I’ve just started as Mainstream Partnership’s new Student Intern, so this is my first, and hopefully one of many blog posts about my time here and its results!
I’m a first year undergraduate at the University of Leicester studying a BA in English & American Studies; I’m hoping a day a week as an intern here will give me some unique career experience academic study won’t, in the industry I’m passionate about.
I’ve really spent most of the day getting ’settled in’ around the office and learning which bits and pieces of Mainstream Partnership are my responsibility, but it’s been interesting nonetheless. I’m hoping in the coming weeks I’ll gain some valuable experience in administration and promotion, and be able to immerse myself in culture and art forms not entirely typical to student life.
Harry
Sadly , I will be leaving Mainstream Partnership this week to finish my studies for my BA (Hons) Arts Management degree at De Montfort University. I have enjoyed my time here, and I have learnt a lot from being an Intern.
I aim to develop my skills learnt from Mainstream Partnership in future employment, and I would like to thank Tim & Carol for giving me the opportunity to work with them.
Liv Scott
I am currently an Arts Management student studying at De Montfort University, and was given the opportunity to work as an intern at Mainstream Partnership. This has enabled me to gain an insight into the world of the arts, and in particular working on creating opportunities, for training and events for BME artists. This is also an exciting chance, to discover the real world of the arts from the point of view of an organisation, working in training and events organisation.
Even though I have only been here a month, I have found many more opportunities for networking and building my skills within the arts sector, and I am continuing to network and build my skills within all aspects of the arts sector to increase my potential employment opportunities once I become a graduate!
Liv
Gandi and Coconuts
By Bettina Gracias
Produced by Kali Theatre Company @ Curve Tues 22nd Feb 2011
A delightful, original and insightful new play by Bettina Gracias was met with big smiles and laughter at Curve yesterday. The play reveals the wonderful mind of Asha – a young woman who has immigrated to London from Goa. During lonely days at home whilst her husband is at work imagines Gandhi as her supportive friend who loves her jallebies! We are treated to plenty more surprises as Kali and Shiva dance into the play.
I was captivated by Sophiya Haque’s performance as Asha; her fascinating portrayal has left an imprint on me – a sign of a truly poignant performance. The set, music and lighting all complimented Asha’s emotional journey adding insights into her loneliness and state of mind. Through Asha’s story vital issues of women’s rights and roles, racism and immigration were subtly raised. The experience left me with an insight into the mixed emotions of leaving all that is ‘homely’ to start a new life in a different country and culture. I’d recommend anyone to rush along and catch ‘Gandhi and Coconuts’ whilst you can! It left me smiling in wonderment and with an appetite for jallebies!
There will be a STEM Artists Salon Networking Session after the show on Weds 23rd Feb 2010 @ Curve.
Kali Theatre Company is now looking for new scripts! www.kalitheatre.co.uk
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30th Anniversary Centre for Indian Classical Dance – ‘Yuva Nritya’ Curve Theatre 22.01 2011
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With opening remarks from Chris Maughn De Montfort University and Leicester Lord Mayor. It proved to be an exquisite joy, to see Yuva Nritya the second celebratory event, to mark 30 years anniversary of the Centre for Indian Classcial Dance. The repertoire was varied, with different types of dance being fused and performed by young people, from schools and communities, teachers trained by CICD , alumni students celebrated and emerging dancers in the UK and internationally .
The first half, with youth dances, reflected the energy and dynamism across Bollywood, Hip Hop, Street Dance and Creative - with other pieces of a more classical nature . All were performed to a high level and with choreographic aplomb (Subhash Gorania ) to the delight of the audience. With the ‘Kathak Vilambit ’ community ensemble, Nilima Devi also graced the stage, with a truly sublime performance, which bore the hall marks of sheer mastery.
The second half continued with a feast of dance – which reminded me, how much I had missed seeing great Kathak dance performed. As I realised it was an important part , of my own arts cultural background, growing up in Leicester. Some of my favourite highlights included strong performances from Akash Odedra -his fluidity in ‘Bhajan’, ’Kalari’ an abstract piece, based on graceful martial arts of South India . ‘Varnam’ featuring Anusha Subramanyam- enchanting with intricate steps . The variety and range of choreographers indeed added to the exciting diversity of movement on stage .
