ARTS AWARD COURSES at Metal

ARTS AWARD is a nationally recognised scheme which can be based on any arts or media activity, which you can complete at Metal. Find out what inspires you, share your talents, and you’ll walk away with an award that makes a real difference in the world of work and the arts. There are no set rules on how you present your final work. You just need to be aged 11-16 and ready to explore new creative experiences.

Offered at Bronze level in Autumn 2012 and both Bronze and Silver levels in Spring 2013.

The course is free but will require some contribution from students towards a couple of field trips.

Places are limited so book early.

See Arts Award website or email Camilla Fox on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

FUTURE DATES:

Summer Arts Award Course:

1 week Arts Award Monday 12th – Friday 16th August

10am-3pm £100 for the week

Sibling discount of 10% and also we offer before and after childcare for £6 per hour

Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more details and to book.

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ARTS AWARD ARCHIVE:

2-5 APRIL 2013

Metal's first Arts Award Discover course for 7-11 years over the Easter holiday went brilliantly - the fantastic fun-packed four days were filled with mini-beasts related creative activities and games. Children taking part got the opportunity to make creepy-crawly hats with a professional milliner, create colourful fantasy bug sculptures with 'Sculptureman', and experience channelling their artistic energies and passions in a truly creative environment. The children went away with a packed sketchbook and proper certificate to show for it.

ARTS AWARD BRONZE LEVEL - SEPTEMBER 2012-FEBRUARY 2013

A photo from the award-giving ceremony in March:

 

Monday 17 December
Videos screened at this session:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 5 November:

This  week's Arts Award session was held at the Royal Opera House Production Park in Thurrock.

We enjoyed a fascinating look back-stage at scenery creation for the many different shows that the Royal Opera House produce. Students were presented with all aspects of the hands-on making and logistics of scenery production from concept to actual performance. Another inspirational trip!

Monday 29 October:

This half-term, Metal’s students visited both the Southbank Centre and the Tate Modern in London as part of their Bronze Arts Award. A great day was had by all – we explored kinetic outdoor sculpture, inmate artwork, punk graphics, the Tate’s permanent Modern collections, and had a lot of fun in the interactive zone.

The packed day inspired and invigorated everyone – and the Drop-in day at Metal a couple of days later was buzzing with the experience. Catching up with their project work and taking part in a specialist drawing workshop with artist Simon Monk helped this half-term go super creatively for the Metal students.

Monday 22 October:

Bronze students preparing for their London trip to the Tate Modern and the Southbank Centre next week... lots of great work being produced – all exploring the Why / Where / How / What / When / Who of their project work, whilst carefully considering their creative process:

Monday 15 October:

Another great Arts Award session last Monday introducing Simon Monk who shared his visual arts practice with the students. He also explored body illustration concentrating on action poses valid in a comics / animation / illustration context, and got people drawing!

Read more about Arts Award at Chalkwell Hall here.

8 October:

The Bronze students continued working on their portfolios and watched videos about street artist Blu, portrait artist Michael Landy, drawing to the music, and a new rain-simulating installation at Barbican.

 

Links to videos:

http://www.blublu.org/sito/video/muto.html

http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/video/tateshots-michael-landy

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/video/2012/oct/03/barbican-rain-room-video

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/video/2009/sep/19/guide-drawing-painting?INTCMP=SRCH

 

24 September:
Another engrossing evening where the Bronze students were introduced to Metal’s in-house website coordinator, Michaela Freeman, and a behind the scenes look at IDEA13, the online cultural networking website for Southend. Students also looked at creating their own blog as part of their evidence of their creative activities.

17 September:
Metal’s Bronze Arts Award started on Monday 17 September and it was a great beginning to what promises to be a fun-packed and creative 12 weeks. Three packs of biscuits down... by six o’clock some didn’t want to leave and are raring to go for next week:

Metal’s Bronze Arts Award started on Monday 17 September at Chalkwell Hall, and it was a great beginning to what promises to be a fun-packed and creative 12 weeks!

Three packs of biscuits down... by six o’clock some didn’t want to leave and are raring to go for next week:

'Now like Mondays'

'Looking forward to the next session...'

If you’re interested, now’s the time to book on our Spring courses – Bronze and Silver Arts Awards – email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to reserve a place.

 

The White Wall Space present 'Thames', an exhibition of local photographer Simon Fowler at Cafe Valise, Leigh Community Centre.

Opening: Friday 16 May 2013

The exhibition will be open from 17 April - 14 June.

 

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ARCHIVE:

The White Wall Space present Ground Artefact, an exhibition of local photographer Julian Woollatt at Cafe Valise, Leigh Community Centre.

Dates: 13 April - 11 May 2013.

