Workshops

LiveArts is committed to supporting younger and older people through its outreach programme of workshops. In the past five years, LiveArts has received funding for the workshops from the Local Network Fund (administered by Oxfordshire Community Foundation) and Cherwell District Council. In 2009, we received funding for our first intergenerational project from the Grassroots Fund administered by Oxfordshire Community Foundation, CharterPlus, Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council.
Over 800 young people and 33 older people have benefited from being part of the LiveArts annual workshop programmes.

The annual workshop programme is the most important work that LiveArts carries out in the wider community. LiveArts would like to be seen as an ‘enabler’ and act as a springboard from which new ideas can develop and help young and old to benefit from taking part.

LiveArts has worked with a range of professional artists who have helped to deliver workshops in the schools. In 2004, Circus Berzercus brought circus skills to Banbury and taught over 190 young people to juggle, balance and walk the tight rope on stage at St Mary’s. In 2005, Lava Band taught drumming and singing to both primary and secondary schools. In 2006, the internationally renowned singing group, Black Voices, was invited to teach African/Caribbean, Gospel and Jazz songs to over 150 primary school children. In March 2007, 90 young people from six Banbury Primary Schools were taught street-fusion jazz dance by Jazzcotech dance company who are one of the most versatile jazz dance groups in the UK. The students on this project also created their own backing track called ‘We All Belong’ which was used as the finale to the performance. Due to Jazzcotech’s popularity, they returned again in 2008 to teach 100 secondary school students who worked on a project called ‘Right Here, Right Now!’

In June 2009, LiveArts worked on its first intergenerational workshop programme with 120 year six students from Banbury primary schools and 33 adults from the community. The project was called ‘Bridging the Gap’ and involved salsa dancing and creative writing/photography & poetry taught over a four-week period leading to a celebratory event in St Mary’s in front of friends and family.

Older people from the community were recruited from building partnerships with groups such as WRVS, Age Concern, Times Gone By group at Banbury Museum, Banbury Rotary, local dance groups, members of St Mary’s, grandparents and parents of the children taking part, amongst others. Many of the participants had not danced before and this made their journey more challenging, but at the same time it was very enriching. ‘Bridging the Gap’ was one of the most exciting projects we have organised due in part to the enthusiasm and willingness of the children and adults to help each other succeed and find a common ground.

Every child and adult that has taken part in our workshops has developed new skills and grown in confidence. We want participants to feel they can express themselves in a creative and non-threatening environment that allows them to build their confidence and self-esteem. It has been a great privilege to work with all the participants and see them achieve so much in such a short time.

NEW SCHOOLS & COMMUNITY WORKSHOP PROGRAMME FOR 2010

‘VOCAL MIX’

Our 2010 project involves working across the age range on our second intergenerational workshop programme called ‘VOCAL MIX’. LiveArts would like to continue the success of the first intergenerational project by organising a singing workshop programme that incorporates time for the older and younger people to get to know one another. This will involve other activities as well as singing. All the participants will be on a level playing field and may, in fact, never have sung before.

If LiveArts is successful on receiving grants to fund this project, it hopes to work with an established company called ‘Sense of Sound’ who has vast experience of creating and delivering inclusive, accessible and enjoyable singing projects within the formal and informal education and public sectors. With over 16 years experience, the organisation prides itself on delivering high quality training that is accessible, enjoyable and rewarding for taking part. The organisation combines professional expertise with a social ethos.

Its model of training has been featured on BBC 2’s BAFTA award winning series The Choir; Boys Don’t Sing and was awarded a Pioneer for the Nation award from Her Majesty the Queen in recognition of the quality of its services to music and the community.

We have chosen singing for a variety of reasons. We believe that it is a great way of bringing the generations together – it is not only fun, but requires listening skills, team-work, a degree of trust, and many shared challenges along the way. Singing is also a way of improving one’s health, happiness and well-being. It is also a good workout for the brain! Building a community choir in this way could act as a springboard leading to other projects developing in the future.

It is hoped that the project will take place in June/July 2010 and involve up to 150 young people from five primary schools in Banbury. Depending on recruitment, it is hoped that up to 40 to 50 older people (aged 40+) will join the schools. The workshops will take place over four weeks leading to an event in St Mary’s that will celebrate their achievements.

LiveArts would like this project to lead to other initiatives taking place within the local community. Intergenerational practice aims to bring generations together in purposeful and collaborative activities that can mutually benefit both older and younger people. LiveArts would like to see the participants develop a mutual respect for each other and long-term relationships that can build towards other projects taking place in the future. This type of initiative can help to break down barriers and increase self-esteem through the process of sharing and giving.

Collaborating with organisations that work on intergenerational projects will help to provide an opportunity to address the needs of both young and older people and create a sustainable approach to the work being carried out across Oxfordshire.