PAST PROJECTS INCLUDE:

GRANGETOWN SCHOOLS CARNIVAL ARTS RESIDENCIES (June 2005)

Three week-long residencies at three Grangetown’s primary schools including costume-making, dance and music. The residencies culminate initially with performances in school for parents and friends. Respective MAS-style sections will be re-mounted as part of the Cardiff MAS Carnival in July.

June 6^th – June 24^th 2005

BLUE DEVILS PROJECT (July 2005)

The project focuses on the BLUE DEVILS, a renowned and long-standing traditional carnival character found in Trinidad (with the variants emerging in all other Caribbean Islands’ carnivals).

The workshops will include specific drumming, dance and making workshops led by carnival artists from Trinidad who specialise in the Blue Devil tradition of Carnival.

The project is both additional and complementary to SWICA’s annual Cardiff MAS Carnival and would involve a large-scale public performance by community participants on Saturday 30^th July 2005 – as part of a specially augmented Cardiff MAS Carnival, part of Cardiff’s 2005 celebrations.

CARDIFF MAS CARNIVAL (July 2005) : “DOCKS : Cardiff, Wales’ Window on the World” 

Workshop dates : Tuesday 12th (Launch 7-9pm), workshops thereafter Wednesday 13th - Fri 29th July

Performance: Saturday 30th July

The three-week MAS camp will return for a fourth year to the Butetown Youth Pavilion developing further a renewed relationship with the Butetown community as well as remaining an open access project on a city-wide basis.

“DOCKS” will celebrate maritime traditions and global trade connections which emphasise Global Interdependence – past, present and future – through an intercultural perspective using massed costumes, culturally diverse music, projection of images, hi-energy dance and the idea of Carnival throughout the World.

The project culminates in the Finale Parade through the streets of Butetown and into the Oval Basin in Cardiff Bay on Saturday 30th July with entertainment in the Oval Basin from 2pm.

SWANSEA MAS CARNIVAL (August 2005)

Workshop dates : Tuesday 9th August (Launch 7-9pm), workshops thereafter Wednesday 10th-Fri 26th August

Performance : Saturday 27th August (1.00-6pm)

Now in its 7th year, the project returns for an open access three-week MAS camp at Swansea College’s Llwyn-y-Bryn site. “DOCKS : Wales’ Window on the World” will celebrate maritime traditions and global trade connections which emphasise Global Interdependence – past, present and future.

This will be the third year involving Swansea College as a formal project partner and it is intended to build upon the pioneering work undertaken together in 2003 whereby community participants are able to undertake Open College Network awards, all integrated into the MAS-making process.

The project culminates in the community-based highlight of the Swansea Bay Summer Festival : parade, costumed section presentations and staged performance in Castle Square on Saturday 27th August 2005.

“MYTHS, MINES & MEMORIES – The Coed Cae Uncovered” (Jan-May 2004)

This project is a unique fusion of local heritage and community arts involving schools, youth & community groups, and the local heritage society.

click here for more.......

COMMUNITY PERCUSSION DEVELOPMENT (VCSD)

2002/2004

The project aims to initiate capacity building initiatives to ensure on-going development of independent Community Percussion groups within the three target areas of Caerphilly, Swansea and Torfaen. In terms of artform the project will concentrate primarily on :

a) Afro-Brazilian hand-held percussion – e.g. Samba Percussion

b) Caribbean-style Soca Street Band : processional Pan-round-the-neck (as opposed to orchestral) steelpan and associated percussion – targeted at non-musicians in particular.

c) Punjabi Dhol drumming on a first-time basis for Swansea’s Asian community based at the Sikh Gurdwara.

d) Continued targeting of female groups taught by a female percussion animateur e.g. Lewis Girls School’s after-school “Crash Bang Wallop” drummers

Includes continued development of apprenticeship of Gareth Rahman towards professional steelpan tutor goal. Identifying and mentoring potential group leaders – both in terms of future musical directors and group organisers.

Principal Funder: Arts Council of Wales – VCSD scheme, with local partners

CYNON VALLEY – CARNIVAL ARTS WORKSHOPS

May 2002 

Collaboration with Showcase Performing Arts Association involving steelpan, samba percussion and carnival dance workshops 4th & 5th May culminating in presentation at the Colisium, Aberdare

Funding : independent A4A grant from SPAA

BRIDGEND CARNIVAL ARTS RESIDENCY

June 2002

Week-long residency at Bridgend College 10-15th June combining carnival dance, samba percussion and costume making workshops with finale parade on Sat 15th . Potential remount of parade as part of local presentation for the Queen’s visit to Bridgend (Golden Jubilee tour).

Funding : Bridgend College

QUEENS JUBILEE BATON RELAY FESTIVAL

June 2002 

A collaboration with Cardiff County Council Special Events to mount a specially designed and rehearsed drum and dance MAS group for parading and main stage set in the round of the Oval Basin, Cardiff Bay on Saturday 16th June 2002 as part of the Queens Jubilee/Commonwealth Games celebrations.

STORM CARNIVAL ARTS RESIDENCY

June 2002 

Residency (22nd-27th June) as part of People & Work Unit’s high profile youth project – STORM – involving carnival dance, music and making for 100 disadvantaged young people gathered in Cardiff from across Europe.

Funding : independent A4A bid, People & Work Unit

MUSIC COMMISSION : “The STEEL & SKIN Road March”

July-Dec 2002

Commission for Hubert Placide for a unique fusion combining Caribbean Steelpan and West African drumming. To be performed as part of SWICA’s processional steelpan ‘round-de-neck’ projects for Cardiff MAS, Swansea MAS and Caerphilly Lantern parade.

“CARNIVAL MESSIAH”

October-November 2002

As part of the International Festival of Music-Theatre in Cardiff, the first collaborative project with leading UK-based Trinidadian director Geraldine Connor involves creating a new Cardiff-based mini-version – at 45 minutes – of her ongoing successful interpretation of Handel’s “Messiah” through the medium of carnival-based music, song and costume. 

Funding : International Festival of Music Theatre

“FROM WALES TO THE WORLD” YOUTH MUSIC PROJECT

Feb – Dec 2001 

Multicultural youth music project following a grant from the National Foundation for Youth Music (Music Maker’s Scheme) based at Willows High School. The project aims to empower young people (aged 13-18 years) and introduce them to a variety of multicultural music making opportunities using a range of experienced community music animateurs and tutors e.g. steelpan, Rap and Inspirational singing, brass, woodwind and jazz (street band style), keyboards, guitar and drumkit, samba percussion etc.

Led by Rob Smith (Musical Director), the project will include a number of high profile performance outcomes and will be captured ultimately on CD (participants will also have the opportunity to be trained up on the requisite music and recording technologies themselves).

Principal Funder: National Foundation For Youth Music – Music Makers scheme

GOETRE SCHOOLS CARNIVAL ARTS RESIDENCY

June/July 2001

Now a bi-annual event, a two-week Residency based at Goetre Infant & Junior Schools (including after-school sessions for pupils, their friends and family members) culminating in a procession for the Gurnos Estate – Friday 6th July.

Funding : independent A4A bid, Goetre Schools

PLUS MANY, MANY MORE !

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