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METAL PRESENTS: DANCE IN FOCUS

13 March - 6 April 2013

Cafe Valise, Leigh Community Centre, Elm Road, Leigh on Sea, Essex SS9 1SP

English National Ballet’s Dance in Focus exhibition: Curated by leading dance photographer Chris Nash, premiered at City Hall as a highlight of Big Dance 2012 and London 2012 Festival. This vibrant, inspiring collection of photographs by emerging dance photographers explores the energy, emotiveness and elegance of dance and movement, and is on tour across London and the South East.

+ Thursday 4th April 7pm

In Conversation with Chris Nash - Chris Nash gave an insight into his working practice and experiences, discussing a range of topics. An exclusive opportunity to pose questions and find out more about photographing dance.

Here's a short film from the event by Sparky Media Productions:

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Cafe Valise launched at Leigh Community Centre on Tuesday 27 November 2012.

It will now be open between 10am-4pm Monday-Saturday.

LAUNCH NIGHT:

Despite the rain on the launch night, we had lots of visitors coming to sample the cafe menu between 4.30-7pm, followed by a very busy opening of White Wall Space's exhibition of drawings by Leigh-based comedian Phill Jupitus.

Watch our video from the evening to see what our visitors said about Cafe Valise:

And here are few photos too:

 

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About Cafe Valise at Leigh Community Centre

 

Metal are proud to announce a new partnership with Leigh Town Council to bring our travelling cafe – Cafe Valise – to the heart of the revitalised Leigh Community Centre.

Following a successful summer of Cafe Valise at Peterborough Arts Festival and the prestigious Liverpool Biennial, the pop-up cafe – hand made by Leigh-on-Sea artisan, Jonathan Wells – has taken up residence in the community run space. It was launched with a range of creative activities on Tuesday 27 November.

The cafe space - at the centre of the building - has been given an impressive Metal ‘make-over’ complete with children’s arts and craft area. This brightly coloured space with fun astro-turf, desks, books and games has been designed in response to the feedback from parents and children using the touring Cafe Valise.

Metal have also designed in a gallery wall curated by Leigh-based arts organisation, White Wall Space. The first exhibition, Collected Doodles 1983-2010, features cartoons by the well-known and loved comedian Phill Jupitus, that have never been exhibited before.

He comments: 'As a child I always loved comics and cartoons. Sadly I wasn't blessed with an artistic eye. But blind enthusiasm will often take you as far as actual talent will.'

Cafe Valise opening hours will be Monday – Saturday 11am until 4pm with a delicious menu of sandwiches, soup, tea, coffee and a range of home-made cakes. We also offer an affordable kids menu.

The community centre has recently been taken on by Leigh Town Council who have been making a number of exciting improvements to the facilities on offer. Together with a number of community organisations and volunteers – one of which is Metal – they are aiming to create a vibrant, creative and lively community resource for all ages.

Councillor Richard Herbert, who has led the Community Centre Working Party, commented: 'The Town Council has received a tremendous amount of support from residents and volunteers and especially Metal. It is great to see the Community Centre gradually coming back to life. Our aim is to make the Centre the heart of the community where everyone can find something of interest be it a class or club, artwork or concerts, dances or film shows.'

The building offers some fantastic rooms to hire for all sorts of activity. Metal’s plans include a evening of jazz on Friday 14 December, hosted by Jam Jar Jazz; cabaret to come in the new year; music events; artist’s talks and our popular Pecha Kucha evenings.

Launch Night Details:

Tuesday 27 November

4.30pm – 7pm:
Drop in to check out the cafe and other facilities that the building has to offer.
View the Affordable Art Wall run by artist, Madelaine Murphy – find out how to display your work.
Stick around to try out our fantastic range of coffee, tea and home made cakes.

7pm – 9.30pm: Private View of Collected Doodles 1983-2010 by Phill Jupitus
Full bar – and teas and coffees available.

Cafe Valise, Leigh Community Centre, 67 Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 1SP For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 01702 470700.

Metal runs a programme of Culture LABS each year that brings together groups of artists and thinkers in exploratory, week-long, intensive residencies around different themes and subjects. Artists come from a variety of disciplines, types of practice and different places around the UK and overseas.

LABS in 2011 and 2012 have included investigations into Digital work with emphasis on new software and hardware development; Comedy and Live Art; Protest and Propaganda in relationship to the modern Olympic movement.

We host LABS at our spaces in Liverpool, Southend-on-Sea and Peterborough. They are designed to help artists examine and develop their practice, assist with knowledge exchange and expertise, and to provide the opportunity for time and space to develop new ideas.

ARCHIVE:

17-21 June 2013

Metal Liverpool's series of interdisciplinary labs continued with Composers Lab at Edge Hill. Eight composers and musicians were working in an intensive week, devising new work. This has included peer to peer presentations of current work and in-depth practical and technical sessions. Award-winning composer Anna Meredith talked to participants about her career development and musician/sound engineer Gareth Jones worked on technical software development, followed by production and co-development of new sound and musical works, ranging from electronica and synthesis to traditional composition.

