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Image from www.silvercitysoul.me
Welcome to the Arts Development Programme April - June 2011 As well as our programme of classes, held in various community venues around Aberdeen, this Spring programme also features the following projects: Aberdeen Potters trip to Regensburg in December and their involvement in the Social Initiatives Christmas Market. Our Story Exhibition in Aberdeen Art Gallery from 7 March - 18 June, featuring artwork from seven regeneration areas in Aberdeen. Silver City Soul, a film project which depicts the ‘real’ Aberdeen on show at the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh 28 April - 6 June. Twinning Project: Burgerfest 2011, a physical theatre performance piece and collaboration between Arts Development, Aberdeen Performing Arts, citymoves and Danceworxx who are based in Regensburg. The Arts Development team would like to thank everyone who attended the WhiteSpace Open Day last year, including the Lord Provost Peter Stephen, Director Annette Bruton and Service Manager Neil Bruce. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to listen to speeches and take part in free art workshops. Throughout the course of the day the team reminisced with staff, partners, artists and participants. Photographs can be viewed on our website: www.artsdevelopment.co.uk programme apr-june2011.indd 2
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Booking Information All workshops should be booked through the WhiteSpace office, unless stated otherwise, on 01224 523640. Places on workshops are limited, to secure a space please call us as soon as possible. Unfortunately places cannot be confirmed without payment, which can be made by credit or debit card over the telephone. Payment can also be made by cheque or postal order made payable to Aberdeen City Council. We reserve the right to cancel a class or workshop if advance bookings are low in numbers, and also to cancel any booking if payment has not been made two weeks prior to the class, unless an alternative arrangement has been made with staff. If you would like to attend a workshop, but are struggling to meet the costs, then please get in touch. We aim to offer a high standard of workshops to participants and welcome any comments or suggestions. Please contact WhiteSpace 01224 523640, or email ewinram@aberdeencity.gov.uk. Individual Learning Account Arts Development is ILA approved, and we offer a range of art courses that can be paid for through your ILA account. If you are eligible for an ILA, you can apply for money towards the cost of your studies. ILA Scotland is a government scheme for people with an income of £22,000 per year or less, or who are in receipt of benefits. The money is not a loan – so you don’t have to pay any of it back. Please contact ILA Scotland for information. To request an application pack: Telephone 0808 100 1090 or log on to www.ilascotland.org.uk Arts Development Membership Membership costs £12 per year and is available to City residents only. For your fee you will receive: • • • •
10% off the total cost of a workshop of your choice A copy of the programme delivered in advance of general circulation Invites to exhibition openings and launches throughout the year 10% off purchases at The Artists Pad
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Adult Evening Classes at Ruthrieston Community Centre Figure Drawing and Painting Mondays, 18 April - 27 June 6.30 - 8.30pm £100 for 10 sessions (ILA approved) Excluding the public holiday on 2 May Come along to this informative class and learn how to draw the human body. Using a posed model each week, you will be taught the basics of anatomical drawing, as well as learning how to capture the form, tone and shape of the figure using different materials. The class is held in a friendly and encouraging atmosphere, led by an experienced tutor. No experience required.
Jewellery Making Wednesdays, 20 April - 22 June 7.00 - 9.00pm £100 for 10 sessions (ILA approved)
a small fee may incur dependending on materials used
Due to high demand a second class will now take place on Tuesdays. Tuesdays, 19 April - 21 June 7.00 - 9.00pm £100 for 10 sessions (Pending ILA approval) a small fee may incur dependending on materials used
This class is suitable for beginners or intermediate level. Techniques such as wax carving for casting, cuttlefish casting and stone setting will be taught. Class members work on their own individual projects with advice, demonstrations and one to one guidance where necessary. Participants will aim to design and produce at least one piece of finished jewellery.
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Adult Evening Classes at Tullos Community Centre Stained Glass Mondays, 18 April - 27 June 6.30 - 8.30pm £100 for 10 sessions (ILA approved) Excluding the public holiday on 2 May Learn a traditional skill in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Using established techniques, this class will show you how to design, cut and lead your own stained glass panel. Our friendly and experienced tutor will guide you through all aspects of this age old craft to produce a unique work of art. No experience necessary.
Beaded Jewellery Mondays, 18 April - 27 June 6.30 - 8.30pm £80 for 8 sessions (ILA approved) Excluding 2, 9 and 16 May Join this fun and informative class where you will learn to make jewellery using beads, making items such as necklaces or bracelets. This is an informal and friendly class that does not require any previous experience.
