IMPACT REPORT2011
WHAT WE DO
HEADLINES What we did in 2010
Engaged 1,986 people with learning disabilities in the arts
Trained 52 people with learning disabilities in arts industry related jobs
Impact Report 2011
Enabled 10 volunteers to work at our events
Created 1 unique website
Provided 394 hours of artistic support and training
Involved 127 performers with learning disabilities
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Live Events
Partnered with 12 new organisations
Entertained over 10,000 people at our Pop Tent clubsoda.org.uk
Exciting events that include live music, DJs, film, theatre and performance art. We are particularly proud to produce work by artists with learning disabilities at our events and promote their work to our diverse audience. Our events are always special for their unique atmosphere where people come to be entertained as well as dance, sing, socialise & drink without fear of prejudice.
Workshops We deliver a range of arts based workshops that anyone can attend for free. All workshops are designed to include participants of all abilities and are delivered by artists with and without learning disabilities. Participants get a chance to put what they have learnt in to practice by performing at a Club Soda live event.
Sp
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Paid 33 people with learning disabilities for the work they did
Councillor Bashford
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Produced 2 films
“The work of all the people involved in Club Soda is absolutely fantastic.”
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Wedn esday 24th March 2010
Training We offer training to anyone with a learning disability interested in working in the arts. In 2010 we offered training courses in front of house, technical and marketing skills. 52 people trained with us and many of the trainees went on to do work experience, become volunteers or staff.
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ABOUT US Club Soda produces arts events and activities led by people with learning disabilities. We support people to develop their artistic ability through running high quality arts workshops. We also provide training in arts jobs and offer volunteering and work experience placements. We aim to produce professional arts events that are diverse and inclusive and above all empower people with learning disabilities to make all the creative decisions. We are especially proud to give opportunities for emerging artists with learning disabilities to develop and present their work with us. We work with a variety of partners, in both artistic and social fields. We also consider ourselves part of a growing disability arts culture pioneered by arts organisations such as Heart ‘n’ Soul, Carousel, Action Space and Mind the Gap; working to make the arts more inclusive, accessible and fair.
LIVE EVENTS
“Opportunities for people with learning difficulties to perform are rare. Club Soda is a vital resource helping our students with their confidence and socialising skills.”
We produced four big live events in 2010 featuring live music, theatre, film, karaoke, live art and much more. All events are produced and run by people with learning disabilities.
Mark Richardson, Carousel Impact Report 2011
Claire Taylor, Inc. Theatre
Stuart Murdoch, Greengoose
“Club Soda are pioneers of community led arts”
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“Performing at Club Soda was a great experience for our artists.”
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POP TENT “The Club Soda Pop Tent was particularly outstanding, the inclusivity was a stroke of genius.” Vivien Stapley, Newcastle
MEDIA In 2010 we teamed up with itrainmedia to deliver training opportunities for people with learning disabilities in film-making and using social media. Several of the trainees were keen to start using their new skills regularly and so they formed the Media Team with the aim of promoting Club Soda and the issues that we care about.
The Media Team’s first project was a documentary film, Shift the Shift, which raises awareness of the problems experienced by some people with learning disabilities when they want to go to live events and stay right until the end.
Thousands of people came to our Pop Tent as part of Croydon Summer Festival in July. It was by far the biggest showcase yet for many Club Soda artists and other performers. Amongst the highlights was ‘the world’s best’ Michael Jackson impersonator and Catherine O’Rourke, an inspirational singer-songwriter with learning disabilities destined to be a big pop star. The Pop Tent also featured Dirty Beach who created a seating area made entirely of sand! In the week leading up to Pop Tent we ran Pop Week, 7 days of art workshops open to the public where people could help create decoration for the Pop Tent. It was really successful with loads of people turning out to get involved.
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“The training has inspired me to train others.” Troy, trainee “The media team are leading the way for other people with learning disabilities in Croydon to get involved in the arts by creating their own promotional material and using social media to engage new audiences.” itrainmedia
The second film the Media Team produced in 2010 is called, What is Club Soda? A short film that sets out to inform people about Club Soda whilst capturing what they might know already. All the Media Team’s films can be seen on YouTube and on our website.
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MUSIC
“Club Soda helps me get out there and have fans and stuff. I am really passionate about my music and having loads of fans. I love having fans asking me for my autograph it’s fantastic…I love it.” Catherine O’Rourke, artist
“Club Soda was one of the best nights Heavy Load have played - A great vibe with proper music!” Mick, Heavy Load
We regularly support people with learning disabilities to develop their skills and interest in making music and DJ’ing as well as giving many people an opportunity to perform live. One of our most popular events in 2010 was a special gig headlined by Heavy Load (a pioneering punk band featuring musicians with learning disabilities) in support of our campaign, Shift the Shift, which raises awareness of people’s right to stay out as late as they want to.
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Impact Report 2011
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Lizzie Emeh (above), a long standing friend of Club Soda, has performed at the club. After 10 years of writing and performing, she is the first person with a learning disability to have a full album release.