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SWITCH - IDEAS LABS 2013

Metal and Arts Council of England / Partner Organisations: Norwich Writer's Centre and Pacitti Company.

Pacitti Company, Ipswich - 28 January - 1 February
Writer's Centre, Norwich - 4 February - 8 February
Metal, Peterborough - 18 March - 22 March

Download the final report from all three labs HERE.

Metal, in conjunction with Arts Council England, offered 24 arts practitioners the opportunity to get involved in one of three ideas labs across the East of England. This is part of the Digital Escalator programme within the Eastern Region. The Ideas Labs were 5 day intensive opportunities to develop and embed digital practice within creative people in the region. They were aimed at artists and arts practitioners and companies currently active in within the Eastern Region (as defined by Arts Council England – see http://www.artscouncil.org.uk - including Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex). The opportunity allowed all participants to establish a comprehensive overview of ways and means of using new technologies in arts projects in a variety of contexts, involved technical sessions, peer to peer presentation of current work and an opportunity to devise and develop new ideas.

SWITCH - IDEAS LABS - PETERBOROUGH 18 - 22 MARCH

Metal worked with 12 artists and curators in an intensive week long lab at Chauffeurs Cottage in Peterborough between 18-22 March. This was the third lab supported by Arts Council England with the specific aim of building digital capacity in the Eastern region as part of Metal's lead role as Digital Escalator. The Peterborough Lab focussed on outdoor arts development and included an opportunity for those participating to develop new ideas for projection within Cathedral Square.

The Ideas Labs have generated significant networking opportunities for those participating and overall Metal has been able to work with 24 curators, programmers, arts leaders and artists between January and March.

SWITCH - IDEAS LABS - NORWICH 4 - 8 FEBRUARY 2013

Working with 8 regional artists, Metal were developing new works looking at coding, writing, maps, apis and more. The artists have experienced an intensive series of sessions including talks by Justin Hopper and Rachel Lichtenstein.

You can see some of the emerging work at: viralprojects.com.

We also explored the city, including the inspiring Soup Lab run by Rachel Rayns, who was one of the participants.

Read Matthew Linley's blog about the Norwich Lab.

SWITCH - IDEAS LABS IPSWICH - 28 JANUARY - 1 FEBRUARY 2013

Metal in collaboration with Pacitti Company in Ipswich developed a five-day ideas lab working with 6 regional practitioners. The artists involved explored a variety of approaches to digital practice working in the Think Tank space at Pacittti Company. The lab investigated the use of technology in performing environments, including surround sound and open source processing. A number of emerging new projects were developed and both Metal and Pacitti Company will be staying in touch with the artists over the next few months.

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Culture LAB: ON WRITING FICTION  -  MONDAY 15 - FRIDAY 19 OCT 2012

Metal hosted a week long Culture LAB for creative writers, designed to provide a peer-to-peer environment for an intensive period of development of your writing practice. It included input from invited speakers (including respected fiction writers Cathi Unsworth, Christopher Fowler, Julie Myerson); one-to-one advice from our facilitator for the week;  support from the Metal creative team; time and space to write and develop specific aspects of a current project; working and social time with peers for discussion and exchange of ideas and practice. Funded through Metal’s grant from Arts Council England (ACE).

There is an added opportunity for participants to work towards being part of Shorelines, Metal’s Literature Festival of the Sea that will take place in Autumn 2013. The participants of the Culture Lab were encouraged to consider how their work might fit into this theme of the sea with a view to either beginning a new piece of writing or developing an existing text for inclusion in the Shorelines festival, Metal’s Literature Festival of the Sea that will take place in Autumn 2013.

Speakers info:

Julie Myerson
The novelist Julie Myerson was born in Nottingham in 1960. She read English at Bristol University and has worked for the National Theatre and in publishing. Her first work of non-fiction, Home: The Story of E veryone Who Ever Lived in our House, was published in 2004, followed by a memoir about PE at school - Not a Games Person (2005). Julie Myerson's work has been translated into many languages. Her latest book is Then (2011).

Cathi Unsworth
Cathi Unsworth is a novelist, writer and editor who lives and works in London. Her first novel THE NOT KNOWING was published in 2005, followed the next year with the award-winning short story compendium LONDON NOIR, which she edited, and in 2007 with the punk noir novel THE SINGER. Her third novel, BAD PENNY BLUES, inspired by the unsolved 'Jack the Stripper' murders of 1959-65 was published in 2010 to great critical acclaim. She has recently published WEIRDO in 2012.

