URBAN III…Keep Thinking

What a crazy 10 days! URBAN III was a project developed by Together, for which I was the English leader. As team leader one of my responsibilities was to find 4 ‘motivated’ graffiti artists. I’m sure you are all familiar with the expression “never work with children or animals”…well im going to add graffiti artist in to that mix. It was totally impossible to tie them down to anything, let alone actually booking a ticket to Metz, where the project was taking place. Finally however (despite a fine line in excellent excuses including ’I have broken my toe, so I guess I wont be able to come to france any longer’ 3 days before we were due to leave) I and 4 others left for Metz!

During the APV in April, I and the four other leaders had planned workshops based on Graffiti Techniques, Communications and Documenting, Graffiti Animation and Graphic Design. I was in charge of the Communications and Documenting workshop, which I was to say the least a little nervous about, having NEVER made a film in my life. However in my group there were 3 very lovely girls who shared my work ethic and worker their absolute socks off! We spent the first few days exploring techniques which we were going to use, like time-lapse (a particular favourite of everyone’s), developing SLR photography skills and exploring the software we would use to make the film. It was a very steep learning curve for me having never made a film before, and having to teach others how to do so. I had to put in a lot of extra time in order to work out glitches. the next 4 days were spent interviewing people about graffiti and its role in society and taking photographs and film of people making graffiti, as well as discussing between ourselves how we could show these opinions in a visually exciting way.

It was amazing for me seeing how the participants had developed since the first day, and how they had taken on board what I had taught them about how to take good photos by using the right iso, shutterspeed and aperture, as well as thinking about the frame before they shot the image!

Finally we began to put the video together, this is where all our hard work paid off! Very quickly we began to see great results, just by setting videos or pictures to music it made them come alive! We realised that the music was very important to get right in order to make the video flow, so we spent a lot of time picking the right tracks for the right images.  The last part was the hardest and most boring…getting everything PERFECT! It took so much tweaking and extending of slide times, deleting miliseconds of videos, and adjusting subtitle entry and exit times in order to make it fit perfectly. However once it was all finished we were all very excited…but EXHAUSTED!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85QIw3A1Z4c 

I was so pleased with what we had created together, especially as somehow I had managed to make the workshop which I had planned and developed actually work. I was so happy that the girls enjoyed themselfs whilst making the video, and had learnt so much from doing so. There was a lot of talk about their next projects which made me even more excited at the idea that I has sparked some creative talent within them!  

Another success of the project was one of the participants.  To start with I was very worried about them, they didn’t want to be in Metz, and definitely didn’t want to work together with the other graffiti artists, which of course was the entire point of Urban III. However slowly, and with quite a lot of encouragement they started to come out of their shell, and to begin enjoying themself! What really struck me was when they said, “I’m amazed that everyone has just excepted me like they have”, The idea that anyone would not accept someone they know nothing about made me really sad.  The negative perception that they had of themself was holding them back. By then end of the week they were clearly enjoying themselves no end!: organising energisers in their free time and asking when they could come back and be part of another project. For me this participant was the reason why it is important to do residential projects over a longer period of time. They needed time to let down their defences and learn something about other people, and therefore about themselves, something they never would have done if they had not been taken outside their comfort zone for an extended period of time….however, taking them out of their comfort zone showed them that actually it really wasnt that comfortable!

As a result of me participating on Urban III I have been asked by Luc (the President of Together) to do Service Civic for Together for a year. I’m moving to France at the begging of August. I would like to take this rather public opportunity to say thank you to Liz and Helen and OYAP Trust who indirectly have given me this opportunity. Heaven knows what I would be doing now if it wasn’t for OYAP and the Young Creative Leadership Training! SO THANK YOU!

Art CAN’T make a difference if people DON’T want to take part!

A couple of weeks ago I had a bit of a break down, and told my mentor that I didn’t think it was possible to achieve the things that I want to achieve through art…for me actually this isn’t a bit of a break down it’s a massive break down. Everything I have been working towards for the last 3 years would have been a great big roundabout, with me just shooting round and round for 3 years, unable to get off!

However with a bit of hindsight, a sensible ear to listen to my rant, and some interest being shown in projects I have developed I’m back on track, and hopefully soon will be off the roundabout and shooting my way down the M1!

I think this disillusionment was mainly down to a lack of enthusiasm about a few projects that I have been arranging. How was I meant to use art to change the world if people didn’t want to change the world, or try on new things, or meet new people?

I never realised how icy a reception I would receive to certain projects, especially those which offers young people the chance to visit Europe! I suppose on paper, projects look a lot more official and a lot less fun, but how are we ever going to secure funding for projects if they sound like participants are going to have the time of their lives (which NATURALLY they will!)