THEATRE
“It was brilliant to be at the birth of ‘The Big White Light.’ We have continued to follow their work ever since. We feel our partnership has been a strong one.” Tim Wheeler, Mind The Gap
“This felt like an extremely valuable piece of work….engaging what appeared to be a very mixed audience with an original piece of theatre.” Noah Birksted-Breen for Arts Council Theatre company Big White Light are a group of actors with learning disabilities. Since 2007, when the company formed, they have worked with some of the UK’s most interesting, diverse and inclusive theatre companies and artists. In 2010 a series of clowning workshops led by performer Frank Wurzinger led to the devising of Zebra, a first solo show which the company worked on with Matthew Blacklock of Ragroof Theatre. The company regularly run workshops and create bespoke performances for partner organisations and stakeholders.
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“Big White Light are a company with a progressive approach. They are full of ideas, imagination, commitment and courage. It was a pleasure to work with them.” Pete Glanville, Little Angel Theatre
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ART
TRAINING
“I can truly say I am a more rounded media professional.” Caroline Dodd, trainee
Club Soda engages artists with learning disabilities in a new and exciting way. In early 2010 three artists got the chance to use a public art gallery in The Clocktower as an ‘open studio’ for 3 weeks. The artists, Delroy Ford, Lenya Chrisanthou and Robert Lovejoy worked alongside professionally trained artist-mentors, who helped them produce their own exhibition at the end of the three weeks, and sell selected pieces of work to public.
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Impact Report 2011
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In 2010 we gave arts jobs training to 52 people. Trainees, who were able to choose from courses in Front of House, Photo & Film, Marketing or Technical, were given a taste of what it is like to work in a professional arts organisation. 15 trainees were given the opportunity to have an extended work experience placement with Clocktower Arts over several months. This project was supported by Clocktower Arts and the Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA).
“My media training at Club Soda has opened my eyes and opened new doors.” Chrissie, trainee clubsoda.org.uk
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WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID “Being able to perform at Club Soda has really helped develop my self confidence.” Robert Heywood, performer
“Club Soda is up there as one of the best clubs of its kind in the country. It’s so important that people with learning disabilities have nights like this so they can express themselves artistically and socialise. But also it’s a great way for Croydon to demonstrate how it values the involvement of people with learning disabilities in the Borough.” Paul Richards, artist
“The members of the Big White Light Company were tireless in their commitment to the project and achieved a very high level of skills as a consequence. The performances were received with ovations by audiences in Croydon and North London.” Adrian Berry, Jacksons Lane
“Club Soda is the only event of its kind in the area where adults with a learning disability (from those who are quite able to those with complicated needs and profound learning disabilities) can have a drink and a dance safely in a positive accepting inclusive environment. ” Paul Barnard, Senior Day Services Officer
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“Quite simply there’s nothing else like it! Club Soda is the beating heart of the venue and something that Croydon should stand on the rooftops and shout about….. or at least do a little dance for! From the surreal to the sublime Club Soda makes the place come alive and is far and away the best night out in town.” Sam Hunt, Clocktower Arts
“I always look forward to performing at Club Soda, it’s so exciting.”
“I love coming to Club Soda, its great fun getting on stage.”
Elle Mayne, Greengoose performer
Vincent Hastings, performer
“Club Soda has consistently provided a great range of opportunities and events for people with learning disabilities, both at the Croydon Clocktower complex and in the local community. The fantastic live events, the Big White Light Theatre Company and the Media Crew have been just some of the invaluable initiatives that have given people with disabilities the chance to express themselves, be creative, learn new skills, find jobs and have fun. Staff at Club Soda provide the highest quality support to each individual, working in a person-centred, respectful and sensitive way. At a time when most people with learning disabilities still need to feel safe and supported as they try to take on more roles in society, the fine work that Club Soda does, provides secure stepping stones to help move from dependence and compliance to independence, choice and control.” Andrew Slegg, Croydon Council clubsoda.org.uk
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FUTURE PLANS a i d e m l a i c so In 2011 we want to produce even better Club Soda live events. We plan to keep running regular workshops throughout the year in dj’ing, theatre, film & art, all led by artists with learning disabilities. We will spend much more time using social media to spread the word about our events and opportunities. The Media Team hope to start work on a very exciting project that they have thought up. It’s called ‘Soda Stream’ and will be an online magazine, which will contain loads of cool, user generated features, images and reviews of places to go out in Croydon, London, and beyond. The best things is that it will be produced entirely by people with learning disabilities with the aim that it shall be completely accessible to everyone, which is something a lot of magazines just aren’t, sadly. We are also planning a festival next year with another Pop Tent; Big White Light are hoping to create a street theatre performance out in India and our DJs will go on tour. We wish to continue our excellent partnerships with Clocktower Arts, Croydon Council, itrainmedia, Heart ‘n’ Soul and our other valued associates.
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regular workshops
e n i z a g a m online r o o d t u o an l a v i t s e f summer a i d n I o t p i a tr
partnerships clubsoda.org.uk
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with thanks to our funders in 2010