Christopher Fowler
Christopher Fowler is the multi award-winning author of thirty novels and ten short story collections, and the author of the Bryant & May mystery novels. His first bestseller was 'Roofworld'. His most recent short stories appear in The Time Out Book Of London Short Stories, Dark Terrors 3, London Noir, Neon Lit., A Book Of Two Halves, Vengeance Is, Love In Vein 2, Destination Unknown, 100 Fiendish Little Frightmares, and The Time Out Book Of New York Stories. The tenth book of the series, Bryant & May and the Invisible Code was released on August 2nd, 2012.

Videos with the participants of ON WRITING FICTION Culture Lab:

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May 2012

Culture LAB: NET PARK

photos and video to follow...

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March 2012

Culture LAB:  PROTEST AND PROPAGANDA

March Culture LAB took place at Metal in Southend, and looked at the subject of Protest and Propaganda in relationship / response to the Olympic Games 2012.

Participating artists: Heidi Wigmore, Hayley Goodsell, Stephen Walker, Lynn MacRitchie and Josh Langan.

Watch the videos to see what the artists thought of the lab:

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October 2011

Culture LAB:  Comedy and Live Art

Metal devised and hosted the second in our series of Culture LABS in October 2011 with the performance artist, Oreet Ashery. The week-long, residential LAB held in Southend brought together live artists and stand up comedians to explore humour and the processes of developing work. The LAB was facilitated by Oreet Ashery and Simon Poulter. Participating artists were Caroline Smith, Mem Morisson, Owen Parry, Scottee and Oriana Fox. Visiting comedians included Simon Munnery, Alex Horne, Shaista Aziz and Markus Birdman.

During the week a number of artists developed ideas for new projects. These were presented to a number of invited guests at the end of the week and several of the projects have already gone into development.

See what the artists had to say at the end of the week:

 

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Culture LAB:  Digital:  March 2010. Metal's first Culture LABS was developed and facilitated by artists, Simon Poulter and Graham Harwood and was organised in partnership with the Digital Exploration Centre in Southend on Sea.  We invited eight European artists to come for a week to Chalkwell Hall.  Participants included Hans Verhaegen, Stephen Fortune, Caroline Heron, Markus Soukup, Olga Panades, Rob Smith, John O'Shea and Emilie Giles.

Visiting guests ran sessions with the artists, these included Dr Tim Kindberg, Pervasive Media Studio, Dr Matthew Fuller, Goldsmiths College, Dr Ken Guild, University of Essex and Peter Higgins, Land Design Studio. A series of early development projects were created by each of the artists, including a short film by Markus Soukup that went on to feature in Metal's exhibition STILL and contribute to him winning the Liverpool Art Prize in 2011. You can see documentation of the Metal/DEC Lab 2011 by clicking here.

"I was hugely grateful to be nominated for this week long workshop because, having not been surrounded by a supportive network of my peers for some time, this was an opportunity for me to rejuvenate, to come up with and develop an idea quickly, using the group as a soundboard and finding their comments extremely useful in my progress. I felt over the course of the week I found a way back to my own ideas again and have a new sense of positivity about my practice for the future." Caroline Heron

The Diamond Street App
Rachel Lichtenstein

Launched on 14 June 2013 at 7pm, Leigh Community Centre, Elm Rd, Leigh on Sea

Please reserve your free ticket here.

Rachel Lichtenstein will discuss the research, production and development of The Diamond Street App: a freely downloadable GPS-activated, rich media digital app for smartphones and tablets, which takes readers on a journey through the historic jewellery quarter of Hatton Garden and the stories in her latest book Diamond Street.

Using content from the book, along with specially developed rich media, soundscapes and specially commissioned films, this app allows you to go on either a virtual (armchair version) or a real guided tour around the area. This beautifully produced and designed app is the first of its kind, an immersive and embodied publishing model enabled by new technologies that transforms content from a literary non-fiction book about place into a dynamic interactive walk around the city streets.

Part new media experience, part walking tour, this location-based app fuses text, documentary film and image with real-time interaction. Guided by the author, along with a host of other characters, the secrets of the streets around you will be revealed as you wander around the area. The jewellery quarter of Hatton Garden is one of London’s most mysterious areas – home to diamond workshops, underground vaults, monastic dynasties, subterranean rivers and forgotten palaces. The Diamond Street App is your passport to this fascinating hidden world.

The Diamond Street App is funded by the Arts Council and produced by Rachel Lichtenstein in collaboration with Metal, Calvium, Phantom Productions, Field Studies Ltd & Hamish Hamilton.

The app in now available to download free of charge in the iTunes app store and from Google app store for Android phones and tablets.

Rachel Lichtenstein is an artist, writer and curator. She is currently writing a trilogy of non-fiction books for Hamish Hamilton on different London streets. The first, On Brick Lane, was published in 2007 to much critical acclaim and shortlisted for the Ondaatje prize. Diamond Street: The Hidden World of Hatton Garden is the second in the series.

'Lichtenstein has brought alive something of London… how one street can be a kind of Tardis, a portal to another world of parallel commerce, codes, rituals, history.' The Times

See www.diamondstreetapp.com for more information.

