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Young Peoples’ Course Creative Film Experiments Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th January 2008
Led by artist James Holcombe, no.w.here A two-day creative film project for young people aged 13 – 19, led by no.w.here. Inspired by the Anthony McCall exhibition, participants experimented with creative projection, performance, projector interventions, cameraless film, optical sound and light as sculpture. 
They presented their new films as an expanded cinema installation in The Sackler Centre of Arts Education at the end of the course.
Here are what some of the participants said about their experience.
‘An excellent way to meet new people and exchange expressive ideas.’
‘I really enjoyed it. The opportunity to try something completely new was really fun and pushed my creativity and thinking.’
Moving Light beams Family Day Anthony McCall exhibition 2nd February 2008
Inspired by the Anthony McCall exhibition, artists and families explored light, colour, movement and sculpture to create interactive artworks in The Sackler Centre of Arts Education at the Serpentine Gallery.
'We thought it was one of the best making workshops we have done, with clever, open ended ideas. Very helpful, welcoming staff and fun activities'
Westminster Arts - Arts and Minds Autumn 2007
The Arts and Minds project has been developing over several years in partnership with Westminster Arts and City of Westminster Adult Services. Its aim is to create models of best practice in providing good quality arts for older people in care.
Arts and Minds is currently funded by Futurebuilders England, The Barchester Foundation and Westminster Amalgamated Fund to run an Arts and Health project. Arts residencies took place in Autumn 2007 at The Pullen Day Care CEntre, Penfold STreet Housing with Extra Care and Westmean Elderly Resource Centre.
The residents at Westmead Elderly Resource Centre, for example, 
have been working with composer Fraser Trainer and saxophonist Pete Whyman to compose their own pieces of music. Susan told us that the residents not only learnt to sing together, which culminated in a performance in November, but also really got involved in the creation of new musical pieces. “Residents composed music themselves by saying whether they wanted the next note to be higher or lower, and they also made shapes and movements with their hands to which Pete improvised music.”
Susan Aldworth Artist and Project Manager, Anna Smith from Juice Consulting, Beth Cinamon from Westminster Arts and Jude Sweeting Dementia Development Officer for Westminster City Council have been working as a team to look at the impact of the arts for older peoples’ well-being whilst in care. A new publication on arts and older people in care will be launched in April.
For further information, please contact Beth Cinamon at Beth@westminsterarts.org.uk or 020 7641 1018.
A FreqOUT! Christmas with mobile phones taking over Oxford Street!
Project Manager Jenny Irish and Artist Melissa Bliss worked with a group of young people from the Cardinal Hume Centre to film the festivities taking place on Oxford Street during its pedestrianisation on the 1st of December. The young people documented the day's festivities using mobile phones and produced their own short films which could be blue toothed at the end of the day. The event showcased the talents of Westminster based performance groups and FreqOUT! offered something a little different for the crowds.
Read the FreqOUT! blog to see images taken on the day or contact Jenny Irish, Project Manager at JIrish@cwh.org.uk to find out how to get involved in future projects.
Vital Regeneration FreqOUT! - Museum of the Moment 19th-28th October 2007
Over a period of 3 weeks, artist Jennie Savage worked with young people, residents and businesses local to the Harrow Road collecting interviews, stories, and sounds from the street in order to turn the area into a 'Museum of the Moment'.
Museum of the Moment is essentially an audio archive of the area, where materials are collected using a variety of approaches. These include interviewing, documentary, personal diary texts, voice over, game playing and field recordings. 'Museum Of the Moment is a place where people could be heard, made visible.' says the artist.
The team was featured on the ITV news on Monday 29th October 2007 and on BBC London throughout Saturday 27th October 2007. The young Event Stewards who were guardians of the broadcast equipment and ambassadors for the project reported that they learnt a great deal about communicating with the public and their confidence was increased greatly through handing out leaflets and giving advice on how to access the broadcast to the public.
Other comments from the public included 'the experience was fantastic', and the ambassadors 'were helpful because they helped me to understand' and 'it was interesting to hear people talk about their local area, and good to hear young people interviewing older people'.
To find out more about the project, go to http://vitalregeneration.org/freqout/projects/museumofthemoment
theSeer open evening for Westminster's artistic talent 9th October 2007
Westminster City Council Arts Service held theSeer open evening at london print studio last Tuesday 9th October 2007.
Councillor Daniel Astaire, Cabinet Member for Customer and Community Services, opened the event by highlighting the contribution that theSeer has made to the creative sector in London. Dzifa Benson, a poet, writer and workshop facilitator has used theSeer to promote herself and was there with us on the evening to share her experience. ‘Since I signed up to theSeer the jobs came one after the other. They came to find me. ’
Westminster City Council Arts Service will be working on the suggestions raised on theSeer open evening. News on arts funding and the forthcoming launch of the Arts and Culture Strategy 2008-2013 will soon be available on theSeer - so watch this space!
