End of the Year Review Part 2
I am proud and delighted to be able to continue celebrating, even in these trying times, our local creative community’s innovative and inspiring ways of providing us with much needed engagement, stimulation, and support.
Skylight Circus Arts celebrated 30 years of professionally delivering circus skills activities with an uplifting, stimulating live video event, Skylight’s
Birthday Bash. We were given a chance to custard pie Jim, to watch a live performance from their Spotlight troupe, and under the direction of Martine share lots of memories and giggles.
Ebor Studio’s Gallery Frank started a programme of online exhibitions, the first of which was a collection of prints, ceramics and painting by Rahela Khan. All the exhibitions were shared on instagram @ eborstudio and then archived on the website.
Sculptor Angela Tait started a daily clay diary as a response to the current unprecedented situation. It was Angela’s way of ‘giving routine to this strange and disconcerting way of living that will also provide a personal and social account of the events as they unfold.’
Cartwheel Arts launched a new website full of fun activities to join in with at home, promoting creative exploration and wellbeing whilst in lockdown or isolation. With young families and adults in mind the programme broke down into three strands: Draw the Day, a range of visual arts activities for families and adults with 30 dedicated videos; Explore the Day, a booklet full of walking activities making every day an adventure for children and families at home; Feel the Day, a weekly creative activity focused on wellbeing, techniques for anxiety or guided relaxation for us to wind down and restart for the week ahead.
VIBE Creative’s young people continued to be creative, initially through Zoom and then in Covid-19-secure sessions and workshops. Guitars were built, played, and taken home; a new comedy character was created; a three-piece band formed; a photography lightbox built and used to produce some exciting images and great progress made on a novel. VIBE supporter and trustee, our very own Sue Devaney, made a hugely successful return to the cobbles, after first appearing in Coronation Street as a cafe worker in 1984, Sue returned as Kevin Webster’s villainous sister, Debbie.
Another VIBE supporter and trustee, local actor/ filmmaker Parvez Qadir produced ‘My week in lockdown’ a powerful new short film of artistic responses to the coronavirus crisis, exploring and documenting the impact of the pandemic, with their life for a week under quarantine.