The Next Future Park meeting in Southend is:-

Date: Thursday 13 June 2013
Venue: Leigh Community Centre, Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea SS9
Time:  7pm - 10pm
Programme:-
7pm-8pm - How to Write a Good Press Release - a practical workshop with seasoned PR and marketing professional, Syd Moore.
8pm-8.30pm - 10 x 3 Min Wonders - an open mic session for any artist with an idea or project to promote
8.30-9pm - Artist talk with Q&A with Rohini Devasher - current artist-in-resident at Metal - visiting from India.  More details of her work here. 

Future Park is Metal’s networking and information sharing evening for practicing artists, working in all disciplines, from across South East Essex.

The format of each evening is as follows:-

7pm – 8pm: Practical session / ‘surgery’ run by experts on different (useful) subjects for artists.
8pm – 8.30pm: Up to 10 x 3 minute ‘open mic’ spots for artists to tell you about new ideas, existing projects, opportunities coming up etc.  If you want to sign up for a slot, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
8.30pm: Invited guest speaker with opportunity for Q&A
9pm – 10pm: Networking and drinks.

Artists, working in all disciplines who think they may benefit from engaging with a dynamic, ambitious, artist-led environment are welcome to drop by.

FUTURE PARK 2013 DATES:

19 September 2013 Guest Speaker: tbc

12 December 2013 Guest Speaker: tbc

Venue:
Chalkwell Hall
Chalkwell Avenue
Southend on Sea
SS0 8NB
Tel: 01702 470700
Email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Just ask if there's a particular topic you'd like us to cover or an inspiring speaker you'd like us to invite to future Future Park evenings and we’ll try to help.

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ARCHIVE:

Thurs 14 March 2013 - Surgery on writing funding applications with Colette Bailey. Guest speaker Russell Martin from Artquest and informal discussion over a glass of wine.

Thursday 29 March 2012: Surgery:  How to Document Your Work Well – with artist and photographer, Joe Lang.  Guest Speaker:  Gavin Wade, artistic director, Eastside Projects.

Thursday 26 July 2012: Surgery:  Artist's working in Creative Education with the new Bridge organisation for the Eastern Region run from the Royal Opera House Production Park in Thurrock. Guest Speaker: ARTSJUSTAWORD (AIJAW) was created in 2001 by a group of 16 year olds, with the belief in making the visual arts inclusive in education and communities.

Thursday 25 October 2012: Surgery: Introduction to Final Cut Pro by Simon Poulter.  Guest speaker, artist Ruth Catlow from Furtherfield Gallery, and 3-minutes wonders presentations by Colette Bailey, Niki Cornish, Agnes Lukacs, Laura Keeble, Charlotte Windley, Daniel Pincham-Phipps and Amy Mckenny. Watch our videocast below.

Thursday 13 December 2012: Artists Networking

Photos from 25 October:

 

More photos from previous Future Park events:

Metal believes that good ideas, creativity and the commitment of individuals can transform places, and like all enthusiastic and successful enterprises, create more participation, optimism and determination in others.

In all our spaces - Liverpool, Southend on Sea and Peterborough, Metal has a wide network of volunteers and supporters, made up of creative individuals who help us shape ideas as well as helping us successfully deliver activities and events.

These groups called FUTURE STATION (in Liverpool) and FUTURE PARK (in Southend) and FUTURE NETWORK (Peterborough) meet on a regular basis to brainstorm ideas, make plans and talk tactics.

If you would like to get involved and help us continue to develop our exciting places and activities, we would love to hear from you.

For FUTURE STATION contact Jodie Mellor on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 0151 7072277

For FUTURE PARK contact Camilla Fox on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 01702 470700

For FUTURE NETWORK contact Mark Richards on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 01733 893077

On 4 October 2012, the Mayor of Southend officially switched on the six permanent, neon, flower light sculptures in Chalkwell Park next to Chalkwell Hall. A commemorative plaque was also unveiled by the Mayor.

All the original drawings by the 60 young people who took part were on display at Chalkwell Hall during the event.

Commissioned by Metal and made by artist Rob Haselden in partnership with pupils from Darlinghurst Primary School, the lights have just won an award in this year’s Southend in Bloom competition!

 

 

Photos by: Bradley Keeble

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About the project:

Metal worked in partnership with artist, Ron Haselden, and Darlinghurst Primary School to create six public neon light sculptures in Chalkwell Park – which is where Metal’s Southend home is situated. Designs were selected from drawings and the resulting structures are now permanently installed for all to enjoy. Join us to help celebrate the official switch-on by Southend’s Mayor, with a chance to meet the artist and participating pupils.

Ron Haselden chose to work with a group of school pupils from Darlinghurst Primary School asking them to complete a set of simple pencil line drawings, responding to the theme of their favourite flower or plant. Around 150 drawings were produced.

