Image description - A large group of learning disabled performers are taking part in a surprise flash mob on Stockton High Street. They are standing confidently with both arms in the air, reaching out upwards.
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Scratch Nights and Cabaret
Cultural Shift Conviva - Symposium
The Cultural Shift Conviva, meaning sharing of a feast, aims to give lots of food for thought and a means of creating practical actions we can all implement. Disabled artists and practitioners will talk about the context of disabled-led practice, and offer bite-size provocations to to invite discussion and seek solutions. Whether you are a disabled practitioner, or a company or venue wanting to include disabled people in your work, we are sure there will be something of value for everyone.
We will share our Cultural Shift working model, look at increasing and improving opportunities for disabled people in both professional and participatory work, and explore how to better support disabled artists. With information, encouragement and provocations from a range of key disabled practitioners and professionals, we will look at how you can get started, and how you can support artists to move on to the next stages of their careers. Disabled artists will have the chance to discuss the evolution of content, aesthetics and access, and also examine the impact of mainstreaming on disability identity in all its diversity.
Some of the fantastic people presenting are Deborah Williams (CEO, The Cultural Diversity Network – Broadcasting), Simon Startin (award-winning playwright and theatre director), Dolly Sen (award-winning writer, artist, performer and filmmaker), Michèle Taylor (Director of Change – Ramps on the Moon), Jo Verrent (Senior Producer, Unlimited), reflections on the day from Aidan Moesby (national and international artist, curator and writer) and Tammy Reynolds (writer, performer and producer at DaDaFest), Paul Wilshaw (actor at Mind the Gap and independent theatre maker) will talk about his exciting new piece of work developed in residency at ARC. There will be comedy and also a sharing of an excerpt of Another England by Vici Wreford-Sinnott.
Schedule
10.30am Registration
11.00am Welcome by Lynne Snowball Setting the scene with Vici Wreford-Sinnott Cultural Shift overview with Annabel Turpin and Vici Wreford Sinnott
11.30am Keynote, Deborah Williams
11.40am Visitor provocations:
Getting Started - Julie McNamara
Emerging Forever - Simon Startin
Spectacle - Dolly Sen
Identity - gobscure
Round table discussions lead by Jo Verrrent, Michèle Taylor, Nickie-Miles Wildin and Vici Wreford-Sinnott
1.20pm Lunch
2.10pm A word from our funders - Amy Finch, Spirit of 2012
2.20pm Performance by Laurence Clark; A Pitch and Position Presentation Reflection by Cultural Shift Artist Paul Wilshaw; Full Circle - a short film; Reflection by Cultural Shift participant Emily Wilkinson; Participation - a short film
3.30pm Break
4.00pm Excerpt from Another England by Vici Wreford-Sinnott; Visitor reflections by Tammy Reynolds and Aidan Moesby; Feedback, reflections, action networking.
6.00pm Close
We will share our Cultural Shift working model, look at increasing and improving opportunities for disabled people in both professional and participatory work, and explore how to better support disabled artists. With information, encouragement and provocations from a range of key disabled practitioners and professionals, we will look at how you can get started, and how you can support artists to move on to the next stages of their careers. Disabled artists will have the chance to discuss the evolution of content, aesthetics and access, and also examine the impact of mainstreaming on disability identity in all its diversity.
Some of the fantastic people presenting are Deborah Williams (CEO, The Cultural Diversity Network – Broadcasting), Simon Startin (award-winning playwright and theatre director), Dolly Sen (award-winning writer, artist, performer and filmmaker), Michèle Taylor (Director of Change – Ramps on the Moon), Jo Verrent (Senior Producer, Unlimited), reflections on the day from Aidan Moesby (national and international artist, curator and writer) and Tammy Reynolds (writer, performer and producer at DaDaFest), Paul Wilshaw (actor at Mind the Gap and independent theatre maker) will talk about his exciting new piece of work developed in residency at ARC. There will be comedy and also a sharing of an excerpt of Another England by Vici Wreford-Sinnott.
Schedule
10.30am Registration
11.00am Welcome by Lynne Snowball Setting the scene with Vici Wreford-Sinnott Cultural Shift overview with Annabel Turpin and Vici Wreford Sinnott
11.30am Keynote, Deborah Williams
11.40am Visitor provocations:
Getting Started - Julie McNamara
Emerging Forever - Simon Startin
Spectacle - Dolly Sen
Identity - gobscure
Round table discussions lead by Jo Verrrent, Michèle Taylor, Nickie-Miles Wildin and Vici Wreford-Sinnott
1.20pm Lunch
2.10pm A word from our funders - Amy Finch, Spirit of 2012
2.20pm Performance by Laurence Clark; A Pitch and Position Presentation Reflection by Cultural Shift Artist Paul Wilshaw; Full Circle - a short film; Reflection by Cultural Shift participant Emily Wilkinson; Participation - a short film
3.30pm Break
4.00pm Excerpt from Another England by Vici Wreford-Sinnott; Visitor reflections by Tammy Reynolds and Aidan Moesby; Feedback, reflections, action networking.