Silver City Soul Project Who and what makes Aberdeen what it is today? This collaborative film portrait of the City - based on its characters, communities and landscapes, aims to create a set of images in response to this question. The project is inspired by paintings by 19th century Aberdonian artists William Dyce and John Phillip, from The National Galleries of Scotland and Aberdeen Art Gallery collections. The people of Aberdeen have been invited to represent themselves and their City, this work will form part of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery’s ‘Portrait of the Nation’ project. Log on to www.silvercitysoul.me to join this exciting initiative to represent the ‘real’ Aberdeen. The film will be featured as part of an exhibition held in the National Galleries of Scotland, IT Gallery and the National Gallery Complex, 28 April – 6 June 2011 and also at Aberdeen Art Gallery in Spring 2012.
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Our Story Project - Part Two The culmination of this exciting project is the ‘Our Story’ exhibition, on display in Aberdeen Art Gallery from 7 May – 18 June 2011, involving works by people from seven regeneration areas in the City.
Project Area Update - Torry In Torry, an exciting intergenerational project was established with local adult residents group, Torry Arts. They collaborated with young people from Tullos and Walker Road Primary Schools. The adult volunteers had the opportunity to learn new practical and creative skills from professional artists and share their own past and present experiences and knowledge with pupils. The lead artists and community volunteers helped pupils create collages and folded sketchbooks. These sketchbooks housed ideas used to shape the final intergenerational artworks. The artworks took the form of textiles, illustration, digital collage and resin casts. The final pieces will be installed in a small environment within the gallery space capturing the community and creative spirit of one of the oldest parts of the City.
www.artsdevelopment.co.uk www.flickr.com/photos/artsdevelopment/ programme apr-june2011.indd 6
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Project Area Update - Stockethill The Cornhill Adult Art Group, based in Stockethill, have been creating artworks illustrating short stories and poems in response to an archive of photographs found in Cornhill Community Centre. These photographs depict scenes of life in the Stockethill and Rosehill areas from the 1940’s to 1980’s. It has been very interesting for the group to reflect on how the idea of community has changed over the years. For the ‘Our Story’ exhibition the group have presented 3 stages of the process: the original photograph, some prose inspired by the photograph and a related piece of artwork developed from the piece. The archive of photos have inspired other projects in the area, for example, an adult group went through the photographs scanning and repairing the images where required. There was also a family photo session during a community open day where people re-enacted scenes from a different decade. Volunteer picture framing sessions were also held so that photographs could be displayed at the Community Centre.
Project Area Update - Woodside In Woodside, Arts Development have recently worked with two different groups to create artworks for the Printfield Community Garden. Photographs of the projects open day, highlighting screenprinting and woodcarving made by the groups for the local area will be on display at Aberdeen Art Gallery as part of the ‘Our Story’ exhibition. An adult art group have also been working with artist Kelly-Anne Shankland to develop their drawing and painting skills. They have been inspired by the area they live in as well as visits to Aberdeen Art Gallery, Peacock Visual Arts and the work of artist Frances Walker. The group produced a series of collagraph prints for the Art Gallery exhibition after learning experimental techniques at Peacock Visual Arts.
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Project Area Update - Northfield/Cummings Park Printmakers William Moulding and Joanne Gannon kicked off the second part of the ‘Our Story’ project in Cummings Park, working with ten young people from the P7 class at Bramble Brae Primary School. The group worked together over ten weeks in an after school club to produce portraits of themselves and of their area, using mediums such as drawing, printmaking techniques and sewing to make 3-dimensional self portraits. Bramble Brae pupils also worked alongside community volunteers who took part in the ‘Our Story’ project in 2010, swapping photographs and stories about the local area and working together to produce screen-printed work about their local area, which will feature in the exhibition.
Project Area Update - Middlefield As part of the ‘Our Story’ project, young people created a Middlefield Mini Me Army, using Kid Robot Mini Munny’s to make their alter egos and to explore the vibrancy and energy within the Middlefield community. The idea was inspired by Anthony Gormley’s Terracotta Army. As part of the programme of activities at Aberdeen Art Gallery, young visitors will have the opportunity to design their own ‘Mini Me’.
Project Area Update - Tillydrone The Tillydrone Art and Heritage Group have an interest in creative writing and recently produced a small collection of handmade books inspired by the Wallace Tower, which stands at the Tillydrone entrance to Seaton Park. They researched the tower and visited the City archives to gather further information to inspire their books. The group felt it was important to share their knowledge and stories with local pupils. Workshops were set up with Riverbank School, supported by Arts Development, and storytelling sessions were delivered to create further storybooks with the pupils, which were inspired by the Wallace Tower. During this project the adult and children’s group worked together to produce a boxed set of imaginative story books, of ‘goings on,’ in and around the tower. programme apr-june2011.indd 8
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Project Area Update - Seaton The Seaton Art and History Group have been researching and developing the ‘Guide to Seaton’, a web site and publication to encourage people to rediscover the Seaton area and appreciate what is available locally. The group have been exploring Seaton House and Lord Hay, St Mary’s Church, the Seaton Pottery and The Links. The group have encouraged the rest of the community to contribute through various events and talks.