From these drawings, Ron selected six different blooms which have been faithfully translated into neon light sculptures, each approximately 1m x 1m large. The lights are mounted onto 5m high wooden posts and permanently installed within the park for all to enjoy.

As well as providing a decorative and interesting artwork for Chalkwell Park, the sculptures also serve a very functional purpose of providing some much needed lighting in the park during the darker winter months.

A spokesperson for Darlinghurst Primary School said of the opportunity: 'As a school, we jumped at the chance to work on this exciting project. Our Year Two’s loved working with Ron and all produced some super art work. The six children who have been chosen, and our whole school community, cannot wait to see their sculptures installed in the park.'

The artist, Ron Haselden commented: 'The children were very motivated and produced a whole array of exciting drawings. The hardest part was for us to select just a few for the neon. I wanted them all to be lit up.'

The resulting artworks were entered by Metal into the 2012’s Southend in Bloom competition and won an award.

 

On The Line is an ambitious and unique arts project conceived by Metal, currently taking place in 22 schools along the South Essex banks of the River Thames from Thurrock to Shoeburyness. Each school is working with an artist, across a variety of artistic disciplines, to create artworks, literature and new artefacts that respond to the connection between the River Thames, the railway line and their community.

These works will be brought together to create the ON THE LINE exhibition at Metal’s Chalkwell Hall, open to the public for a month during the summer of 2013.

Exhibition Dates: Thursday 27 June - Friday 26 July 2013

Opening times: Wednesday – Sunday. 11am - 4pm. Or by appointment 01702 470700

Venue: Chalkwell Hall, Chalkwell Park, Chalkwell Avenue, Southend on Sea SS0 8NB.

Twitter updates: @MetalSouthend #ontheline

Works on display – created by hundreds of school pupils taking part, are as diverse as a radio plays; ‘discovered’ books; animation; photography; documentary style film; dance; new pieces of music as well as sea shanties and nursery rhymes. Others are exploring the area’s heritage through buildings, landscape, industry and the communities who use the River and the Railways for work and/or leisure.

Chalkwell Hall is perfectly placed for the exhibition, with its stunning views over the River Thames. The ground floor of the Hall will be completely transformed to become a temporary museum with an exhibition display designed by local Leigh artisan, Jonathan Wells.

Schools
Barons Court Infant School and Nursery
Blenheim Primary School
Chalkwell Hall Infant School
Chalkwell Hall Junior School
Chase High School
Darlinghurst Primary and Nursery School
Fairways Primary School
Greensted Primary School
Hamstel Junior School
Hassenbrook Academy
Heycroft Primary School
Leigh North Street Junior School
Milton Hall Primary School
Pitsea Junior School
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and Nursery
St Bernard's High School and Arts College
St George's Catholic Primary School
The Gateway Academy
Treetops Special School
Vange Primary School and Nursery
Westcliff High School for Girls
Whitmore Primary School

On the Line - Artists
Ingrid Andersen
Jessica Akerman
Stuart Bowditch
Lucy Brown
Sally Chinea
Chloe Dewe Matthews
Andy Field
Leslie Ford
Lucy Griffiths
Justin Hopper
Ben Johnson
Dicky Moore
Josie Moore
Syd Moore
Holly Murray
Damien Robinson
Nastassja Simensky
Rob Smith
David Watkins
Heidi Wigmore

Metal is partnered in the ON THE LINE project by:

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SATURDAY 13 JULY 2013. 11AM – 9PM
Chalkwell Park. Southend on Sea. SS0 8NB

Metal’s popular music and arts festival Village Green returns with an exciting, eclectic line up of live music, cabaret, spoken word, comedy, street theatre, arts and crafts and much more...

For more information about the WRISTBANDS - click here.

For more information about VOLUNTEERING - click here.

PROGRAMME confirmed so far:

MAIN STAGE:

THE SKINTS

The Skints combine jump-up ragga/hip hop in the anthemic ‘Rise Up’, to doses of ska and dancehall in a style that exudes the punk rock energy of their sell out live shows. Their latest is produced by reggae/dub afacianado Prince Fatty.

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SKINNY LISTER

Skinny Lister are a London-based five-piece English folk group like no other. Fronted by Dan Heptinstall and Lorna Thomas, their musical blend has something of The Pogues' infectious camaraderie and jovial recklessness.

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DB COHEN

D.B Cohen is described by his producer Snowboy as a mixture of Paul Weller, Bob Dylan, Chicago Blues and Two-Tone Ska with a punk attitude. Dan effortlessly mixes genres and is highly regarded in his field. Read our interview with DB Cohen here.