Over all I found it to be an inspirational and artistically fulfilling evening - full of real beauty. A rare pleasure and special privilege, to celebrate a truly innovative , pioneering artistic individual such as Nilima Devi at the head of CICD. With its tremendous artistic legacy of e.g successfully training 5 generations ! A considerable feat, given the time of the organisations establishment and the up and downs of the intervening years in UK arts scene. The evening ended with Alumni and past students demonstrating their love and respect for Nilima Devi with a beautiful floral presentation . If only all evenings were like this….
The Manager
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Upstream Taking Your Talents Further – Big Success!
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Upstream Taking Your Talents Further @ Embrace Arts
A big thank you to everyone who attended Upstream Taking Your Talents Further on Weds 15th December 2010. It was fantastic to see so many new faces attending – 65 in total!
Gaylene Gould a Clore Fellow, kicked off the evening with her inspiring talk on ‘rebel dreaming’. (Gaylene will be leading some exciting training events with us in Feb 2011 so check out the programme and register a.s.a.p. to secure your place!) We were treated to African drumming by Afro Kubanza and a moving talk by Paulo Carnoth on his journey from refugee to busy artistic entrepreneur. Kirsty Munro’s ‘Mapping Leicester’ exercise revealed some brilliant insights into participants’ recommendations for the arts in 2011 -2013 and got the creative conversations underway. (If you’d like a copy of the notes from this exercise please contact us). Bobba Cass guided us through his marvellous interactive poem and shared his experiences in ‘coming out’ as a gay arts activist. The Skills Workshops, on social media, developing your portfolio and business planning were task focussed. Participants emerged brimming with renewed enthusiasm for their work, buzzing with fresh creative ideas and bursting with new found confidence in their abilities.
This momentum was carried forward into a wonderful evening meal with people chatting, making new contacts and networking over a delicious Malaysian curry. Louise Katerega then re-invigorated our creative juices by wowing us with an extract from, ‘One Night Only’ performance by Foot in Hand. Louise’s unique style of facilitating discussion captured the audience’s imagination and engaged us in a stimulating dialogue. This highlighted some important issues about BME & Disability in the arts. Vijay Mistry shared his leadership journey as a social entrepreneur with 2Funky Arts and introduced us to Millie; a budding young performer. Millie performed her lyrics to the delight of the audience – a gem of Leicester to watch out for! Rounding off the evening was Abeda Sakha a leader from the Afghani community, who performed her uplifting poem taking us to a celebratory close to the evening.
There was a brilliant creative buzz and a sense of excitement with skills learnt, conversations started, ideas sprung and contacts made. The evening ended with a sense of anticipation in the air as participants prepared to take their discoveries forward in the upcoming months. If you attended please let us know what’s happening as your creative ideas grow and develop! Next steps – our Training Workshops in Feb 2011 and 2 more ‘Upstream’ Events in Notts and Derby coming soon!
A huge thank you to everyone for making this event such a success; the attendees, workshop leaders & performers, keynote speaker Gaylene Gould, Big Lottery Fund (Awards for All), Arts Council England, Business Link East Midlands, Embrace Arts, Carol Leeming, Mia Gordon and Christian Neckles.
Here are some of the comments from attendees …..
”Thank you to you all for putting on a great event with Upstream this week. I enjoyed the entertainment and learning something new in the talks. There was also such a great mix of people which made a vibrant atmosphere.”
Shazmin Jagot Graphic Designer
“Thank you for yesterday’s event… I enjoyed it immensely”
Sali Gresham Theatre Practitioner
”I would like to thank you for this nice, friendly and fruitful event of Mainstream Partnership, last Wednesday. I really enjoyed the place, the people, your warm welcome and the open opportunities.”
Despoina Mavropoulou Energy Theatre Practitioner
We are definitely at a moment in theEast Midlands regarding the development of new voices in Theatre . This also includes Black Minority Ethnic Voices, as the recent Momentum a week -long festival of ’script in hand/work in progress’ readings and a number of complete plays demonstrated . All of it taking place in the excellent facilities of Curve Leicester . This week was a great TWP achievement, with Kate Chapman the Director – introducing the week , showcasing so many new writers alongside other more experienced writers regionally. Some highlights from those I attended , included the popular Fakebook by Michelle Vacciana, the entertaining Palm Wine & Stout by Segun Le French, the fascinating - Unzipped Showcase of Talawa Theatre . Of special interest was the brillantly harrowing ’Wallowing’ by Mufaro Mubika- a new name to watch out for. It was a good week in general to see some very fine acting on display also.