Our Story Exhibition/Workshops Talk - ‘Guided Walk around Seaton’ Storytelling Sessions inspired by the Wallace Tower Family Art Workshop - ‘Make a Mini Me’ Intergenerational Art Workshop - ‘Creating Together’ Family Art Workshop - ‘Make a Sketchbook’ Presentation – ‘Developing your own Oral History Project’ Arts Training for Summer Play Scheme Volunteers Details of these workshops to be confirmed, further information coming soon!
Image: Carpet Bowls at Northfield Community Centre, 1961 programme apr-june2011.indd 9
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Dyce Community Centre News Dyce Community Centre is the new base for the Aberdeen Potters, a group of independent ceramicists. The sixteen potters meet once a week to develop their own artistic practice and work on projects. They also receive tuition from two other ceramic artists. Aberdeen Potters meet on Thursday mornings, and currently the group is at full capacity. However, if you are interested in finding out more or would like to offer support in some way, then please contact Sheila Jones c/o WhiteSpace. Recently Aberdeen Potters, along with the Arts Development team, were invited to make items for the Christmas Market of the Social Initiatives, in Aberdeen’s twin City of Regensburg, Germany. The group offered an array of Christmas themed ceramics, from hanging porcelain tree decorations to stag brooches, bringing a truly Scottish feel to the stall. Despite the heavy snow and bitter cold, the City’s markets were well attended by locals and tourists alike, giving the potters ample time to talk through the products they had on display and the ethos behind their group. Arts Development staff members were also on hand to talk about the community work carried out in Aberdeen, as well as discuss the twinning projects that are evolving year to year between the Cities of Aberdeen and Regensburg. All money raised was donated to charity.
Dyce Princesses Play Areas Arts Development have been invited to develop two play areas in Dyce to restore them into vibrant and colourful spaces for children to enjoy. They are located in Princess Walk and Crescent. Consultations with local residents are underway through Neighbourhood Planning Officer Ruth Morris who has raised funding for this project through local environmental charity, Aberdeen Forward.
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Adult Classes at Dyce Community Centre Drawing and Painting Techniques Taster Block at Dyce Wednesdays, 4 - 25 May 10am - 12noon £55 for 4 sessions (ILA approved) Join these taster sessions where you will have the chance to explore a different drawing and painting technique each week. This class is ideal for beginners, as full guidance will be given and is equally suitable for those who want to add some exciting new techniques to their repertoire. Techniques will include charcoal lift and pen and ink. No experience necessary.
Catherine Street Knitting Group The Catherine Street Knitting Group meet on a Wednesday, 1.30 – 3.30pm at Catherine Street Community Centre, (just off George Street) Aberdeen. This is a chance to come along to knit, crochet, chat, be inspired, share knowledge, ideas and contribute to group projects and charity knitting. Bring along your needles, yarn and £1 (to cover your tea/coffee and a fine piece). There is no tuition in this group but there is a willingness to share skills. For information please contact WhiteSpace on 01224 523640.
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A partnership project with Aberdeen Performing Arts offering: • • • • •
Exhibition opportunities, promotion and support for artists and new graduates Collaborative exhibitions First solo exhibitions Internships Arts Development projects
If you are interested in submitting a proposal to exhibit, please contact Kelly Shankland for information: artatthelemontree@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Twinning Project - Burgerfest 2011 Between 20 and 27 June a group of eight young people from Aberdeen will take a performance piece based on the novel ‘Clockwork’ to Regensburg. During their time in Regensburg they will work with other young people from the Von Muller Gymnasium and dance students from Danceworxx to finish the piece. It will then be performed at various locations throughout Burgerfest. This project is supported by an Aberdeen City Council’s twinning grant working in partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts and citymoves. The piece will also be performed during the Aberdeen International Youth Festival 2011.
