ANONYMOUS DONOR GIVES £42,250!

A major three year donation towards sustainability targeted at the work with our young artists,
was given through The Community Foundation.

Ben Moore, our Chair of the Board of Directors said "In these difficult times it was truly uplifting to receive this £42,250 from an anonymous donor for Skimstone Arts to continue it's inspirational work in partnership with young people. It is a great act of generosity and recognition and has added further determination to offer powerful, positive and creative experiences to those who work with us."

Claire Webster Saaremets "This is wonderful recognition of the quality, hard work, achievement and commitment of our collaboration with this ever growing group of young artists, from across the region, especially those facing risk and challenges. It will enable us to continue delivering the national Arts Award at all levels. We can also use this funding to generate more opportunities for other funders to support us towards longer term sustainability. We are very grateful."

"We think that people are taking notice of our work and taking us seriously and this donor must think our work is of a high standard...it feels really good. Thanks so much." - Carlene

SECRET CITIES / SECRETA CIDADES

Ensemble members of Skimstone Arts worked with Casa Da Esquina in Coimbra, Portugal, supported by a grant from the Ministry of Culture. Through an intense week of collaboration the two companies devised a series of questions and performance interventions which explore the hidden points of where the two cities of Coimbra and Newcastle may connect…..that is share similar stories of love, secrets, desires and fears. Two artworks are now in progress.

"Working with Skimstone Arts was a very rewarding experience for Casa Da Esquina. Both organisations are multi arts and work in different disciplines...it was a good and proficient challenge to combine all these ideas. The synthesis we achieved with Skimstone Arts was and is essential to continue developing this work that we hope to show next year.We thank Skimstone Arts for this lovely week of work and experiences of exchange and hope to continue this and more works to come." - Ricardo - Artistic Director/performer.

"A really inspiring and engaging week full of creative ideas, and warmth and generosity of our host artists. There's a great deal of similarity between our two companies and it was personally stimulating to work with another musician as well as the combination of other art forms. The people of Coimbra really connected with our interventions across both languages. We look forward to bringing Casa Da Esquina to Newcastle." - Peter Saaremets - musician/performer

CONNECTING KAOS IN BRUSSELS

Paul Collard, Chief Executive of Creativity, Culture and Education talks about Claire's creative collaboration work with children with ASD (autistic spectrum disorder) at an International Conference at The Bronx Theatre in Brussels.

Claire’s project was one of four chosen to be presented in Brussels at a conference ‘Artists in Creative Education: Unlocking Children’s Creativity - A Practical Guide for Artists to launch an Artists’ Handbook highlighting good practice, tips, support and advice for artists interested in exploring their practice in educational settings. She presented a workshop about her participatory practice along with composer Roumen Dimitrov, her co- artist on the project, to an international audience.

Her project 'Connecting Kaos' was part of an AiCE project (Artists in Creative Education Project)
across 7 countries and involving over 30 artists, funded by CCE – Creativity, Culture and Education.

" This was an amazing year long journey of exploration, working with artists committed to their own quality practice and how we can inclusively engage children as explorers, co - collaborators and experimentors." - Claire Webster Saaremets

SUCCESS OF ROBERT WALSER EVENT

Short Stories by the Swiss author Robert Walser (1878-1956) was read by Gabriele Heller, Claire Webster Saaremets and Tim Bennett at an evening with stories and music and an open discussion about the work of Robert Walser on 15th July 2011 at Forth Street. The event by the Institute Robert Walser was drew in a packed and varied audience of academics, students, artists and other members of the public.

Ann Alex of Jazz blog bebopspoken here review stated 'The readers, Gabi, Claire Webster Saaremets and Tim Bennett were all accomplished actors who read well, such passages as Walser's 'Job Application' in which he said that he would be a faithful honest employee who just wanted peace to get on with the job....Discussion of the work was encouraged, and there was a book display, and also wine and nibbles, so what’s not to like? More Walser inspired events are promised for the future I’m glad to report.

Watch out for the Robert Walser Festival platforming artists and academics responses to his work next March 2012. See www.instituterobertwalser.com

TYNEMOUTH STATION COMMISSION

Claire and performer/composer Tim Dalling become the 'Thought Collectors' and exchange a song for a story, tale or response about travelling on a trains to and from Tynemouth Station, as part of a new performance piece, commissioned by North Tyneside Council for Queen's Diamond Jubilee
Celebration next year.

Claire and Tim are working with stallholders, children in local schools, workmen, Friends and Associations, historians and the local police all connected with Tynemouth station. Their responses
will be woven into the final piece.

SHARING OUR PARTICIPATORY, COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE HOME AND ABROAD

Claire is invited to present Skimstone Arts' participatory practice of working in collaboration with other artists, members of the public, young and older people to create a diversity of artworks, at The Bronx Theatre, Brussels, Casa Da Esquina in Portugal and at the Wunderbar Festival in Newcastle.

"It's great to really be clear about who, what and why we are Skimstones Arts and what our aims and ambitions are for the future. Some of the Ensemble have a long history of exploring our practice and each participation and collaboration moves this forward and enables us to reflect. This has been a fantastic year of international partnerships along with those nearer to home."

ARUN'S LATEST FILM REVIEWED BY NEW SCREEN WRITERS NORTH

Arun Bose's latest film '3 years' was reviewed by North East Screen Writers Group at the Lit and Phil on 5th Nov 2011. His film was recognised as having great potential for film festivals, due to his use of emotive subject matter and camera technique. Arun welcomed the positive critique including further suggestions for edits.

