ALL ABOARDInclusive Arts Festival 2007

WHAT WE WANTED TO DO

1. Discover the Possible

2. Make it Happen

3. Keep it Going

1. To Discover the Possible: consultation and research

• The Consultation Group met 11 times.

• 50 people attended. 12 formed a core group.

• The group took part in a training event run by Artsplan: Access all areas: Youth and Disability Arts.

• The group facilitated training for volunteers.

The group included

• Parents/carers• Voluntary groups : (W’ton

Parents SEN & D Forum)• Schools (Broadmeadow and

Penn Hall, Penn Fields)• Professionals: (Children’s

Information Service; Sensory Inclusion Service)

• Mencap: The Discoverers

• Arts workers• Arts Organisations (BCT,

CYT, Arena Theatre, Grand Theatre, Blue Eyed Soul Dance co, Gazebo, Village Playhouse, Zip)

• NAC staff & board members

• Volunteers

Experience of children with disabilities

Experience of the arts

Consultation Group

• workshops

• performers

• support

• transport

• access

• catering

• marketing

• volunteers

• training

• signage & print

• recording & evaluation

“The consultation process was meaningful (not just ownership exercise for its own sake).

Contacts with schools for consultations and school assembly were well thought out and delivered with sensitivity and regard for problems at school.”

NS Smestow Partnership

Consulting young people

• Feedback from inclusive workshops

• Consultation workshop at Feb Half Term (videoed)

• Consultation workshops in 5 special schools

What they wanted to do

• Art and craft

• Dance – varying sorts

• Circus skills

• Stage skills – stage fighting, stage make-up etc

What would encourage them to come

• Good performers and activities

• Transport

• Coming with friends and family

• Easy access on site

Workshops• Choosing appropriate workshops and

leaders– Eg Sign Dance and Soundbeam

• Offering support with transport – Taxis? Community Transport?

• Support with carers.– Volunteers, family, trained carers

• Appropriate marketing– Via special schools, simple layout

• October 2006– Spooky Friends– Roots and Routes (7-13)

• February 2007– Adventures with Sound

(Soundbeam) (7+ & 10+)– Fun with Felt (7+ & 10+)– Sign Dance (7+ & 10+)– Bhangra Babes (2-6)– Brainwaves: Design your own

festival.(7+)• Easter 07

– Paper Lanterns (2-6 & 7+)– Junk Percussion (7+ & 10+)– Circus Skills (7+ & 10+)

• May/June 07– Shadow Puppets– String Puppets– Hand Puppets– Dance together

• July 07 – Pirate Week (7-13)– Record a CV (11+)– START (2-6 yrs)

• Making Things• Bhangra Babes• Animal Tales

• October 07– START: Autumn Art– South Asian Dance taster

2. To make it happen: Inclusive Children’s Arts Festival

An event that disabled and non-disabled children can enjoy on an equal basis.

Attendance

• Over 700 people took part in the event.

• 8% are known to have a disability – the actual figure will be higher

• In distributing the flyers – 26,000 went to mainstream primary schools and 1,000 (4%) to special schools

Arts Festival – Objectives

• An inclusive dance performance project• Multi-cultural performances • Performances from a disability arts company.• Arts workshops designed by/for children with

disabilities and special needs, for all children• Arts workshops run by artists with disabilities• Opportunities for young performers of all

abilities.

Inclusive Dance Projectwith

Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company

Inclusive Dance Project

• 8 workshops in schools and 1 open workshop at NAC

• Reached 45 disabled and 85 non disabled pupils

• 16 took part in a week’s art and dance residency over Summer Half Term at NAC and a day’s rehearsal

• 2 performances of Darkness into Light.

Feedback from families & audience

• “I was really moved by the quality of the work, it was truly beautiful.”

• “It was so good to see something with meaning, feelings and purpose and so well done and to see the faces of the participants collecting their applause.”

• “That was amazing and my daughter has loved being part of this project.”

• “This has such wider implications for my daughter, she has learnt about other children, understood what it might mean to be disabled in the world, made friends and learnt to be patient and understanding, thank you so much.”

• Having never seen inclusive dance before, the Blue-Eyed Soul production with such a range of ages and abilities was amazing and inspirational “

Multi cultural performances

• “Many different ethnicities and cultures were represented on the day.”

– Wolverhampton ADHD Family Support Group

• “Lots of people talk about events being multi-cultural, but this one really is”

– Tim Byron (Zoot the Clown)

• “ This is the most inclusive event I have been to – it is good to see local talent appearing alongside professional acts”

- Professor Pop up

Performances from a disability arts company

Community Groups

Acting Up

The Discoverers

Gazebo

Arts workshops designed by/for children with disabilities and special needs, for all children

Arts workshops run by artists with disabilities

Workshops

• Soundbeam• Mouse on the Move• Dance with Schani

Cave• Percussion with Junk

Beats, Sekwense and Gatis St

• Clay work

• Digital Art• Stage Fighting• Yoga• Bhangra• Break Dance• Drama• Music Making

Opportunities for young performers of all abilities.

• Kuumba Arts

• Village Playhouse Youth Theatre

• Acting Up

• All Stars Cheerleaders

• Transit Trix Break Dance

• Azaad Dhol

• From Darkness into Light

What we wanted to achieve

To promote enjoyment, achievement, equality and understanding among disabled and non-disabled children by running a festival in which all children can take part on an equal basis.

A very successful day with a high proportion of disabled participants at festival and workshops. Positive feedback from all participants.

To promote an understanding of the needs and capabilities of disabled children within the arts.

Wants: Want to do the same as everyone else

Needs: Transport, one-to-one support. Breaking down barriers to schools,

parents, leaders.

To increase the number of disabled children taking part in arts activities at the Newhampton Arts Centre.

Both at festival and workshops

To increase the provision for disabled children in arts activities in Wolverhampton

Where next?

To develop the expertise of interested adults and young people to promote further developments in this area.

How? Consultation group?

Feedback

• “Amazing, brilliant!. Can’t put it into words. We have never stopped at a Fun Day all day before”

• “Absolutely awesome”• “It’s been a really fun day. I liked not being left

out”• Big Smile • The All Aboard Arts Fun Day was a sincere

celebration of the diversity of our community and a dynamic demonstration of much that makes Wolverhampton a great city.”

What we have learned

• It’s hard work.

• It takes time and commitment

• It needs money and resources to do it properly

• Funding applications are very time consuming.

• Barriers are psychological as much as physical

Funding & Costs

Lloyds TSB 2000.

Eveson Trust 3000.

Social Services 400

Trusthouse Foundation 5000

Co-operative community fund 2500

Arts Council England 22640

  35540

Consultation Group 2500

Workshops 2006-7 4000

Dance Project 7715

Festival 18500

Workshops 2007-8 2825

35540

What else we have learned

•Transport•Support : one-to-one•Training – workshop leaders, supporters, volunteers.•Mixture of activities – inclusive and disabled focused•Print and signage

Keeping it Going: Follow-up Aims

• Incorporate lessons into future planning at NAC • Share experience with other venues and organisations in the city.

• Create an annual event for families with children with disabilities (with Include me Too?)

• Performance project at the Arena Theatre for October 2007.

• Arts Forum for children with disabilities and special needs in Wolverhampton. This could include networking, advising, lobbying or organising and seeking funding for further events.

What Next?