6.00pm Close
Chrysalis
Full Circle's Touring Project
Cultural Shift
Cultural Shift was an extraordinary three year programme of artistic activity. Disabled-led, it was a partnership between Little Cog and ARC Stockton, ensuring that the extraordinary voices of disabled people are heard and that the incredibly diverse art created by disabled people is valued as equal in our cultural landscape. Cultural Shift challenged perceptions, created new opportunities and introduced new people to the work of disabled artists. The project has a vibrant living legacy, and the strategic artistic partnershi between ARC and Little Cog continues.
Little Shed of Forgotten Dreams
Artists Lisette Auton and Vici Wreford-Sinnott worked with members of the Artrium Arts Studio in Hartlepool to create a Little Shed of Forgotten Dreams. It was all about the things we pack away and forget about, and the wonderful stories those objects have to tell us about the people of our town – a peoples’ mini-museum, one that’s alive with real peoples’ stories, the ones we often forget to gather and celebrate. The Little Shed of Forgotten Dreams became a Harbour of Refuge for those stories and objects – a lipstick from Lovers Lane, Old Mary’s Silver Jug, Ruby slippers, a model bus, x-ray specs, dazzling dolphins, an ancient bowl, a chipped mug from the Headland first settlers.
We discovered just what stories the town had hidden.
We even discovered that Hartlepool has its very own version of the Loch Ness Monster – the Hartlepool Gowkfish. It is a mysterious sea creature which myth tells us has protected the town for centuries, with several rumoured sightings over the years.
The Little Shed of Forgotten Dreams project culminated in a month long exhibition at the Artrium Gallery in Hartlepool.
We discovered just what stories the town had hidden.
We even discovered that Hartlepool has its very own version of the Loch Ness Monster – the Hartlepool Gowkfish. It is a mysterious sea creature which myth tells us has protected the town for centuries, with several rumoured sightings over the years.
The Little Shed of Forgotten Dreams project culminated in a month long exhibition at the Artrium Gallery in Hartlepool.
Have Your Say
Have Your Say!
A brand new television show revealing the inner drama of what its like to be silenced
Ever been silenced? Shouted down? Told to shut up? Ever felt your views or the choices you wanted to make didn’t count for much? Well this is a fun and spirited devised theatre piece made by people who are determined to have their say.
HAVE YOUR SAY is a game show with a difference – all the contestants are people who have been silenced in one way or another, competing for the opportunity to speak up, speak out and even shout out loud.
Full Circle Performing Arts Academy are training in performing arts skills while finding their creative voices. They have devised this new piece of work focusing on how a group of top TV executives based in Television Tower make decisions on behalf of everyone about what gets seen and who gets heard. They reveal how ruthlessly characters are cut from and silenced in our favourite. The performers take us on a television journey through Upton Shabby, Midsummer Nightmares, and Doing Time to name just a few original programmes.
In this, their first production together, and for some group members, their first ever performance, six performers impressively take on multiple roles and many costume changes in a funny, meaningful show and entertaining show. You’ll have a chance to meet all the performers after the show as they host an informal chat about their work and, most importantly, get your feedback.
A brand new television show revealing the inner drama of what its like to be silenced
Ever been silenced? Shouted down? Told to shut up? Ever felt your views or the choices you wanted to make didn’t count for much? Well this is a fun and spirited devised theatre piece made by people who are determined to have their say.
HAVE YOUR SAY is a game show with a difference – all the contestants are people who have been silenced in one way or another, competing for the opportunity to speak up, speak out and even shout out loud.
Full Circle Performing Arts Academy are training in performing arts skills while finding their creative voices. They have devised this new piece of work focusing on how a group of top TV executives based in Television Tower make decisions on behalf of everyone about what gets seen and who gets heard. They reveal how ruthlessly characters are cut from and silenced in our favourite. The performers take us on a television journey through Upton Shabby, Midsummer Nightmares, and Doing Time to name just a few original programmes.
In this, their first production together, and for some group members, their first ever performance, six performers impressively take on multiple roles and many costume changes in a funny, meaningful show and entertaining show. You’ll have a chance to meet all the performers after the show as they host an informal chat about their work and, most importantly, get your feedback.
Full Circle Performance Academy
Surprise Stockton Flash Mob
A group of dynamic young learning disabled people gathered in Stockton town centre to perform a ‘Surprise Stockton’ flash mob as part of their efforts to challenge negative perceptions around disability.
The energetic group surprised crowds of shoppers on a cloudy Saturday afternoon as they performed some impressive dance moves to Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk.
