Arts and community interventions
Case study: Carbon Conversations
The brief: To engage local people with a range of backgrounds and understanding in energy reduction planning.
Our response: This is a self initiated project to bring to South Yorkshire the Carbon Conversations model created by Ro Randall and Andy Brown in Cambridge. The short series of carefully-designed meetings gives participants key information about climate change and supports them to develop realistic action plans for reducing their carbon footprints.
The impact: Two participants have gone on to train as facilitators themselves and the programme is gradually acquiring a positive reputation across South Yorkshire.
"It was obvious how much work Nick put into preparing for the individual sessions. He is very skilled at group facilitation, with an excellent mix of formality/informality. His personal enthusiasm, knowledge and commitment is very motivating and infectious." Sheffield participant 2013.
Case study: Encounters Arts - Look Again
The brief: To devise a means of engaging the public to reconnect with nature and re-imagine their relationship as part of the 2010 Wandsworth Arts Festival Shimmy.
Our response: A Thames river theatre was created by the Encounters Arts team, providing a literal re-framing of the river and a hosted invitation to spectators to engage in seeing freshly.
The impact: Over 300 people participated in fifiteen separate hostings.
We both come from an arts background and our community projects are probably our most artistic in feel, drawing on our skills as directors and performers as well as workshop leaders. When presented in a relevant non-threatening way, arts activities are excellent for getting people to work together. They help people explore important issues in ways that are meaningful to them both personally and collectively.The arts help us rehearse ideas, imagine possible futures and find roles. Every context is different so most of our arts and community interventions are bespoke and our plans often change rapidly in response to the group's ideas and needs.
Case study: Friends of Gilcrest Woods and Meadow
The brief: To devise a community re-engagement with neglected communal wood and meadow space in suburbs of Sheffield
Our response: To establish a friends group and activity programme including bird box making, den building, garland wearing, fruit picking and a programme of maintenance and improvements.
The impact: 12 work days regularly attended by 20-30 local people and 4 event days attracting over 100 people. Repairs to entrance, aceess steps, contesting of planning bids and establishment of a Management Committee and growing community of actiivty.
"A great Autumn bird boxing, cake eating and fruit picking afternoon."
Participant, September 2014 public event
Case study: Transition Chesterfield
The brief: We were asked to design some drama-based workshops to bring something new to Transition Chesterfield's portfolio of community activities and to make a performance conveying a sustainability message to the public.
Our response: We ran three introductory workshops to help members clarify their aims and generate ideas, one of which was developed into a piece of street theatre in which a little house was built and insulated. The piece was first performed at the Chatsworth Road Food Festival in October 2014.
"An opportunity for a communal pause and to contemplate the greatest show on earth, nature and our own lives."
Participant.
