arts facilitator
Project Leader, Maker and Team Member.
I have been an Arts Facilitator on community based projects since 2008. In varying roles: As Project Leader, Researcher, Music Leader and helping with Makes at schools workshops plus creating artwork for some of the events.
I really believe that art, in all its forms, enhances and enriches peoples lives. Whether young or old. In a small classroom or as part of a large community project.
Photo: Eltham Lights Up! Greg Veit
PARRABBOLA ARTS
J.D. McDOUGALL - Newham's Best Kept Secret
For Newham Heritage Month 2021 Parrabbola created a project all about J.D. McDougall Ltd a company that has been in what is now Newham for 100 years, supplying fabric to the theatre, film and TV industry. The project compromised of a commissioned art installation, an audio documentary an event weekend. My roll was as Researcher, Interviewer and publicity designer. https://www.newhamheritagemonth.org/records/jd-mcdougall-newhams-best-kept-secret/
Royal Borough of Greenwich Parades: Christmas 2017 & 2018 and summer 2019
For two years running Parrabbola have designed and created the Christmas parades in theses two areas of the borough. I have organised, and run the lantern workshops at the local schools and community groups. The lanterns are then carried by the children on the day of the parade.
Photo: Greg Goodale
ADOPT AN ALLEYWAY July - October 2017
Parrabbola was commissiones by LB Newham to implement a pilot project enhancing 8 alleyways across the borough. Using different arts activities locals were encouraged to see these alleyways and walkways as community spaces. As part of the team I researched the historical aspects of the project, arranged and ran workshops and meetings in the various areas.
Photo: Greg Goodale
2012 OLYMPIAD The Boat Project.
A SAILOR RETURNS.
A beautiful boat Collective Spirit was built using donated wood and it toured the south coast. When it stopped off at Margate, Parrabbola was responsible for welcoming the sailors from the boat by creating a series of events and celebrations. I was based at The Community Pharmacy where I worked with a team of adults with learning disabilities, choosing songs (and rewriting one) creating a concert to welcome our sailor. See the film on Vimeo:
THe london borough of newham
GREEN STREET The Musical
I was commissioned by LB Newham to create a community musical based in and about Green Street tracing the history of this famous east London thoroughfare from 1908 to 2000. It had started out as a small project but grew into a much larger event. The final production included over 50 local residents, but the individual contact was higher through such activities as reminiscences sessions, sourcing and making costumes, composing , sound and lighting and research. I coordinated all these elements, wrote the final script and directed the show.
Photo: Andrew Baker
Community Centres Choir Project
A summer and winter project to bring choirs from across the borough and from Community centres to perform together. A project I designed, coordinated and conducted.
NYPC Newham Young Peoples Chorus
I was involved in this project for five years as a tutor and organiser. The model was devised by Jane Wheeler of bringing borough-wide school choirs together to perform at a major London venue.
Personal archive photo of tenor Mitesh Khatri and conductor David Lawrence.