I think motivation to participate is something that England struggles with! We have so many options and chances in today’s society that it is impossible  to decide which to choose…which will help us and which won’t?…so we just don’t chose at all! Working with Together showed me how willing young people from other counties are to get involved with projects in their community and that there isn’t always a stigma attached to taking part in extra curricular activities; But this stigma definitely exists for british young people!

I’m not sure what we can do about this stigma…but we need to do something! There are so many chances for young people to get involved with life changing activities, but they just shun them!

If you have any ideas…PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

Royal weddings, afternoon teas and a whole lot of sunshine!

Well hello there! …  my my haven’t we been busy!!

It’s been a while! I have been rather crazily busy! We’re 5 weeks away till Cowley Xchange launch! we’re getting all the final details sorted and getting very excited and looking forward to getting going with our participants! whoop!

Well I’ve been gigging with TheVeilFalls around the local Oxford scene. Had some great reports and compliments and loved having the chance to get out there on the scene. Even got stopped in the street by a guy who saw us gig and gave us great encouragement. Getting to sing  at events and commissions which is rather cool!

Also loved getting to see Mike in his other band Praxis Bold and hear a lot of their new material. They are playing in Brighton later this month! BOOM!  was a real privilege to sing with his band at one of their gigs and be part of the action. They are great musicians!

Had some time off recently so been getting into the arty side and looking to do more painting and creating, song writing and designing. I even went back to knitting a baby blanket and going back to arts and crafts and making jewellery.. getting right into the creative juices eh?!

OoOOo – and talking of artiness- for those who have been ‘watching this space’ I did get the job at Modern Art Oxford working on their Art Trolley so I get to do lots of fun creative things with families!

Have met with my mentor recently Janine which has been very helpful. Getting me to think passed my little bubble and see my pitfalls! always helpful, never comfortable! She is a very knowledgeable woman and actually a great aid and I think that we could possibly end up having more hang out time after this project!

Have spent a bit of time with a friend talking about photography and learning the new skills for Gold Arts Award. Lots of books for reading and getting to learn the lingo!  Have let it slipped a little but do want to get this nailed with taking good pics.

what else…? I spent time working with Dancin’ Oxford and working with Miranda and her team. Went to Brighton and spent time with Moving Voices and joined in their consultation and celebration sessions. I got to share about my involvement with Dancin’ Oxford and to share what I learned from my experience.
Also talking of dance – started to do more bits with my youth group again. I think summer just brings out the fun in activities so I am really really hoping to do a regular session with the girls and do some choreography and possibly showcase later on this year! Bring it on!

so all in all it’s been a  very active few weeks but the busiest is yet to come and the fun yet to be had. I am looking forward to having a successful ‘Cowley Xchange’ project and having great workshops with our participants and showcasing at Cowley Road Carnival. This should be a great time and event to look forward to! If you are from the Cowley Road area and want to get involved then get in touch!  you can get more details from our facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_180667935313840&ap=1

sorry to have left it so long…. I’ll try to not leave it so long next time….

xx   : p

APV for URBAN III – Metz

I am in Metz this weekend for the APV (Advanced Planning Visit) for Urban III. Shockingly to date I havent eaten a single easter egg on Easter sunday, but have had a hot cross bun as part of our intercultural dinner/breakfast…so not all is lost!

Sketchy arrival from the Estonian representative who lost his card in Brussels, and a mammoth 30 hours for the poor Bulgarian representative! It makes me really appreciate how lucky I was with traveling. 6 hours door to door!

There are 5 representatives for the APV; from Estonia, Bulgaria, England, Italy and The Czech Republic; But 35 participants all together, with Poland and France co-operating in Urban III as well.   

I wasn’t too sure what to expect from the APV or exactly what we would be covering,  but we now have a good (but suitably flexible) plan for the exchange. We discussed many possible workshops that we could run as part of the 10 day exchange, but finally decided on 3. They are Communications and Documenting, Graffiti Techniques, Graffiti Animation and Graphic Design. I will be running the Communications and Documenting Workshops. This will be a great for my leadership skills as the ‘Cowley Xchange’ begins the day that I return home.

We have also planned some interactive group workshops; These are based around the issues that graffiti creates in society and how they are dealt with both by the local governments and artits themself.  Hopefully the exchange will create and develop links between participants from the different participating counties and we will be able to create a youth network of grafiti artists across europe. The Exchange should also teach participants new skills and hopefully generate a wealth of art work; both  individual and collaborative.

I have learnt some good planning techniques (especially for timetabling…an essential skill when it comes to planning workshops, and something which I have found difficult in the past to do efficiently) I’m very much looking forward to the Youth exchange itself now….just need my English participants!