The group are part of a project called 45 Days to Find My Way which is based at ARC, and forms part of the larger Cultural Shift programme. The three year funding programme will help enable the group to take part in, organise and present to the world a range of arts-led activities.
The young people decided that they wanted to perform to people of Stockton to cheer up their day, to make people smile and to show that disabled people don’t fit the stereotypical views that society sometimes creates.
The group have now been invited to perform the dance again at ARC’s upcoming Arctic Piranha event on 2 April. The event is a club night for young learning disabled adults, which is run and organised by members of 45 Days.
Lesley-Anne, a member of 45 Days, said: “It has built our confidence, and after the dance, I felt absolutely amazing”.
Another group member said: “When we were dancing I noticed a big crowd watching us and filming. It was good to be part of the project. I felt that my voice was listened to and my ideas mattered.”
Vici Wreford-Sinnott directed the choreography and is also Cultural Shift’s Disability Agent of Change, she commented: “From the start, the group wanted to create something lively and eye-catching, and something that would be a real surprise for anyone who happened to be on the High Street on 13 February. On a cloudy day, with the threat of rain imminent, over one hundred people stopped to watch the group do their lively outdoor movement piece to the tune of Uptown Funk – there were smiles, laughter, and pride. And the sun came out, albeit briefly!”
The aim of the Cultural Shift programme is to challenge negative perceptions around disability and to involve more disabled people in the arts at every level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0jkxTPG-Mw
The energetic group surprised crowds of shoppers on a cloudy Saturday afternoon as they performed some impressive dance moves to Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk.
The group are part of a project called 45 Days to Find My Way which is based at ARC, and forms part of the larger Cultural Shift programme. The three year funding programme will help enable the group to take part in, organise and present to the world a range of arts-led activities.
The young people decided that they wanted to perform to people of Stockton to cheer up their day, to make people smile and to show that disabled people don’t fit the stereotypical views that society sometimes creates.
The group have now been invited to perform the dance again at ARC’s upcoming Arctic Piranha event on 2 April. The event is a club night for young learning disabled adults, which is run and organised by members of 45 Days.
Lesley-Anne, a member of 45 Days, said: “It has built our confidence, and after the dance, I felt absolutely amazing”.
Another group member said: “When we were dancing I noticed a big crowd watching us and filming. It was good to be part of the project. I felt that my voice was listened to and my ideas mattered.”
Vici Wreford-Sinnott directed the choreography and is also Cultural Shift’s Disability Agent of Change, she commented: “From the start, the group wanted to create something lively and eye-catching, and something that would be a real surprise for anyone who happened to be on the High Street on 13 February. On a cloudy day, with the threat of rain imminent, over one hundred people stopped to watch the group do their lively outdoor movement piece to the tune of Uptown Funk – there were smiles, laughter, and pride. And the sun came out, albeit briefly!”
The aim of the Cultural Shift programme is to challenge negative perceptions around disability and to involve more disabled people in the arts at every level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0jkxTPG-Mw
Community Performance
Know Who We Are
Eleven young disabled people worked together on a unique new project based at ARC called 45 Days to Find My Way which is part of the Cultural Shift project, in partnership with STEPS. The first public sharing of their work was a portraiture exhibition called Know Who We Are which launched in November 2016.
45 Days to Find My Way is a journey of discovery, but not just for those taking part. Vici Wreford-Sinnott who is running the project said: “Everyone at ARC is being affected by the work of disabled people in our programme – it’s really beginning to shift how we view disabled people. And this also applies to audiences new to the disability related work in our programme.”
The young people have been working with local digital artist, Black Robin, to look at identity and how they present themselves publicly. The group have taken portraits of each other and have developed statements about themselves to accompany the photographic image.
One of the young people, Emily, said: “We want people to know who we are. Yes there are disabilities, but there is more to us than that and this exhibition shows that”.
The statements are based on the group interviewing each other and asking key questions about each other.
Vici continued: “The resulting statements are surprising, vibrant, at times moving, but definitely reveal the whole person. We hope people will look beyond the cover of any book they try to judge after seeing this exhibition. Truly wonderful interesting young people.”
The exhibition has been enabled by Cultural Shift, a three years strategic programme which aims to change the way disability and disabled people are viewed.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOQIcJz884I&feature=emb_title
45 Days to Find My Way is a journey of discovery, but not just for those taking part. Vici Wreford-Sinnott who is running the project said: “Everyone at ARC is being affected by the work of disabled people in our programme – it’s really beginning to shift how we view disabled people. And this also applies to audiences new to the disability related work in our programme.”
The young people have been working with local digital artist, Black Robin, to look at identity and how they present themselves publicly. The group have taken portraits of each other and have developed statements about themselves to accompany the photographic image.
One of the young people, Emily, said: “We want people to know who we are. Yes there are disabilities, but there is more to us than that and this exhibition shows that”.
