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Beaumont Walk Fallen Trees Project (Soft Touch)
In Summer of 2004, about 200 trees were cut down, at a site in Beaumont Leys known as Beaumont Walk, to improve access and visibility as part of the 'Safe Neighbourhoods' scheme.
Soft Touch worked with about 60 local children and young people over a two-week period in the Summer holidays, using the fallen trees to create sculptures and furniture as public art works to be a permanent fixture on the site.
The project was a great success in that the local young people were able to work together to make their area a brighter, safer and more attractive place to live and play. The project has been commended not just by the younger community residents but also by parents, older residents, local youth projects and the police and was recently featured on a Central Television news broadcast.
Jim Jackson, one of Soft Touch's project workers gives his impressions of working on the project: "Recruiting people for this project happened in a very natural way. Work began on clearing the trees and Soft Touch set up an informal work area. people simply came over to have a chat and the word was spread. We let everyone know that our first task was to build a circle of tree trunks for everyone to sit around and then we could begin work on our sculptures. The response was immediate. Young people came along to register and parents dropped by to meet us. Soon, we had people turning up first thing in the morning waiting for us to arrive. We also found that once people had realised what we were doing they kept coming back for more, despite the fact that we had only two rain-free days during nearly three weeks of work. The young people's attitude to working with power tools (but not the chainsaws!) and chisels was very pleasing, and apart from three or four minor cuts, our main problem was the arrival of lots of wasps trying to get at our fizzy drink suppy!"
For more information contact Soft Touch
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Turning the Tables is a two day conference exploring the progression and future of community and participatory arts in the UK.
Based at the Assembly Rooms in Derby, the conference will involve site visits, key note speakers including Eugène van Erven (The Community Art Lab & ICAF - Rotterdam International Community Theatre/Art Festival) and break out sessions. Organised by Mailout in collaboration with EMPAF, the aim is to explore what we currently need and what issues affect us as a sector, the pressures that we are under and the possibilities that are on offer. The conference will consider how we can work together, looking at the sense of connection we have as a creative-led sector working across many areas, frequently outside of the arts.
For more details, costs and a booking form please email info@e-mailout.org or call 01246 207070
EMPAF has a new website which is to be launched in September. Based on the social networking model it will enable users and members to put up profiles for individuals, projects and organisations. There is also an option to link to other profiles, send comments and update with news, events, opportunities as well as engage in debates around current issues affecting the community and participatory arts.
In addition to putting up information and resources EMPAF will also be promoting future CPD events and development opportunities.
The website is aimed at creating a vibrant and engaging online community so please get involved and make use of this site as much as possible.
The site itself in final testing but live and will transfer to the www.empaf.com address at the end of the beginning of next month. To join now please go to http://beta.empaf.com/ (note there is no www) and anything you add now will remain live during the transfer. We welcome any feedback on how to make it even more user friendly, so please email jane@empaf.com with this or any questions.
A free event for artists; arts practitioners; organisations and community groups working in, or interested in working in community and participatory arts.
The day is designed to give plenty of opportunity to network, discuss your work, ask questions, share experiences and find out more information about a range of subjects and issues affecting everyone working in participatory arts.
Including an in-depth session devoted to professional and project development subjects such as negotiating contracts, rates of pay and how to set up and run an event will be covered.
There is also be an facilitated open space session based around working in and across different arts forms, a presentation and open sharing session on International working and a presentation outlining current key trends and influences such as reforms in Public Sector funding, the Cultural Offer and Cultural Olympiad. Plus, this is your chance to influence future EMPAF work and events as each of the sessions is designed to bring out issues that are most relevant to you.
Registration and networking begins at 9.45am for 10.30am start. Lunch is provided and there is lots of time given to networking and finding out more about EMPAF, Cultivate and a wide range of other resources and sources of further information.
Taking place at St James Centre, Derby places are available on a first come first served basis. To book email Jane@empaf.com or call 07984199477 giving your name and a daytime contact number. For more details click on the title above.
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