Workshop Suggestions We are currently looking for new workshop ideas for our forthcoming programme. If you are an artist and have an idea for a class – it can be as short as a few hours or as long as ten weeks, then please get in touch. For more information and a submission form please log on to; http://artsdevelopment.wordpress.com/page/2/ or e-mail Kelly at kmcmeekin@aberdeencity.gov.uk Telephone: 01224 523646 programme apr-june2011.indd 12
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Under 5’s Class at The Gordon Highlanders Museum Tiny Titians at The Gordon Highlanders Museum Parents and children are invited to come along to these special taster sessions aimed at the under 5’s. Children will be encouraged to be playful and use their imaginations. During this class our artist will guide you and your child through various creative processes to make fabulous artworks together. This class will be held in a safe and friendly environment. Please note that adults must stay with children at all times. Fridays, 10 and 24 June 11.00am -12.00noon £25 for 2 sessions (price for one adult and one child)
Public Art Project - The Green Art Engagement is a research and participatory public art project led by Arts Development, focusing on the impact the arts can have on a area, community and the City as a whole. As part of the project, visual artist Amy Marletta was commissioned to develop a project within The Green, engaging with local people and presenting a final piece at the site. Amy says of her experience; “Exploring The Green started off as a lonely endeavour but soon became rooted in social interaction. It’s an area with a rich history to be googled and read about, but what about stories shared between people there now? Stories filled with ambiguities and half-truths passed on from one person at the bar to another. This project is an investigation sprung through chance encounters, a trail of clues and experiences to be collected, re-arranged and re-presented. Through creating a series of portraits of local people by local artists and recording people’s memories and stories, the project will be shaped as it unfolds, culminating in a one-off event to take place on The Green in late March.”
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Older Peoples Programme April - June Listed below are our workshops for Older People, which are funded by the Common Good Fund. This extensive programme now incorporates new venues at Ruthrieston and Airyhall Community Centres. Drawing and Painting at Duthie Park Make the most of your drawing and painting skills whilst working with a local artist in a relaxed and friendly environment. £20 for 10 weeks Mondays 9 May -11 July 10.00am – 1.00pm Mondays 9 May -11 July 1.30 - 4.30pm Thursdays 5 May -7 July 10.00am -1.00pm Thursdays 5 May – 7 July 1.30 - 4.30pm Fridays 6 May - 8 July 10.00am – 1.00pm Drawing and Painting at Hanover Street Community Centre £20 for 10 weeks Wednesdays, 11 May - 13 July 1.30 - 3.30pm
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Creative Stitchery at Duthie Park £12 for 6 weeks Tuesdays 3 May -14 June (excluding 17 May) 10.00am -12.00noon Wednesdays 4 May -15 June (excluding 18 May) 10.00am -12.00noon Wednesdays 4 May -15 June (excluding 18 May) 1.30 - 3.30pm Drawing and Painting at Broomhill Activity Centre £10 membership Thursdays To book or for further information, call Broomhill Activity Centre on (01224) 316278 Drawing and Painting at Clifton Road Activity Centre £10 membership fee Mondays 2.00 – 4.00pm
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Card Making at Clifton Road Activity Centre
Drawing and Painting at Dyce Community Centre
£10 membership fee
£2.50 per session
Thursdays 10.00am – 12noon To book or for further information, call Clifton Road Activity Centre on (01224) 486425
Tuesdays 1.30 – 3.30pm To book or for further information, call Claire at Dyce Community Education Centre on (01224) 723344
Drawing and Painting at Airyhall Community School
Woodcarving at Ruthrieston Community Centre
£3.50 per session
5 sessions £20 22, 29 May, 5, 12, 19 June Sundays 1- 5pm
Fridays 9.30 – 11.30am or 12.00noon – 2.00pm To book or for more information, call Christine Reid, Airyhall Community Centre (01224) 498040
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Join this wood-sculpting workshop to try working with traditional tools in an innovative way.
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Volunteer Profile - Kathleen Ross
After the Gala event, I got a buzz from such a positive and rewarding experience and I have since developed and helped with a range of tasks. During the ‘Our Story’ Summer Parade Project I helped prepare for workshops, organised materials, prepared examples, templates and helped to finish off brooches, banners and t -shirts ready for the parade. I also helped to deliver workshops alongside other volunteers and artists in my own community, supporting young people from Torry to take part in the Aberdeen International Youth Festival. I have really enjoyed the working environment at WhiteSpace, helping to make up craft activity packs to support the recent Open Day made me feel part of a working team. As a result of my experience within such a friendly, welcoming team I have felt at home and I now feel less afraid of the thought of going back to work. My involvement has helped me slow down and feel less rushed, I can see the value in taking time to enjoy and complete tasks to a professional standard.
As a result of my involvement and opportunity to become a community volunteer, I am now an active member of the Torry Arts Forum. Through the Torry Arts group and with support from Arts Development I have taken part in a number of events over the last 6 months in Torry. My most recent project as a community volunteer is through the ‘Our Story’ Intergenerational Art Project, where I continue to work alongside professional artists to gain new skills like constructing books, sewing techniques and collage that I can pass on to young people taking part in the art project. I now continue to make and create at home with my own daughter and niece.
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