(1) Theatre of Change Workshop Activist Summer Camp 2017
Short Review Communities in transition and community arts: Making new connections June 17/18 2017
Image: P. Clancy
Introduction The Activist Camp built bridges between 35 activists and artists working in diversity of ways at community level. There is a cohort of about 150 people invited drawn from two lines of activity although the invitation is always open to newcomers. First there were previous editions of the Activist Camp initiated in 2015 by Claiming Our Future. Second there are the biannual gatherings which have been convened by Blue Drum, most recently, the Legacy Event in Galway last October, in association with the Institute for Lifecourse and Society at NUI Galway. Each strand seeks to move from conversation towards practice sites that test the power of community art, culture and activism for social transformation.
Images: S. Colclough
Good weather created the perfect tone for the welcoming workshop of this year‟s Camp led by Theatre of Change, Galway. Prompted by questions about community arts, participants were invited to move outside their own ideas and concerns and to listen and be attentive to each other. From individual to group actions a set of body sculptures and forms were used to express community arts as connection, bridge, barrier and the place of self esteem therein.
Image: P. Geraghty
(2) Without help, without permission- François Matarasso. The fine weather continued to beat down during the question and more questions session with a
Draft 2 text by E. Carroll – please feel free to suggest ne format, make additions / correct mistakes! Final version end of July!
person who has so much practice, ideas and experience in the field of community art. He gave us insight into the historical context, the background to his own personal quest for quality versus participation and vice versa. More importantly he communicated his own openness and curiosity about community art practice today. Some ideas that emerged were: -People wanting to be refilled with energy and ideas that can be used for a marathon and not just a sprint -Desire for fluid way of working neither fixed not controlled. -Bridge to each other and beyond to external world -Grassroots platform to give and receive ideas, contacts and working forum -Borders ‒ inside out -Bridge ‒ to others connections/solidarity not silos but practically how? -Validate, intellectualise and concepts.
What was planned for the second day had to be tailored to suit what had already emerged. Instead we tried to „harvest‟ some of the learning that people could offer and receive as a basis for moving forward. A common wish was to leave the Camp with a „shared ambition‟ for continuing cultural contact between us.
Image:Frederique Rantz The full interview is available here Watch
(3) Show and Tell
Image: Paula Geraghty We came from across the country, some meeting for the first time, so it was inspiring to listen and hear about each others‟ ideas and work. The presentations - 5 slides / 5 minutes – communicated what motivates practice as artist, activist and community member and also showed layers of common concern e.g. bottom-up, sustainability, environment, etc.
(4) What can be offered, What can be given?
We started by sharing the ideas that we heard that could uncover a shared desire that could be worked upon in the future. What transpired was: (i) gratitude because individuals felt valued, (ii) the value of art and culture not only as an instrument for something else, (iii) inspiration and connection to others, (iv) hope for the future and (v) support for the wider transition platform working locally, nationally and globally. When we asked ourselves „what are we?‟ some of the answers that emerged were: -Networking support without email overload -Truly about exchange – not simply virtual -Us as a resource to ourselves as an emerging platform. We then broke-up into 3 groups to explore thematically how to move forward. Group 1 focused on nurturing confidence ‒ inner transition Group 2 focused on communications and connecting Group 3 focused on communities in transition as a practice
Draft 2 text by E. Carroll – please feel free to suggest ne format, make additions / correct mistakes! Final version end of July!
From the group discussions it was clear that we could offer -Commitment -Energy -Experience -Research/Support -Follow‒through From the group discussions it was clear that we wanted to learn as a group -Community arts ideas and practice -Trust -Selflessnesss And even in the face of difference and conflict there was some realisation that barriers and conflicts can help mutual growth and esteem.
(5) Communities in Transition In the afternoon, Theresa O‟Donohue and Micheal Callaghan gave a short workshop and spoke about their experience of the communities in transition movement. From this presentation emerged a whole range of energetic exchanges and experiences.
(6) Some impressions at the end of the Camp This last session repeated many things that are already outlined herein. It was agreed that the Limerick participants will find a way to self organise the next event in Limerick! Finally, some comments capture the mood of all of us who left Glencree on Sunday 18th June 2017 at 3.30pm “Such a nurturing environment that makes me confident about what I can and will do” “A generous event ‒ a spirit of generous activism” “I got exactly what I wanted from this ‒ hope, optimism in a real way and hope for a collective future” “There was a connectedness among us that helped to reveal collective solutions to how to proceed” “It was a lovely, temporary reduction in the loneliness of working on my own”
(7) Cultural Contact Agreement We agreed to act by Meeting in Limerick in the autumn Lead: Kate, Pauline, Liz Keeping momentum online via (i) Activist Camp Facebook (ii) Legacy website (iii) Try out 1 online „meetup‟ e.g. Go pro, Google Hand-out Lead: Ed, Tony, Bernard, David
Draft 2 text by E. Carroll – please feel free to suggest ne format, make additions / correct mistakes! Final version end of July!