kneehight are delighted to tell you their new, free app, Walk with Me, is now live. Featuring stories collected across Cornwall, it’s a lovely way to explore the sights and sounds of this amazing county in a unique way. They hope you love it as much as they do!

They’re keen to share this with as many people as possible – local people and visitors alike – and hope you can help spread the word. In addition to the app, some of the stories have been brought to life in short animations by local artists and they’ve just released the first of these on their website. Feel free to share, or host on your website too. Keep an eye on our Instagram (WeAreKneehigh) as we release new images inspired by the stories every day this week.

Photo by Steve Tanner

If you’d like to test the app but aren’t feeling particularly active, you can listen to the stories in armchair mode.

 

WRITING SQUAD KERNOW 2014-15

The Writing Squad Kernow is a group of talented, enthusiastic, committed young writers aged between thirteen and nineteen from across Cornwall.  The group is managed by Kernow Education Arts Partnership (KEAP) and the lead writer is poet, playwright, short story writer and cultural creator Annamaria Murphy who works regularly for BBC Radio, Kneehigh, Rogue Theatre, c-scape dance and The Story Republic.

The aim of the group is to create an environment in which creative writing is the norm and where the young writers have the chance write in a variety of genres and work with a range of different writers.  We are also very linked up with Cornish cultural events and activities and we seek commissions for the young writers so that they are writing for a purpose and also that their work is being seen by a wider audience.

This year the writing squad will be meeting several times in the year and taking part in half and full day activities.  Each session will involve workshops with professional writers and the work is often read or performed as part of local festivals and events.

We will be recruiting in September 2015 for new members to take us into the following year.

For further information contact Amanda Harris 07712331421 amanda.harris@keap.org.uk

Hall For Cornwall

Monday 19 January 2015

Matinee 2pm; evening 7.30pm

In a celebration of Cornish minority status, local secondary schools are using drama to explore the cultural distinctiveness that is unique to Cornwall.  Eleven schools and two youth drama groups will create a matinee and evening programme exploring that distinctiveness through myth and reality, heroes that have shaped the way we look at ourselves and taking the plays of our great playwright Nick Darke as a starting point.

Into the mix will go North Cornwall giants, West Cornwall mermaids, miners, pirates, Tregeagle, Hell’s Mouth and Humphry Davy alongside Rick Rescorla.  Add in a large quantity of talent, enthusiasm and youthful energy to create an explosive programme of theatre and entertainment.

Showcasing young Cornish talent, each school has a ten minute slot to perform their piece. “This may seem like a short time but in fact you can create a whole world in ten minutes and explore complex stories and emotions,” says producer Dave Hunter. Some will be challenging, others hilarious, some moving – none will be the same.

The showcase is produced by KEAP and Hall For Cornwall and is now in its sixth year.  “This event is one of the highlights of our year, as we are invariably amazed by the ingenuity and talent of our young people and their teachers. They deserve a huge audience!” said Amanda Harris, director KEAP.

Tickets are £9 or £6.50, with concessions and school rates available. Your ticket price includes a £1 Theatre Fund for the preservation of the theatre for future generations. A £1.50 handling charge is added to each transaction.  Call the Hall For Cornwall Box Office on 01872 262466 or book online at www.hallforcornwall.co.uk.

 For further information contact Helen Reynolds.  helen.reynolds@keap.org.uk 07771981094

 Participating school:  Humphry Davy, Helston, Cornwall College St Austell, Bodmin, Wadebridge, St Ives, Penrice, Looe, Redruth, Callington and Treviglas.  Also Cornwall Youth Theatre and Monster Theatre from Hayle.

 

 

On a cold, wet Monday in January, Hall for Cornwall was alive with drama performances by secondary students inspired by one of Cornwall’s finest poets, Charles Causley.

Causley loved poetry and also the theatre. A Carousel of Causley married these two passions in a festive day celebrating his poetry through drama and music. Students from 15 secondary schools across Cornwall each created a theatrical moment from poems such as Timothy Winters, Francesco de la Vega, What has Happened to Lulu, The Ballad of the Breadman and Mevagissey as well as an extract from his play, commissioned by Kneehigh, The Tinderbox.

2013 marks the tenth anniversary of Causley’s death which makes it an important moment to ensure that his work is enjoyed by a new generation of young readers and writers and to spark their imagination. Causley was among the most important poets of his generation and lived for most of his life in Launceston where he worked as a teacher.

Each school and Cornwall Youth Theatre has taken a poem and found a way to illuminate it to share with audiences. KEAP’s producer, Dave Hunter said, “As to be expected, Cornish schools have excelled in the ingenuity and wide range of theatrical approaches to Causley’s poems”. We are also very grateful to local musician Rick Williams who created a beautiful song from Causley’s ‘Tell me, tell me Sarah Jane’ which was performed to great applause by the girls choir from Treviglas.

This is the fourth year of the Secondary Drama Showcase and this year was co-produced by Kernow Education Arts Partnership and the Hall for Cornwall “It is such an exciting event. I am always delighted by the inventiveness and energy of the productions and would recommend it to any one.” Amanda
Harris, Director KEAP.