The statements are based on the group interviewing each other and asking key questions about each other.
Vici continued: “The resulting statements are surprising, vibrant, at times moving, but definitely reveal the whole person. We hope people will look beyond the cover of any book they try to judge after seeing this exhibition. Truly wonderful interesting young people.”
The exhibition has been enabled by Cultural Shift, a three years strategic programme which aims to change the way disability and disabled people are viewed.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOQIcJz884I&feature=emb_title
45 Days to Find My Way
45 Days to Find My Way was a year long participation project where young disabled people gained new arts skills such as photography, film, animation, and drama whilst also gaining new transferable skills which will be valuable for the rest of their lives such as communication, working as part of a team, confidence in speaking up and working towards both personal and professional goals.
Spirit of Teesside
The Spirit of Teesside event has been created by local disabled woman Vici Wreford-Sinnott.
It is a day aimed at celebrating the inner steel of the people of Teesside. When faced with the many challenges of life today, we come together and support each other, we create communities so that we can not only survive but actually thrive. Coming together is one of the most powerful things we can do when faced with adversity.
On the day we will have a community marketplace of stalls, community networking, information sharing and activities from local community and voluntary sector groups.
Everyone is welcome to have a stall, and of course, we do particularly want to ensure that organisations of disabled people and their supporters are able to showcase what they offer. It’s a chance to come together at ARC Stockton, to be visible and to raise profiles, and to challenge the negative perceptions of disability and our area that exist. And you can come and get involved in a great piece of community action!
Vici said, “I have great pride in Teesside – I just want the world to know that no matter how we are portrayed in the media, there is great spirit here. We’re not beaten, we are a very strong community, especially when we come together and support each other.”
As part of the Spirit of Teesside event, Little Cog – a disabled led theatre company from Teesside – will present a powerful new play. Occupation by Pauline Heath, a disabled writer, focuses on a disability rally where people who wouldn’t normally speak out, have gathered to raise attention to the real stories of disabled people in modern Britain. A cast of professional actors (including Patricia Jones from Emmerdale and Coronation Street) and a disabled director are working with a wonderful community cast from the local area to present what will be a truly community event.
It is a day aimed at celebrating the inner steel of the people of Teesside. When faced with the many challenges of life today, we come together and support each other, we create communities so that we can not only survive but actually thrive. Coming together is one of the most powerful things we can do when faced with adversity.
On the day we will have a community marketplace of stalls, community networking, information sharing and activities from local community and voluntary sector groups.
Everyone is welcome to have a stall, and of course, we do particularly want to ensure that organisations of disabled people and their supporters are able to showcase what they offer. It’s a chance to come together at ARC Stockton, to be visible and to raise profiles, and to challenge the negative perceptions of disability and our area that exist. And you can come and get involved in a great piece of community action!
Vici said, “I have great pride in Teesside – I just want the world to know that no matter how we are portrayed in the media, there is great spirit here. We’re not beaten, we are a very strong community, especially when we come together and support each other.”
As part of the Spirit of Teesside event, Little Cog – a disabled led theatre company from Teesside – will present a powerful new play. Occupation by Pauline Heath, a disabled writer, focuses on a disability rally where people who wouldn’t normally speak out, have gathered to raise attention to the real stories of disabled people in modern Britain. A cast of professional actors (including Patricia Jones from Emmerdale and Coronation Street) and a disabled director are working with a wonderful community cast from the local area to present what will be a truly community event.
Arctic Piranha Club Nights
This amazing club night, still running five years later, came about at the request of learning disabled people in the Tees Valley who were looking for somewhere safe to enjoy a night-clubbing experience.
It was been conceived and designed by disabled people who came up with the name and also the theme for the first ever club night - Snow and Ice. They also picked the playlist, the bands, the props, the menu and even the recipes for a piranha cocktail and mocktail. You can even learn the words and dance moves to the Arctic Piranha Song!
The club night is designed to be a safe space, with a chill out area, but if you usually bring a carer or support worker to events and activities don’t forget to bring someone along for this event, as it is not something we can provide.
Learning disabled adults want to be treated as adults and so Arctic Piranha is an 18+ event, as any nightclub would be, and we will be experimenting with how late it stays open in future.
It was been conceived and designed by disabled people who came up with the name and also the theme for the first ever club night - Snow and Ice. They also picked the playlist, the bands, the props, the menu and even the recipes for a piranha cocktail and mocktail. You can even learn the words and dance moves to the Arctic Piranha Song!
The club night is designed to be a safe space, with a chill out area, but if you usually bring a carer or support worker to events and activities don’t forget to bring someone along for this event, as it is not something we can provide.
Learning disabled adults want to be treated as adults and so Arctic Piranha is an 18+ event, as any nightclub would be, and we will be experimenting with how late it stays open in future.
