From the favela to our manor

I was commissioned by People's Palace Projects to write a report on the first major visit to the UK by AfroReggae, a cultural organisation from Brazil that has now developed an ongoing creative relationship with venues, artists and arts workers here.  From the favela to our manor is subtitled Translating AfroReggae and that is what I attempted to do - to pick out the implications of an international intervention in arts work and, specifically, to examine the impact of this company's work with young people at risk in the inner city in London and Manchester.  Prior to its visit, I was lucky enough to be able to meet AfroReggae on its own territory - the favelas of Rio de Janeiro - though that 'territory', of course is notoriously contested by murderous rival drug factions.  That is where my narrative begins.  It ends with this prophetic remark from percussionist Altair Martins, setting the agenda for what is now taking place:

To reach a hundred young people, you start by working with two and they will carry on the work for you.  I didn’t know any of you before I got here but I tried to bring you the energy that I have.  And the energy I gave you, you multiplied it and passed it back to me.  Each of us can pass these ideas on to two other people; those two people to four others; those four to eight more - and it will never stop.  This energy has to be multiplied.

For the latest on AfroReggae's work, including touring, get Google to translate its home site at www.afroreggae.org.br - and catch up with its partnership work here at www.favelatotheworld.org.  For more information on the work of People's Palace Projects, visit www.peoplespalace.org.uk and www.amazonia-london.com.

  

Click here to download:
From the favela.pdf (3.78 MB)
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Conversations with an elephant

One of the most memorable London cultural events of the 21st century so far has to be The Sultan's Elephant.  Created and performed by French company Royal de Luxe, this public extravaganza took the capital almost completely by surprise over the first weekend in May 2006.  The arrival of a twenty-foot high little girl from outer space and a elephant parading through the heart of the old Empire changed many people's perceptions of what art and theatre and spectacle might mean, including it seems Arts Council England's.  Some initial reactions from the professional arts world were aired the following Monday at a conference convened by LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre), which had supported Artichoke Production's risky proposal to put on the show in the first place.  I was commissioned to write up the conference and my report is downloadable here.  It covers the impact of the weekend's events as well as the conference discussions - and it is unashamedly personal in tone.  This was one arts project I will never forget, along I suspect with the thousands of others who witnessed it.  Artichoke continues to promote the unexpected and its more recent activities can be seen at www.artichoke.uk.com/ and LIFT, too, continues to break new ground, as a visit to www.liftfestival.com will demonstrate.

 

Click here to download:
LIFT Conversations about an Elephant.pdf (1.43 MB)
(download)

The Inventive Answer

It is not often you have carte-blanche to write about creativity, but I was commissioned a couple of years back by Rick Hall to write a 'think piece' on the conditions for creativity for young people.  The Inventive Answer was my response.  It can be downloaded here but its other natural home is at Ignite!, an organisation which my piece played a modest part in kickstarting, and which is now breaking ever more exciting new ground in exploring the creative potential of what used to be called 'yoof'.  If you want to learn more about Ignite's work, visit www.ignitefutures.org.uk.



Click here to download:
The Inventive Answer - Ignite.pdf (145 KB)
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A case worth studying

Getting young people actively engaged in the transformation of their communities into happy, thriving, sustainable places in which to live and work are the core aims of government policies on youth, on education and on regeneration.  Fundamental: Architectural Inclusion has been doing this for five years with a unique project: the Architecture Crew.

 

Click here to download:
Architecture Crew.pdf (3.94 MB)
(download)

The Architecture Crew is the first of its kind - a youth architecture forum that has led the field in sustained youth engagement in the built environment since its establishment in 2004.  Set up to provide teenagers in Newham in East London with the opportunity to come together and express their views about regeneration and as it affects their own borough, it has stimulated young people's interest in their environment and built the self-confidence they need to make their voice heard in their own community  - and listened to by professionals in the wider world of architecture and regeneration.

Although composed of 13-19 year olds, the Crew's professionalism and accumulated knowledge has given it a substantial and growing role in local, regional and national debates around regeneration and the way that local people should be consulted about changes to their environment.  The Architecture Crew provides a viable model and inspiration for developing 'architectural inclusion' youth projects across the country.

Fundamental commissioned me to write the case study, which you can download here.  If you want a hard copy of this beautifully illustrated and designed publication, write to Jane Leighton, Director, Fundamental: Architectural Inclusion, 379/381 High Street, London E15 4QZ or email jane@fundamental.uk.net.  You can also see more of Fundamental's work at www.fundamental.uk.net