Images by Sean Hurlock

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The Big Sing Schools Day on the Beach was inspired by the Darke Visions Festival, the celebration of playwright and environmentalist Nick Darke.

It is a day to explore the beach and its processes, discover things that have washed up and their origins, express some of these things through dance and art and join in a massed sing at the end of the day.

This year we welcomed St Agnes, Indian Queens, Sandy Hill, The Bishops and Gwinear primary schools to Porthcothan for a day of workshops led by Jane Darke, film maker and director of The Wrecking Season, Andrew Tebbs community artist, Angela Renshaw from Sing to Success and dancer Lois Taylor and UCF Dance students.  For the first time this year, Mia and Patrick from The Red Cross joined us to run a workshop on Migration, using the context of our coast line to help children understand what it might be like to have to leave your home.

The weather was typical for this year’s summer but our enthusiasm prevailed, and even though we all got a bit wet during our final sing, spirits stayed high.

Feedback from teachers:

‘Very inspirational and provokd in depth learning across the curriculum’

‘We used all the teaching resources and they were really useful’

‘Lois [dance leader] really engaged my class’

‘All my class loved the day. We are looking at the beach differently now…’

Feedback from children:

‘Jane showed me so much about the beach I did not know’

‘I will try and use less plastic now’

‘I learned that the Red Cross is a company that helps people in tsunamies’

‘[I learned that] things get washed up on the beach from different countries’

 

School Banners Welcome Olympic Torch to Bodmin

Beautiful works of art created by children and young people in Bodmin adorned a building site as the Olympic Torch made its way into Bodmin.

10 primary schools, the Children’s Centre and the Ark Community Centre have spent the last couple of months creating canvas banners to brighten up an empty building plot at the bottom of Dennison Road in Bodmin. The banners depicted the local area, and what the children most loved about their school and community. Working with lead artist Michelle O’Connor, the groups came up with designs which included their school logos and mottos, special places in the surrounding area, and important people from Bodmin.

The Bodmin Olympic Torch Art project was devised by Sarah Sims, Cornwall Council Community Network Manager, to celebrate Bodmin and bring the local schools and community groups together. Sarah contacted Feast for support with funding, who brought KEAP on board to project manage. The project has also been supported by Cornwall Councillors Lance Kennedy, Ann Kerridge and Pat Rogerson and the schools themselves. 

“I think this is a great opportunity to involve young people in celebrating both Bodmin and the Olympic torch” said Ann Kerridge.
 
“I’m delighted that this project includes children of all ages.’ said Pat Rogerson. 
 
“Like my Cornwall Council colleagues I am pleased to support Sarah Sims the network manager and her team who have worked hard to produce this eye catching event, the credit is theirs” said Lance Kennedy.

Helen Reynolds, Project Manager from KEAP said, ‘This project highlights the important place of art, and the Cultural Olympiad within London 2012. The children and young people who took part really feel connected to the Olympics and have been able to show their pride and love for the places where they live for the world to see, as the Olympic Torch goes past.’

The project was featured both on the BBC national news with correspondent Robert Hall interviewing children from St Wenn primary, and on ITV Westcountry with an interview with the artist.

For more information please contact Helen Reynolds at KEAP on 01872 275187 or helen.reynolds@keap.org.uk

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Shakespeare Inspires is an exploration by young people in secondary schools across Cornwall of Shakespeare’s plays, themes, characters and ideas which has been granted the Inspire Mark by the London 2012 Inspire programme.   Managed by Kernow Education Arts Partnership (KEAP) fifteen schools from across Cornwall came together at the Hall for Cornwall in January to perform in a gala event celebrating the bard, his place in our culture and youthful creativity and dynamism.

“The pupils at Hayle are still buzzing and have come away with such enthusiasm for Shakespeare and Theatre and are already clamouring to take part again next year.”

The London 2012 Inspire programme recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 Shakespeare Inspires has itself been inspired by many things including the RSC’s World Shakespeare Festival, the opportunity for young performers to share work together and to take inspiration from each other, a chance to really delve into the work of our national and international playwright in new and innovative ways and to feel part of a community of theatre makers in Cornwall and beyond. By gaining the Inspire Mark this event is now part of a huge sporting and cultural programme committed to the values of respect, excellence and friendship.  It’s also true to say that this event was one of the first of Festival Programme in the south west.

 Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said: Shakespeare Inspires is encouraging young people to fulfil their potential. I am proud that with the help of partners such as KEAP we are delivering our vision to use the power of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to boost participation in high quality cultural events.

 “We are delighted that our Shakespeare showcase has been included in the Inspire Programme.  This is really exciting for the young theatre makers in Cornwall to know that their work is part of this bigger cultural event.  And even more that that they can participate in this major sporting event without having to run a hundred metres or leap high bars!”  Amanda Harris, Director, KEAP.

Shakespeare Inspires was the third annual secondary drama showcase highlighting the talents of Cornwall’s students.