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PHILLIOUS WILLIAMS

Phillious Williams was born in the 17th century, a chronic bigamist and drunk, his life was mostly filled with misery and pain. Through the course of his pained and weary life, he became bitter but also charming, witty storyteller. Full of memoirs and stories put to song, Phillious Williams, a man in whom the word ‘persiflage’ finds the perfect home.

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WHITE DEVILS' CAUSE

White Devils' Cause are an energetic folk-rock 5-piece from Leigh-on-Sea. WDC rock a highly emotive and eclectic live set.

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THE LUCKY STRIKES

The Lucky Strikes sound like tobacco, typewriters and fiddles with a hint of blues, garage, Americana, Spaghetti Western, the infinitive howlin’ rock ‘n’ roll band from the Thames River Delta. A local favourite, this 4-piece (Dave Giles, Matt Boulter, Will Bray, Paul Ambrose) who regularly gig across the UK, supporting artists such as Richmond Fontaine and The Duke & The King.

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MIKA BOMB

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URBAN ALLSTARS

Urban Allstars is a collective of funk DJ's who have been playing together since 2002, including a residency at the Sun Rooms. Influences include Ninja tune, Freestyle, Gamm, Kompost, Winding road, white labels and graffiti/stencil art such as Banksy.

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BLACK CAT DJs

World famous photographer/filmmaker Dean Chalkley joins forces with International DJ Si Cheeba, both DJs have been actively involved in various musical “scenes” over the last 30 years. The “Black Cat Deejay Collective” have featured at events such as the Vintage Festival, The Good Foot at Madame Jo-Jo’s, Nottinghill Carnival Parties, Soul Parade in Paris, Dig Deeper in Brooklyn, Isle of Wight Festival and numerous underground sessions.

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AL NAED

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MUSIC HUB: r: #808080;">(SOUTHEND EDUCATION

MUSIC TRUST & METAL PRESENTS):

SAM DUCKWORTH (Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly)
Southend-on-Sea bred Sam Duckworth (of Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly) fresh back from Glastonbury with a new project and his unique blend of genre defying music. Has collaborated with greats such as Billy Bragg, Flea and Nitin Sawhney.

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ED HARCOURT

Ed Harcourt, a successful British singer-songwriter (supported R.E.M, Snow Patrol, Supergrass), has released five studio albums, two EPs and thirteen singles. His debut album, Here Be Monsters, was nominated for the 2001 Mercury Prize. Harcourt has also performed with Patti Smith and Marianne Faithfull.

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SWEET BILLY PILGRIM

Sweet Billy Pilgrim's last album was Mercury Music Prize nominated, their new album, Crown & Treaty, has already earned 5 and 4 star reviews. SBP have supported Jamie Cullum, The Who at the Royal Albert Hall and fellow Mercury nominees Portico Quartet.

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YOUTH CLUB

Youth Club formed in 2010, made up of 4 members including Danny White, who toured with Ladyhawke. The band aren't confined by the boundaries of genre describing their style as "the authentic sound of summer".

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SOUTHEND YOUTH ORCHESTRA

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FANTAZMAJAZZ (SOUTHEND BIG BAND)

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SOUTHEND YOUTH JAZZ BAND

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NOYE'S FLUDDE

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THE COLLIER ROCK SCHOOL

The Collier formed in September 2012 from attending the Belfairs Academy's Rock School in Leigh-On-Sea, a four piece producing original material and some old covers with a mix of Interpol, Kings of Leon and Radiohead. They are one of the most appealing young bands Essex has to offer.

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JUNIOR STRING ENSEMBLE

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PERCUSSION SCHOOL

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SHIP FULL OF BOMBS

Named after the SS Montgomery - a notable landmark of the Thames Delta, Ship Full of Bombs is Southend's alternative radio station, bringing you the very best music across the board. Regular shows include Indie Night In with Al Johnson, The Daryl Easlea Spectacular, Zoe Howe's Eclectika and more.

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MIDDLE AGE SPREAD

Music for mature people unafraid to dance. Established in 2010, MAS is DJs of a certain age play the very best in eclectic party and dance, everything from the Smiths to Shirley Bassey, Northern Soul to Chas and Dave. With hosts Daryl Easlea, Dan Newman, Al Johnson and Grandmaster Adam plus special guests.

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SUNDOWN ARTS:

Sundown is a unique, combined arts event offering comedy, spoken word, live music, performance art and short film.  Based in Leigh-on-Sea, though Sundown has spread its reputation producing events across the UK and London, at many prestigious venues and festivals including regular stints at the Union Chapel.

SUNDOWN ARTS PROGRAMME:

JAMES YORKSTON
A native of Fife, James Yorkston was an integral early member of the Fence Collective whose alumni include King Creosote, The Beta Band, KT Tunstall and Pictish Trail. Yorkston a singer- songwriter, performing his own original music as well as tackling a variety of traditional songs. Yorkston has supported Bert Jansch, worked with Four Tet, King Creosote and played at festivals such as Glastonbury, Green Man and Latitude. and worked with Four Tet and King Creosote.