Arun said " I found the comments from the group very powerful because they have a great experience as screen writers. They will help me to think about the structure of my film."

LATEST NEWS FROM OUR YOUNG ARTISTS COLLECTIVE

NATIONAL AWARDS & OPPORTUNITIES

Chris Hall (above creating his portfolio of work) was selected by BALTIC to be their Changemaker.
Changemakers aims to unlock the leadership potential of young people (18-25) through a year long programme which brings out leadership skills through training, coaching and goal setting, combined with 6 months in an organisation leading on a specific project; building their confidence and skills

"Just wanted to say that I am really looking forward to working with Chris and that the rest of the team are much looking forward to meeting him! I think it will be incredibly useful to us to have some ideas from someone so new to BALTIC." Jonathan Lynch, Community Learning and Engagement Assistant,
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art

Calum Hemphill won Film Nation Awards Best Fiction 17 to 19 with his film Respect, along with six other young people. The Award was presented by Rick Edwards, a presenter from T4 at the 2011 Film Nation Shorts Awards Ceremony which took place on Tuesday 25th October at Village Underground in Shoreditch, East London.

'With the Olympic Games less than a year away, this initiative is an ideal way to show young people throughout the UK how they can get involved with London 2012. It's not just about the sport, there's so much exciting culture taking place - it's a chance to show the very best side of London and British life.

"It was very exciting waiting to find out if we had won. So you can imagine how great it was when they opened the envelope and we were announced as the winners in our category."

We nominated Jess Johnson to join the Arts Award National Participation Team. She says "Being involved in the Arts Award Participation Team is a truly great thing. It feels fantastic, to know that your opinions are being heard and that they are valued. It's not very often that an exam board comes forward asking how their students feel about a qualification. I feel like this is a big step towards Arts Award wanting to create an atmosphere of true youth participation with the artists they cater for. Working with Skimstone Arts has been truly an eye opening experience for me. ...it has given me the chance to really experience the arts and engage in my own creativity for a change! Doing Gold Award with an advisor and a structured weekly meeting outline has provided me with my own motivation and more willingness to rise up to the challenge."

YAC IS AWARDED AN ARTS AWARD ACCESS GRANT

This grant supported two separate site visits to London as part of a new project - Landmarks

"Landmarks is our latest project. We like this theme because it helps us explore how landmarks have a different meaning to each one of us. Also, we will look at what influence historical monuments, people, buildings etc. have on our lives and the people around us.

We want to explore How do political decisions made in London and Newcastle affect us? How do we recognise inner landmarks in the places we live? We are using video, photography and live performance as our artforms. We also like the idea of landmarks because we see Skimstone Arts and making art as a landmark in our lives."

About our research trip to London…

"I really enjoyed the day, we managed to get a lot of filming done and also photography and other inspirations for future projects. I have asked the other young artists what they thought of the day and they says they have inspiration. I have now got many ideas for my workshop about layering techniques for my Gold Arts Award" - Carlene

"The experience was so good that I have experienced the atmosphere of London for the first time and I would love to go again. The different landmarks were amazing and Big Ben was my favourite. I enjoyed photographing close ups of the hands using my zoom lens." - Chris C

"As an artist it was quiet packed and energetic and it also inspired me to do a lot of creative things, for example writing lyrics and the short film that I have been part of . My role today was acting for the short film." - Steven

YAC VISIT TATE MODERN, LONDON AND THE TURNER PRIZE AT BALTIC

Some members of YAC went to BALTIC recently to give their responses to the Turner Prize nominees..they included:

"some of the scenes that George Shaw painted with the enamel paints were not what you see in an exhibition....not conventionally beautiful...they could have been down my street....I liked the titles of his work more than the others."

OTHER NEWS

Arts Award Moderation

3 x Gold, 3 x Silver and 4 x Bronze National Arts Awards will be moderated on December 9th 2011.
We'll let you know the results on our website. All the young artist's portfolios will be online soon.

Claire attends key conference in Manchester

Claire attended the National Arts Award Conference for Trainers and Moderators in Manchester this month - November 2011.

"It was good to hear Laura Gander Howe from Arts Council England talk about prioritising children and young people at risk as a requirement of their funding strategies and for us as trainers to spend time discussing the importance of standardisation and quality, within the Arts Award, with the national team and moderators across the country."

T'AI CHI MASTER FROM CANADA

Our studio is now hired by many different organisations from across the region and beyond!
Founder of the Tai Chi and Meditation Centre in Toronto delivers Personal Mastery course at Skimstone

Andy James is an international, internal martial arts coach and judge, an acclaimed author, and key-note speaker on the transformation and integration of consciousness.

Andy came over from Canada to delivered the first stage of his Personal Mastery course for the UK team. People travelled from London and the region for a weekend of exploration.

"The class was challenging and inspiring and left me with many things to practice and consider. I often use warm ups from this form of Tai Chi with our Ensemble and Young Artists Collective at the beginning of sessions." - Peter Saaremets

"Andy James coaching the Personal Mastery class on an aspect of Qigong"

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Landmarks Exhibition Event
Thursday 16th February 2012 at Skimstone Studios

We'd like to hear from you about the times you would find best to attend.

12.30 pm to 2 pm or 4.30 - 6.30 pm

Please send just the time you'd prefer to reply to claire@skimstone.org.uk or peter@skimstone.org.uk

Festival Robert Walser
19th-25th March 2012

Can you help?
We need computer chairs, photocopier and more digital cameras.....in good working order.

if you wish to hire our city centre facilities contact
claire@skimstone.org.uk 07803670654