Union Too and National Portrait Gallery presents Standing Bye 10th August 2007
Youth Dance Company Union Too made imaginative use of the National Portrait Gallery's spaces for a devised site-specific dance performance. Young people aged 14 - 21 participated in a week-long intensive dance course at the Urdang Academy.Entitled Standing Bye, the 30-minutes performance is inspired by the display of 20th Century paintings Artists and Sitters and sculptures. Young dancers in-pairs interacted as 'sitters' at the sofas at the IT Gallery located on the Ground Floor mezzanine, later leading audience up the stairs to reach the Balcony Gallery that displays Britain's changing status on the world stage. Performers moved with grace in front of the artworks themselves and brought both the space and works alive. Education Manager Joyce Gyimah is pleased with the success of the show.
For more information on Union Dance:
http://www.uniondance.co.uk
Takepart! Summer school 2007 6th – 9th August 2007
The participants created their own music, physical theatre and movement performances based on themes from the musical Carmen. One participant, Sophie Orwell, shared her thoughts on the school: "It was a fantastic learning experience because we were able to work with many different professionals. We also learnt about team work in a supportive environment with a different style, unlike sports events which we are used to at schools."
For more details go to
http://www.eno.org/src/baylis_email.pdf
Music Village 2007 Saturday 28th July – Sunday 29th July 2007
On the last weekend in July Hyde Park played host to Europe’s longest running cultural music festival. Festival Director Prakash Daswani explained that event celebrates London’s status as being "a magnet for migration from across the globe - and a crucible for cross-cultural creativity". He said, "the Music Village encourages intercultural contact, dialogue and understanding in order to allow a shared vision of the future to emerge, based on mutual curiosity, respect and engagement."
It was the 23rd festival, and the second time Cultural Co-operation have held the event using their ‘London: Diaspora Capital’ network. This is a network of artists from London’s Diaspora communities, and the festival line up featured talented performers from cultures all over the world. Acts included a Chinese opera, a traditional Ethiopian band, and performers from Trinidad, Palestine, Greece and more. The festival was free and attendees from different faiths, cultures and countries soaked up the rich cultural atmosphere together in the park.
Prakash reported that the event was a great success with over 15,000 people attending over the two days. He said, "we were blessed with two days of dry weather and this helped to bring a very large, diverse and appreciative audience for both days of the event to an extraordinarily beautiful area of this very popular location, right in the heart of the city".
Next year’s Music Village will focus on China. For more information go to www.culturalco-operation.org.
Critical Mass Saturday 21st July and Sunday 22nd July 2007 Almeida Theatre
Performed by Streetwise Opera and The Shout
Critical Mass is a collaboration between Streetwise Opera and the alternative vocal ensemble The Shout. Participants of Streetwise Opera took part in the company’s four weekly music workshops in homeless centres across London. They shared songs of their memories – a Jewish hymn, lullabies from the Caribbean and Polish folk songs. The songs shared were made into a new opera by composer Orlando Gough, devised and directed by Emma Bernard.
Drama students from schools volunteered at
I am so thrilled to be part of this production. I’ve met some wonderful people and learnt a great deal. Matt is a visionary – the fundamental idea of opening people up to one another through art seems to be at the heart of Streetwise Opera and the world can learn from its example. I long to see more theatrical projects which are fuelled by so much boldness and love. Thanks and well done to everybody!
The performance was a great success with very positive feedback. The Times described the performance as ‘a powerful plea for the acceptance of loners and outsiders...and was performed with wonderful energy, assurance, intensity and spontaneity.' (Credit: Richard Morrison)
To find out more about Streetwise Opera go to http://www.streetwiseopera.org/.
SouthWestFest 2007 Sunday 1 July – Sunday 15 July 2007
For two weeks South West London hosted a series of spectacular events, including a carnival parade, theatre and cinema showings, art and photographic exhibitions, music and sporting events and more. A variety of community groups and professional organisations planned the exciting schedule to celebrate the community spirit of Westminster.
Members of the public not only turned up to enjoy the event but also participated in the organisation and running of the events, helping to make the festival a success. Festival Chair Jane Buttigieg said “this year has been bigger and better, and it just goes to show how important it is to bring everyone together. A big thanks to all the groups, volunteers and sponsors who made this happen”.
Although the Festival is over, SW1Radio continues its broadcast for the community, by the community on www.sw1radio.net until the end of September. Plans for the 5th Anniversary of SouthWestFest in 2008 will begin in the Autumn – to get involved contact 020 7931 7999 or email info@southwestfest.org.uk.
Sing London Precious Memories – A Treasure Chest of Song 29 June & 4 July 2007
Abbey Community Centre, St Mary's Hospital and 60 St Penfold residential home
Connaught Opera touched the hearts of many in local residential homes with their music of excellent quality and their respect to memories.
Westminster City Council commissioned Connaught Opera to deliver 3 concerts for older people in residential settings who otherwise could not have participated in Sing London, a week-long festival to get the whole of London singing. The event was a huge success and has enabled local people to take part in a positive singing experience in a familiar environment.
The interactive format of the concert was welcomed as artists spent time with patients and were able to understand there were different needs among them. The songs evoked strong emotions in some while created a quiet special moment in others. Some participants described how the concert brought out the best of their youth.
Participants with dementia and would normally find it hard to carry out a conversation were able to follow along with the songs and sang them word perfect. One participant has recently lost her husband after a long illness and this was her first trip following the funeral, she said after listening to the performance that it gave her new lease of life.
2008 Westminster City Council. Contact the Council
