these online classes young people still have the opportunity to create with theatre, dance, music and digital but from the comfort of their homes. They are ideal for those who don’t yet feel ready to attend classes in person or would like to try something new and a bit different.
The Barbican Theatre team have many other exciting projects and events planned for Plymouth in 2021 and beyond. We’d love to hear from the people of Plymouth who’d like to be involved, and you can do this by dropping us an email to rebels@barbicantheatre.co.uk
You can read more about the Barbican Theatre by following this link.
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Connecting with communities
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We've been checking out who's connect with communities and audiences right now, and seeing what great work and projects are taking place. This week's highlights include;
Artists Make Change have recently supported the formation and development of 6 artists peer groups. As part of a wider programme of generating useful online resources, content, activity & discussion, encouragement of the formation of peer learning groups around the UK, who want to focus on exploring what it means for artists to make change, was another important aspect of the programme. In September, 2020 6 applications from an Open Call for artists, groups and collectives to form discussion groups to discuss the subject of artists making change were selected and each group received a small bursary to support them with this. You can now read in full about the 6 selected groups and the really interesting and varied ways they are working together. A super interesting incentive and read, check it out in full here.
Local businesses from around Plymouth have come together to form PIP: Plymouth Independents partnership, to give Devon and Cornwall Food Action support and funds to provide food boxes for local families. Anyone needing support can call them on: 01752 651800. You can read more about this great, and very much needed, project here.
Gallery/Workshop Unit 1 have been sharing a series of conversations via their Instagram. The Conversation Continue series connects with artists, curators and others arts professionals to discuss a variety of art based topics. With a really wide range of guest and subjects these are a great watch, all previous conversations are archived on their IGTV feed. Check out more here.
Creative Scene have recently shared a series of short films titled 'Lockdown Lives' documenting the stories from North Kirklees business, community groups and charities during COVID-19. Created by filmmaker Alistair l Macdonald, Lockdown Lives films were released throughout summer 2020 and share stories from community groups and projects as they face the challenges and the impacts of the pandemic. A really interesting group of films capturing a response to lockdown 1 they are well worth checking out. Click here to see the series.
Charity Create have recently shared their great project 'Inside Stories', which was awarded 5 Koestler Awards. The project gives prisoners the opportunity to produce illustrated stories and music for their children. Working under the guidance of a professional writer, visual artist and musicians, they work in pairs to write, record and illustrate original stories, which are then set to music in groups. The project enables prisoners to build creativity, teamwork, communication and arts skills that they can use with their children during prison visits and on release, enhancing connectivity and wellbeing. The stories and illustrations are really beautiful; take a look here.
Bricks currently have a great podcast series available online sharing the thoughts and views of local creatives. The podcasts are part of Bricks Artist Programme- an initiative that has been supporting visual artists in and around Bristol. Alongside the podcasts are a series of micro commissions, a workshop series and artist talks. Bricks is also supporting the creation of a network of peer-to-peer mentoring and learning, skill sharing and critical thinking. You can check out podcast episode 1, with artist Bo Lanyon, by following this link.
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This week's article comes from Plymouth Culture's CEO Hannah Harris writing for Arts Professional. In this piece Hannah shares the development of a new 10 year culture strategy for Plymouth with a focus on behavioural change.
"...we are starting from the position of acknowledging that we already have all the necessary assets and actors in place. We have built these over the past 10 years and what we need to do now is connect these assets and actors in a way that places culture at the heart of Plymouth. We want culture not to sit as a siloed sector, but to be embedded in cross city agendas such as city planning, health, and education. We want culture to sit in the everyday, where it is visible and accessible to communities in a way that positively affects their lives."
An interesting article that highlights the ambition for the cultural direction of Plymouth for the next decade, you can read the full piece here.
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