Recent Projects

Building on our work last summer with Callington College and primary schools, and the BSO Resonate Strings, we are now focussing on singing development in the cluster.

The Caradon Voices performance on 9 July is a celebration of singing and the Olympic values by St Mellion, Harrow Barrow, Calstock, Pensilva, Stoke Climsland and St Dominic primary schools supported by Callington Community College.

On 3 May, pupils and teachers worked with Andy Baker from the BSO to create their own song entitled ‘Unity’ which will form the finale to the concert. The schools will also work with Angela Renshaw from Sing to Success and Adrian Balletto, Head of Music at Callington to learn another 3 songs representing various parts of the world which will be performed as a massed choir of 200 children – we expect to raise the roof!

For more info contact Helen Reynolds helen.reynolds@keap.org.uk

Cornish Music Students Conduct with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Ever wanted to be a real life maestro? This week 6 Cornish music students got the chance to find out in an orchestral conducting masterclass with Portuguese conductor Rui Pinheiro and the ‘Resonate’ string quintet from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Part of a week long residency in Cornwall by ‘Resonate’ working with Kernow Education Arts Partnership and Music Cornwall, the conducting masterclass hosted by Bodmin College gave music students an opportunity to conduct a professional string quintet, and get direction and tips from an international conductor.

‘Opportunities such as these are what is so valuable about our partnership with the BSO. Giving Cornish young people the chance to work with musicians of this calibre inspires and motivates them, taking them on the next step of their musical career’ Helen Reynolds from KEAP.

The young conductors from Callington Community College, Wadebridge School and Budehaven Community College came together on Monday at Bodmin College’s new performance space The Studio. Each student chose a piece to conduct including Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusick Handel’s Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba, and took direction from Rui Pinheiro, the BSO’s Assisstant Conductor as well as the musicians themselves. Tips included ‘doing less’ and showing the shape of the music with your hands – not as easy as it sounds!

Katya Padlyevs’ka from Callington Community College said, ‘What a brilliant workshop!  My colleagues and I have thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt from it.  Students too found it very educational and interesting.’

The rest of the residency included a performance of 150 young people at Launceston Town Hall with Music Cornwall String Ensembles and young composers from Treviglas Community College and Newquay Tretherras Academy, plus Music and Science workshops at Goonhilly Earth Station with primary schools from the Lizard.

Helen Reynolds from KEAP added, ‘This is the third large scale project with Andy Baker from the BSO and the Resonate String Quintet and they get more ambitious every time! We’re already talking about next year!’

More than 400 children and young people from the Bodmin area will be spending the next three months working with local artists to create a vast canvas covering a 50 metre area along the route of the Olympic Torch Relay.
 
Officers from Cornwall Council’s localism service and artists from Kernow Education Arts Partnership (KEAP) will be working with children from 12 local schools, two youth groups and the local children’s centre on the ambitious project to create a visual celebration of Bodmin.
 
The aim of the project, which is being funded in partnership with Feast, the local schools, the children’s centre and Cornwall Council, is to produce a series of 16 1.5 x 2metre colourful and eye catching canvases which will then be displayed along the route of the Torch Relay through Bodmin on 19 May.
 
Helen Reynolds from KEAP says ‘I’m really excited to be involved in this project and believe in the power of cluster working.  When schools and other settings work together they can create something with so much more impact and visibility, which engages the whole community.’
 
The project is being launched this week with the lead local artist named as Michelle O’Connor.   Michelle O’Connor has lots of experience in working with local schools and community groups to create community art pieces.
 
“This project will create large scale pieces of art that the children will be proud of seeing as the Torch goes past their work” said Community Network Manager Sarah Sims who is helping to co-ordinate the project.  “The canvases will then be hung for posterity in their schools for everyone to see.”
 
The project has the support of the three local Cornwall Councillors – Lance Kennedy, Ann Kerridge and Pat Rogerson – each of whom is making a contribution to the costs from their Community Chest grants.
 
“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.
 
For more information please contact Helen Reynolds at KEAP on 01872 275187 or helen.reynolds@keap.org.uk

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

Join us for The Big Sing on the Beach at Watergate Bay!

Friday 15 June 2012 from 6pm

The Big Sing on the Beach is a celebration of Cornwall’s coastline and community through song, dance and art. Listen and join in with community choirs, watch dancers and a brass band, and eat and drink at The Beach Hut barbeque and bar right on the sand. The event is informal, free to attend, and everyone is welcome!

The Big Sing Schools’ Day on the beach at Porthcothan

Thursday 21 June 2012 from 10am to 2.30pm

We also run a day on the beach for schools.

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.

The day will be action packed with workshops led by Jane Darke, film maker and director of The Wrecking Season, Andrew Tebbs community artist, Angela Renshaw from Sing to Success and dance leaders.  It will include a visit to Jane’s house to view the collections.

