salamanda tandem – a case study

bringing a new learning campus to life

The Hadley Learning Community (HLC) opened on the 1st September 2006 and is located in the community of Hadley in central Telford. HLC is a £70 million PFI project that represents a major investment by the Borough of Telford & Wrekin Council and construction company Interserve in creating a 21st Century learning campus.
The HLC is unique in providing education in three phases as well as extensive community facilities for sport, the arts and life-long learning. The campus consists of:
 1100 place secondary school for 11-16 year olds
 420 place primary school with a 64 place Nursery
 160 place special school for children with severe and profound disabilities (Bridge School)
 A Childrens' Centre and ABC Nursery
 Community Facilities for Sports, Arts, Lifelong Learning and Public Library
“When a strange new building goes up in any area, it is vital that the local community gets on board with it,” tells Salamanda Tandem Director Isabel Jones. “Sadly, the UK has too many new buildings that have become the ‘white elephants’ of their local areas – gleaming new but empty, and therefore useless. The Borough of Telford & Wrekin Council were determined to buck the trend with their new building project, and set about trying to create a community at HLC from day one. Their arts consultancy, Impact Art, asked if we could provide a bespoke six month programme of on site dance, music and art that would help them engage local people of all ages.”

bringing a building to life

HLC is a big and bustling place, housing some 2000 people in one of the poorer areas of the city. “We were immediately drawn to the sensory qualities of the HLC building,” continues Isabel. “In its centre is a unique outdoor amphitheatre called ‘the forum’ that acts as a focal point for the schools and community groups surrounding it. Our project began here, and our aim was to provide art that invited people from different backgrounds to interact with it, rather than demanded attention.

“We performed short dance pieces all over campus, moving slowly so people could take in the space around them and reflections as well as the performance. We popped up in the most unlikely places: on a staircase, in the playground, and people started to watch us,” Isabel continues. “They might even be thinking, ‘that’s weird!’ But they ask a question. We’d get chatting, and invite them to a free workshop, and they might bring a sibling or friend, or even their parents.

We kept it very informal so as not to scare people off – ‘come see the building and play with new ideas’ – but of course there is a firm structure behind our approach and we know exactly how to sensitively engage people.”
the result
During the launch period, Salamanda Tandem’s team of artists performed different dance, music and art all over campus and engaged with hundreds of individuals. Sometimes the activities were less formal than a workshop, just a group picnic or a walk, but the result was the same, and the campus slowly developed a relaxed atmosphere where people wanted to spend time, and staff at the new schools were delighted to report the new space had won the hearts and minds of their students and families.

“People think it’s easy to create, a stimulating and relaxed atmosphere,” Isabel smiles. “But they shouldn’t be fooled! We are a skilled team of artists and our unique experience is what enables us to create a programme of art designed specifically to engage different community groups. Each individual programme is set up so our clients can clearly demonstrate the value for money they are getting and prove to their investors that they can be sure of a positive return. Our high levels of creativity belies our commercial and professional approach – but that’s just the way we like it!”

client testimonial

Belinda Holden, Impact Art: “The Salamanda Tandem team really helped bring a sense of humanity to the HLC, breathing life into the new spaces and engaging people from all different ages and backgrounds. Local families - parents, kids, even grandparents - became very interested in the art and what HLC could offer them.

“Staff and students working there also learnt about the space, and were almost given an excuse to stop for a moment within the excitement of moving into the new building to actually discover, listen and learn how to use it in other ways.”

Dr Gill Eatough Principal Hadley Learning Community said, “Since our successful launch an increasing number of new providers have chosen to re-locate to the campus, including local authority nursery school and new children's centre - making HLC a real one stop shop for families.”

award

This Salamanda Tandem project is the recipient of ‘The 2008 Envirolearn Award - for Outstanding Learning Environments That Improve People's Creativity’ (Quesco LTD).