Numero dos:Gender Equality

We had a really interesting session on gender equality in society on Sunday. We started by discussing the positive and negative aspects of the roles of women in society. Sadly came up with a lot more negatives than positives. Eric spoke of the women in Guatemala being forced to do much of the work, not just in the home but also paid work to support their family’s. He said often they were forced to take on this role as

their husbands or fathers did nothing but drink and smoke; yet they still did not gain any respect within society.  As I am learning this is of course the case not just in Guatemala but can be seen all over the world.

In order to discuss this further and to create a visual campaign, we split in to groups and created 5 photographs which portrayed both the negative and positive roles of women. We portrayed sexual, domestic and pay equality, the maternal figure in society and women as educator to improve the future.  The latter point it was clear everyone considered the most important during the discussion afterwards. If change is going to occur women needed to be empowered. By educating them and showing them that gender equality and freedom from repression is their right will give them the strength to educate their children. If this happened the children would grow up surround by positive images of both men and women; Therefore would create a  world where both genders are treated as equals.  However it is inevitable that change will be slow.

In the western world. One issue which was raised was that feminism has gone too far! I think that sometimes it is expected of women to assume the role that men have in Europe especially in regard to mother hood and returning back to work before they are necessarily ready to do so. this damages their relationship with their children and therefore damages their children, which damages society! There is also the debate where women reject social eticate between men and women as they consider this to be discrimination against women, and suggesting that women can not adequately look after them selfs. However i am of the opinion that Chivalry is not dead!

Chile Numero uno: Snap Snap

Day Four in Chile! to date we have played many ‘energisers to get us in the mood for talking about Global Challenges. At the moment we are still getting to know each other and more about our backgrounds. There are 11 participants in total; 3 English, 1 Luxembourgian, 2 Poles, 3 Dominicans and 2 Guatemalans Jirkh and Emiliano the organisers, who provide much entertainment!

The thing we have been experiencing most is CULTURAL EXCHANGE!! and as you know as a reader of my blog…I’m very much up for a bit of cultural exchange! This is really helped by staying in host families. Erna, my lovely Chilean mother is a bit of a diva as we found out last night when we were invited to a 19 year olds birthday party which went on until the small hours. I have been totally overwhelmed by the  Chilean spirit. They are the MOST welcoming people I have EVER met in my life. We have been taken in to their close-knit community and excepted as family! Also much kissing; Every time you meet anyone you kiss them whether you have met them before or not! earlier today I felt awful as I forgot to kiss someone I met in the street. The Idea of such physical contact in England is just unheard of, except amongst close friends and family!

Another thing which has stuck me as amazing is the close relationship between adults and young people. There is so much respect for each other, which just doesn’t happen in england. It makes me quite jealous of the culture here. it’s definitely something that the British need to work on. Similarly with participation of young people in activities. I am discovering though our project that young people quite often just do not want to be involved with projects or creating art work, or making music. on the first night in Chile we went to the Casa de la Cultura (where the seminar is based) and watched a group of  about 30 teenagers (and one token 7-year-old) practice Queca dancing; the traditional dance of Chile. I was totally blown away by their willingness to participate. It was the equivalent of watching a room of British kids practice Morris dancing…it just wouldn’t happen! They were all clearly having an amazing time. apart from the fact that it gave them a chance to outrageously flirt with each other, they clearly were very much enjoying it! Even when the terribly trendy looking 18/19-year-old was asked to dance with the 7-year-old, he did so very enthusiastically!

The language barrier was a problem to start with, and we quickly noticed that english speaking people were sitting on one side of the room and spanish speaking on the other. This all changed quite quickly though, and we have found ways of communicating with each other. This has impressed me a lot, as clearly it is still possible to have a great relationship with someone despite not being able to communicate in the normal way.  Something which I think can definitely be built upon within my projects. There is a lot of hand gestures and making funny noises to explain things! (plus our wonderful translators, Eric (from Guatemala), Estha (from Dominican Republic), Filipe (the son of Erna) and Belen (Felipe’s prima/cousin!) Where would we be without them!

More comming soon!

“Give ‘em tea”…Leadership and Self Employment

Another crazy two days at OYAP thinking and learning about partnership working and self employment. Schedual D, QR Barcodes, intellectual Property, preconceptions, idea development and a lot about social networking online (which I have gone to town with…possibly a little early)

CRUMBS! Again a lot to take in and made me terrified about attributing everything correctly and also wary of where I put work of my own. (I have recently received an email from a friend threatening to take me to court over a photo of her that I put on Facebook after I told her about the need to attribute everything and the possibility of people using your work without permission or claiming it as their own. hopefully she will not follow her threat through!)