More information here

Writing Squad members at Port Eliot Festival

Writing Squad Kernow is designed to inspire and nurture young writers in Cornwall aged from13-19. Led by writer Anna Murphy and Amanda Harris from Kernow Education Arts Partnership, we meet monthly on a Saturday to write in different styles, meet other professional writers in different fields and write to commission. 

In 2010-11 we worked with:
• Jane Pugh writer for film, theatre and short stories
• Simon Parker editor at the Western Morning News, writer of plays and short stories and publisher of Scryfa.
• Nick Brennan cartoonist
• Clare Grove producer of drama for BBC radio

Writing Squad publication 'The Man with No Shoes'

We worked with The Eden Project on their marketing to young people. We published The Man with No Shoes and Other Stories with eighteen short stories written by  members of the Squad and fully illustrated.  This was in partnership with Stories4change and is part of their programme with schools in Malawi to create stories for older children to read to younger children. 
Members of the Squad read their stories at the Port Eliot Festival in July.

Comments from Squad members
What have you most enjoyed?
The freedom to express my writing in a fun environment and meeting with like minded people.
Meeting other people who share my interests, and the adults who come and chat to us about what they do.
From a parent – She loved it and was very inspired and excited…  saying things like ‘I wish it was every week’

What impact have they had on your writing?
I feel it has helped me become more creative and have more of a drive to write
I definitely think my writing has improved due to the workshops and if anything, have made me more interested in writing.
From a parent – Sam has enjoyed the variety of sessions and has grown in confidence both in his speaking listening and writing. Sam is keen to develop his writing into a career.  

The Writing Squad Kernow is very pleased to be supported by the Clore Duffield Foundation and its next project is a commission to write stories for the Shop for Theatre project in Falmouth in December 2012.

For further information amanda.harris@keap.org.uk

WSK Schools Programme

How can your school increase the potential of your Gifted and Talented young writers?
How can you give them the experiences they need to develop an interest in a career in writing?

The answer is working with the Writing Squad Kernow Schools Programme from Kernow Education Arts Partnership.

We have a range of professional writers of all genres who will work with your students, to give them an insight into different writing disciplines, new skills in writing and inspire them to go further. From playwrights to journalists, poets to novelists, we can tailor the programme to the needs of your students.

It was an absolutely fantastic day! Jane was brilliant; the pupils enjoyed themselves, were challenged and learnt tonnes (as did I!) …working with mixed ages and people they (the students) didn’t know really added to the learning. Penryn College
The Programme
We can develop a programme ranging from a one off full day’s work with students and teachers to a term’s work with a product at the end or any of the following:

• Inset session for teachers
• Full day with students where they get to try all 4 genres – imagination laxatives, screenwriting, poetry and journalism
• Follow up work on a regular weekly or monthly basis 
• Final product or event – take over of school magazine, publication, readings in assembly, lunchtime events, a new media interactive story, the school soap opera as examples. 

Cost
Minimum fee of £265 per day per writer. Longer programmes of work can be developed and costed accordingly.

KEAP will contract the writers and create the link with both school and writer and ensure that there are clear lines of communication and objectives are shared.  We shall also link the programme of work into the wider cultural field and ensure we can maximise opportunities for the students’ work to be shared. All the writers have a current CRB.

To book a writer and discuss a programme of work, contact Amanda Harris at Kernow Education Arts Partnership on 01872 275187 or amanda.harris@keap.org.uk

KEAP has been involved with Truro’s City of Lights lantern parade for a number of years. Each year it gets bigger and better with 2011 seeing twenty schools and community groups participate with their own lanterns and over a hundred musicians.

Neil Scott from Totally Truro said, “This was the best event I have ever witnessed in Truro – it was spine-tingling! A wonderful event that showcases the City of Truro and its capacity to embrace and engage with the creative, residential, visitor and business communities.”

Treyew, Archbishop Benson and Threemilestone all ran their own events as did Kennall Vale in Ponsanooth, St Day and Stithians. In fact winter light celebrations are illuminating a whole host of villages and towns across Cornwall. The artists and organisers of City of Lights have reconstituted to create an organisation which can support evolving outdoor celebrations further a field.

This new organisation will be able to support in many areas including artistic construction and workshops, music and dance and also all those nitty gritty issues around health and safety and partnerships. One of the key projects in the year will still be to deliver Truro City of Lights.

Feedback from participating schools included, ‘It was a truly tremendous occasion – wouldn’t miss it for the world!! Loved walking right behind a band!’ 
 
‘I’d just like to say thank you, on behalf of myself and my students, for a fantastically rewarding experience in taking part in the City of Lights parade last night.’

 For further information about the City of Lights event contact the project manager claire@eventcornwall.co.uk or for information about schools participation in City of Lights 2011 contact helen.reynolds@keap.org.uk

www.trurocityoflights.co.uk