On Thursday, Talawa Theatre provided a panel based discussion -based on the question ‘Is Black Theatre ambitious enough ?’ Contributions from Pat Crumper Talawa Artistic Director, Steven Luckie and other panel members. Centred around their frustration and dismay, regarding current popular theatrical depictions with regard to Black Theatre , e.g of gun crime, ‘ghetto fabulous’ stories and characters etc. Some expressed the view ,that it was not a lack of ambition but rather the lack of investment required, over long period of time. On the part of producing theatres in developing e.g. new writers/plays . Such theatres are now under even more pressure with the recent cuts -than before to provide more populist theatre. As opposed to the risk new Black Writers may represent. A very important point was made by playwright Anthony Williams, about integrated casting, with reference to an example given by a black actor in the audience. He stated that this confers kudos on theatres, but does not actively support the progress and development of Black Theatre.. In conclusion my own humble contribution seemed to sum things up, that is Black Writers are ambitious , they should be left to be free to define themselves and the stories that they want to write - outside preconceived ideas of the any ‘ Black British’ experience etc.
The Manager
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FAKEBOOK Written and performed by Michelle Vacciana Tues 26th October 2010 @ CURVE. Previewed at STEM Launch, commissioned by Nottingham Playhouse.
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Wow what a fabulous one woman show! ‘Fakebook’ tells the story of an overprotective mum worrying about her daughter’s secret life on Facebook. A hilarious string of events unfold as the mum reveals she has been spying on her daughter using a fake online persona. Michelle’s seamless transition of characters was stunning. The play struck a perfect balance of funny and moving moments with eccentric twists and turns alongside emotional detail that truly resonates. Escalating into a high paced gripping journey of subtly sinister events; Fakebook is an uplifting experience that leaves you pondering and smiling.
Project Officer, Mainstream Partnership
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Igniting Ambition Festival – Promoting Our Members Excellence!
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It is very exciting and makes us all very proud to to celebrate the newly released Igniting Ambition Festival Brochure 2010 http://bit.ly/biWhDI , as it features a whole host of our BME and Stakeholder members across the East Midlands region. This is shows how Mainstream Partnerhip has kept its focus in terms of striving for excellence (as set out in the DCMS McMasters Report ) in its work with our membership BME & Stakeholder members alike. Clearly this also demonstrates how our own particular intervention is key in creating positve partnerships, that make achievements that will leave a lasting legacy. A crucial factor for this phenomenal success is that we ensure our members both BME and Stakeholders receive information from us in a timely way. This is then followed up by us with further information, contact, advice and support, advocacy, brokerage, networking or introductory meetings. We have learnt it is vital to make make good relationships, that instill trust and confidence, as well as being strategic and progressive in our delivery. Equally our role on regional arts heritage steering groups has been key in terms of leading on culturally diversity in the arts . Alongside our growing advisory, consultancy, arts managment roles also. The Ignition Ambition Brochure and our BME members inclusion, represents also the hard work that we have done behind the scenes to bring about change over time. Therefore it is an important moment for the organization, and overall in the history of the arts cultural sector in our region – especially at a time of considerable flux and transition.
Supported by ACE, Mainstream Partnership Staff and Board have enthusiastically, (despite major challenges) developed and built an organization and its work over three years with our BME and Stakeholders members . We have now reached a peak, a culmination of all our combined efforts of advocacy, celebrating, and promoting our BME Members. By supporting and raising the profile of our BME members achievements to our Stakeholders members and the arts sector generally. We have been able to to make a big impact in assisting the BME arts sector to be more intergrated within the mainstream arts sector . Mainstream Partnership’s profile and its programme delivery, reflects a growing confidence in the organization from across the region’s arts cultural sector. We as an organization are on the cusp of further growth and looking to expand our ambition in the coming period.
The Mainstream Partnership Team wish all our members all the very best for the forthcoming year and what an exciting year this will be. With lots of changes that present challenges e.g. Arts Council re-organization, Grants for the Arts break (Jan 15th deadline for applications) - but we know from past experience it will not deter our members committed to furthering their artistic plans. The Cultural Olympiad with several of our members being programmed so far – ( we are so proud of them ) developments within Sustained Theatre East Midlands STEM, the continuing popularity and success of the Creative Conversations ’dragons den’ & artist showcase networking events (will tour the region) means continued growth So look out for the next one near you and book in ! Finally Carol Leeming Dare to Diva Productions will attend her last ACE General Council meeting Nottingham this February before stepping down. As is an advocate for BME arts, Artists, Young People and Literature primarily - for three years, she will now look forward to further growth of the Mainstream Partnership organization and her own innovative arts projects.