I’m also beginning to think about USP’s which seems to be a crazy concept. I hate the idea of having to sell myself to people. the only way I can sum up how hard I’m going to find this particular must is a sentence I wrote on the train home from Bicester; “what the FLIPPOS are my USP’s…I cannot even BEGIN to imagine what makes me unique from anyone else???” clearly this is something I’m going to have to work on, and I think it’s probaly something which will become clear as I become more confident in myself and my ideas! – Reputation and a recognisable profile will be the work of the next few years!

On to partnership now. which seems like an EXCELLENT strategy for excelling and achieving great things for all those involved! And the beginning of a good partnership begins apparently with a cup of tea. VERY true! You can never have enough tea.

What struck me most about the session on partnership was when Maddy, Emma and I planned an idea for an Art project that we could do with young people. The final concept that we came up with was OUTRAGEOUSLY flawed but very different to anything I would have ever come up with by myself, and therefore probably much more succinct and rounded and also achievable! It proved for me how important it is to work with other people so you have a broarder spectrum of Ideas and concepts which can lead to a much  more refined and therefore successful final project.

First blog…scary stuff!

So a week has now passed since our first two  training sessions, (which were insane!) Two days of much information cramming and brainstorming and chatting about youth arts…By tuesday afternoon we were all a little exhausted and over excited and coming up with some not very inspiring ideas about evaluation; but very comfortable with each other and also being at OYAP!

There are 10 of us altogether, and I cannot belive how well we all seemed to get on. It’s quite bizarre being in the same room with such a big group of young people who all have similar aims and ideas to my own, but also very inspiring and exciting!

I have a feeling that this next year is going to be a tough and a very steep learning curve, but I can not wait to get started now.  Seeing the Vicious Youth Premier on Thursday night made me even more excited about what I have somehow managed to get my self into. I just hope I can live up to my own expectations of my self!

A Perfect Day June 2010

A Perfect Day project brought together the members of Bicester Resource Centre and local pupils from Kings Meadow School to create a graffiti mural. The mural is hanging on the dinning room wall at Bicester Resource centre and is much loved.

To see the photos of this project see the link bellow.

http://beccart.wordpress.com/2010/11/09/a-perfect-day-in-action/

Success is the result of perspiration not

inspiration.

There I am, sitting down to lunch with my mentor for our last session. I have just sat on my first interviewing panel and been commented as peer to my patron Helen Le Brocq. I think that the latter was a little generous. My mentor wanted to treat me for working so hard over the past year. All my questions for my mentor made me feel just as far off being professional as at the beginning of the year but perhaps from a slightly higher stand point.

The session got me to take stock of things. Stand back and see the bigger picture. Address the smaller issue so that I can move on which, I may add, I couldn’t have done without her.

As I mulled things over this past week, I couldn’t stop thinking about how I was in that interview room. I honed in on the ends that didn’t meet. I saw people’s problems and personal insecurities. I felt as if I had met each of those personally (aside for perhaps a couple). I felt harsh and critical. People who know me well tell me that I am too hard on myself. I can’t help that part of my personality. I push myself to be the best possible. My performance isn’t right if it is not flawless.

I wasn’t seeking perfection in that interview room. I was looking out for those people. I wanted to make sure that they were making the right choice at the right point. The course requires a lot of get-up-and-go. I believe that being on the course at the wrong time or for the wrong reason could be detrimental. I didn’t want that for them or for the others.

The other thing that surprised me in that room was meeting the with the ideas again. The drive to achieve amazing outcomes in the community, for people. Sometimes, it is so hard to just stay afloat that you lose sight of what it is that you are trying to achieve or want to achieve. I suppose for me it was always more about just achieving great things for people. That and the creative idea is what excites me. I met the excitement face-to-face in that room.

When you talk to people who have made it, it is often after many years of gruelling work. Only sometimes would you get to see that excitement that drove them on in the first instances. A glimmer here and there. My peers in that room oozed an almost sickening mixture of fear and excitement. The – I don’t dare to dream I could but what if.

I was flicking through the paper the other morning. I rarely do this. A lady had been honoured with a degree for her achievements. I roared with laughter when I read her line about success. You don’t get there by having good dreams. You get there by sweating it out. Taking the heat, doing the leg work and doing it all over again. Spot on girl.

Out of the last week I have two hopes:

I hope that my hard work does not leave me being too harsh.

I hope that my hard work does not kill my inspiration. In the meal of success I would rather have the option of inspiration as a side order than non-existent.

I am really looking forward to the months ahead in my work and with the 2011 Young Creative Leaders on the horizon.

Comments welcome.