PUPIL REFERRAL UNIT

BAF in partnership with ‘Y Cwch Gwenin Cyf’

In Feb and March, Juliet, Sally and Ruth delivered a pilot project at a local pupil referral unit. This was based on ‘emotional literacy’ and the aim was to enable the participants to explore boundaries and learn trust through creativity and play. They were there for 7 sessions the last one with ‘African Link’ drummer Steve Murphy. They all learned a lot from this project and feel that there is scope for further exploration and development for ‘Big Art Factory’ in this particular area of special needs

MURAL

The first BAF project, funded by the Social Risk Fund, was to work with16-18 year olds in the Conwy area who were not in full-time employment or education, and including young offenders, to research, design and then paint a substantial mural in a frequently used subway leading into the town that had been subject to extensive vandalism and graffiti. This generated considerable interest, and has led to requests for further such projects, including interest from the NSPCC.

Steve Pitts has also designed a new logo for BAf  which is now being used and is on our home page

RIVER FESTIVAL

BAF in partnership with ‘Y Cwch Gwenin Cyf’

The River Festival project preparation and initial design work started at the end of July and many of the mural volunteers helped on this. Following on from last year’s success we wanted to put on an even more spectacular event. The theme for this year was based on a Japanese story and it was planned to put on a mask/ puppet show as well as the lantern parade. The week of the festival was again based in the marquee on the quay, and consisted of finalizing the large structures for the lanterns, masks and puppets with a rehearsal for the play on the last day. There were also the ‘drop in’ sessions when younger children could make smaller items to take away. The play and the final lantern parade were well received and the organizers of the festival were very happy with the outcome.

MINNEAPOLIS VISIT

In April and May, 2 artists who are involved with ‘Big Art Factory’ Ruth and Steve obtained Arts Council funding to go to work as volunteers with ‘Heart of the Beast’ Mask and Puppet Theatre in Minneapolis USA for the 30^th May Day parade and Celebration. This gave them both the opportunity to work on a very large scale community project. They worked alongside artists from other cultures and with a wide range of expertise and skills. They were also able to learn directing techniques from Sandy Speiler, the founder and director of this internationally recognized theatre, and to be part of the parade and the performance. This was an invaluable experience and they have brought back with them many new and innovative ideas and techniques, which they hope to use in future work here.

MORE LANTERNS, MURALS AND SOME RAILWAYS!

Jane in her new role as organizer for the Conwy Feast asked BAF to organize a lantern parade for the launch of the festival in October, as well as the official opening by the mayor of the tunnel mural. Jenny, Ruth and Steve worked with year 3 and 4 in Ysgol Porth y Felin and Gyffin Pupil Referral Unit, to make individual and large ‘fruit and vegetable’ lanterns for this.

During the evening the new BAFTA (Big Art Factory Training in the Arts) awards were given to 11 young people who worked on the mural and river festival projects. Steve Pitts and Faye O’Brien were also given their Millennium Volunteer Awards. Even though the weather was very bad, some of the children came to walk in the lantern parade and were thanked by the mayor for their contributions.

In October Ruth was invited to see some public art works on rural railways in Huddersfield. This was to see if there could be a similar initiative for the Conwy Valley Line. Watch this space!

BAF in partnership with ‘Y Cwch Gwenin Cyf’

Ruth and Steve are currently working on a large lantern ‘installation’ made up of at least 8 ships! This is for Barnholdswick, a small town in Lancashire, who have secured funding for school residencies in 4 Lancashire schools, as well as community venues leading up to the evening of events. There will also be a light show with another group projecting images onto the lanterns, after which they will be lit. They hope to learn more from these lighting experts, and who knows, we may have some light projections in next years’ River Festival!