“It is so uplifting to see youngsters from around the county displaying their talents… yesterday our Head of English was discussing the next section of work with her year 9 students.  She told them that they would be studying Shakespeare, she was extremely surprised when the majority of the class cheered.  Shakespeare really has inspired them.” Paul Graham, Hayle

“I saw quite a few of the groups and I have to say I thought the standard was excellent.” Chris Alexander, Stage Manager, Hall for Cornwall

“Another big thank you for a wonderful evening on Monday – the standard was so high, we really enjoyed the whole experience and it was so well organized by wonderful staff! And well done to all the schools – amazing stuff!”  Wendy Polley, The Roseland
 
“It was a truly wonderful experience and a once in a lifetime chance that we all embraced!!! Thankyou!”  Treviglas student

What do a string quintet, Goonhilly Earth Station, groups of young musicians and song writers and a Portuguese conductor have in common? They are all elements of the exciting and inspirational ‘Resonate’ music residency in Cornwall in the first week in May.

‘Resonate’ is the String Quintet from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and their visit has been co-ordinated by Kernow Education Arts Partnership (KEAP) with Music Cornwall and MADE (formerly Music & Dance Education).

The theme of space and communication has been inspired by Goonhilly and the new vision for the site. “This partnership with the BSO is so rich and creates so many opportunities for young people to work with high quality musicians” said Amanda Harris, Director of KEAP

The week begins with a visit to Doubletrees School on Monday 30th April and then an open orchestral conducting masterclass with Rui Pinheiro at Bodmin College where Cornish students and teachers will get the chance to conduct the string quintet under Rui’s direction.

At 6pm on Tuesday, Launceston Town Hall will ring out with new compositions by students from Treviglas and Tretherras Schools in Newquay who have been working with the BSO’s Community Musician Andy Baker, and Music Cornwall string ensembles from Newquay, Launceston, Camelford and
Liskeard. The performance is open to all so please come along and join us! Free tickets available from Helen Reynolds at KEAP on 01872 275187.

Exploring the links between science, technology and music, Wednesday finds the musicians with primary school children from Germoe, St Madderns and Porthleven at Goonhilly Earth Station where they will create new music under the shadow of Arthur, the huge satellite antenna. Maybe their compositions
will be heard in the far reaches of the galaxy?

The following day the quintet is spilt like light through a prism as the String Quartet work alongside Chris Morgan and MADE in 2 early years settings in Falmouth & Penryn, and Andy Baker hosts teachers and children from 8 schools in the Callington area to create a new song around the Olympic Values.
“They must be working with over 300 children and their teachers this week in a hugely varied programme. This partnership with the orchestra is very inspiring and will leave a lasting memory in the minds of the young musicians, and in the musicians’ I suspect! ” said Helen Reynolds from KEAP.

To find out more contact Helen Reynolds helen.reynolds@keap.org.uk

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Feedback from participants in the last KEAP and Music Cornwall project with the BSO:

‘It was magical to play with other schools and talented musicians as an orchestra. It was an opportunity that the children will never forget’  Gorran Primary

‘All children have been motivated to practise and play their best, it worked perfectly despite us all being of different standards, everyone could contribute at their level of skill.’ Gorran Primary

‘The children came back much more enthusiastic about their lessons with some saying they would like to have music as a career when they are older.’  Launceston Primary

‘I enjoyed playing with six hundred children, it was a fantastic experience.‘ Pupil from Launceston Primary

‘At first I was a little bit nervous but when we started playing, my nerves went.’ Pupil from St Minver Primary

‘It was amazing and we even ended up on YouTube for all the right reasons!’ Pupil from Lanlivery Primary

What is the Next Generation?  It’s a moment in time to reflect upon what are the ingredients that make good arts in education or arts with young people here in the South West – though blogs as I understand have no geographical boundaries.  Why now?  Well the Arts Council in their strategic framework for the Arts ‘Achieving Great Art for Everyone’ has highlighted in its Goal Five that ‘Every child and young person has the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts’.  Hurrah!  So now is the time to highlight some of the great work that is going on in the region and to debate what makes it great and how we can learn from each other.  KEAP has tendered to initiate this debate.

Two weeks ago we put out a call for examples of innovative, interesting and inspiring work and my email has been red hot with people nominating projects.  They can only be categorised by their huge variety!  From a Gold Arts Award student in Camborne Community College creating a piece of theatre about how children in care often carried all their belongings in black plastic bags each time they moved home, when shown to people of influence, this changed local authority policy, to a dance project in Plymouth which started with 6 young dancer leaders and spread to 10,000 participants in Dance Explosion. 

This week I have attended a CYMAZ music session in the Methodist hall in my village with young people creating their own reggae surf song for recording on CYMAZ radio, the celebration of ‘Scene and Heard’ a media project we have run with CYMAZ with hard to reach young people exploring issues through photography, cartooning and podcasting for radio.  Wednesday am visiting Travelling Light Theatre Company in Bristol and Thursday the BBC Concert Orchestra visit Plymouth to plan their family orchestras for Devon and Cornwall linked to the Cultural Olympiad.  A rich mix!

Over the next six weeks we want to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and experiences – you can also add links to project pages, images or film.

It’s now over to you!