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BEANS ON TOAST
Beans on Toast is a modern one-man band, a true DIY artist with true DIY ideals. A festival favourite, he's collaborated with the likes of Frank Turner, Ben Lovett and Emmy The Great.

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HELEN ARNEY 'DOMESTIC SCIENCE' SHOW

Join real-life science comedians (and real-life couple) Helen and Rob for a DIY science party full of home-cooked experiments and geeky comedy. Joined by a few special guest performers, Domestic Science will help you get your geek on.

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JASON STEEL

Jason Steel is a singer & picker of stringed instruments originally from Yorkshire. Former guitarist and singer in psych-folk outfit The Owl Service, his music has garnered considerable praise establishing Steel as a distinctive voice in the alternative folk scene.

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BEC HILL

Comedian Bec Hill's (Time Out's Top 5 Funniest Comedians on Twitter) acclaimed solo shows and hugely popular YouTube videos have garnered over 100,000 views globally gaining her cult status in both Australia and the UK, where she is now based. A sought-after MC and Headliner she is often found at London’s top alternative comedy clubs, such as Josie Long’s Lost Treasures of the Black Heart.

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FASHODA CRISIS

Fashoda Crisis Southend's only Satirical Transgressive Alt/Art Rock band noise behemoths Fashoda Crisis have spent the best part of a decade playing the UK as well as Ukraine, Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, Croatia and Serbia. They have released two critically acclaimed albums and received national airplay by Steve Lamacq on Radio One, XFM and Tom Robinson of BB6 Music. Fashoda's spleen venting abrasive noise-mongery will be dialled down for Village Green with a semi-acoustic set so as not to melt the canvas of the Sundown Tent.

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SONNY GREEN

Sonny Green (or SGB) is a music artist from Southend, performing accapella poetry, live PA's and jams with live bands, recently sharing the stage with the likes of Pete Doherty and Asian Dub Foundation.

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STORYTELLERS' CLUB

Expect to see top stand-ups telling true stories (for grown ups) and sometimes revealing more than they planned! Storytellers’ Club is the cult creation of stand-up comic Sarah Bennetto, springing to life in 2006, soon a monthly club was born, now resident year-round at Pleasance Islington, and appearing at UK music and arts festivals (End of Road), the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and the Edinburgh Fringe.

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STUART O'CONNOR

Psychadelic singer/songwriter Stuart O'Connor has played 1200 shows in 5 years and continues to as a full time touring musician, performing to audiences in Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Italy and one-off tours in Thailand, Holland, Greece and Colombia as well as numerous tours in his home country of the UK.

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MC ANGEL

MC Angel is a spoken word artist and rapper who grew up in a Camden estate, she has performed at Latitude festival, toured with Secret Cinema and Asian Dub Foundation. MC Angel has curated lyrically challenging showcases for Show Studio and OneTaste at Secret Garden festival presenting a unique vision of what it means to be angelic - less lingerie-clad honied eroticism, more passionate riotous energy.

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NEIL DENNY'S LITTLE ATOMS

Neil Denny's Little Atoms radio show/podcast has been broadcasting interviews with leading writers from the worlds of science and the arts on London's Resonance 104.4FM for nearly 8 years. During this time they have interviewed people such as Ian McEwan, Noam Chomsky, Brian Cox, Christopher Hitchens, Lynn Barber and Marcus du Sautoy. In 2012 the interviews were downloaded around 1.2 million times.

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KOTIRI TENT:

‘The Kōtiri’ is a 1920’s side stall tent which has been cleverly transformed into an intimate cabaret venue featuring performances from some of the world’s most acclaimed sideshow, circus and cabaret entertainers. This stage is curated by Lilli La Scala.

SAM WILLS (NZ)

Sam Wills, New Zealand’s (Best Show at New Zealand Comedy Festival) foremost funny freak is a hit with audiences gloablly, here he presents a show with more stunts, more mayhem and more stupidity than you can shake a juggler at. Sam is a one man recipe for disaster that will have you, possibly literally, in stitches.

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VILLAGE HALL:

PERHAPS CONTRAPTION

Perhaps Contraption is an astonishing, twisted brass, art-pop marching band. This truly unique, lung and percussion-powered device has paraded all over prestigious events such as Glastonbury, Bestival, Lovebox, Wilderness and The Secret Garden Party.

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GLOBAL VILLAGE:

 

CHAKARDAR
Chakardar is Europe’s leading promoter of Indian percussion, which values tabla excellence. Chakardar’s extensive experience and links with great maestros brings the UK the highest calibre of expertise. There are regular classes, workshops, lecture demos and residential summer school.

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ABIOYE & RANDALL

Guitarist David Randall has toured the world playing with Faithless, Dido, Sinead O'Connor and more. During some time off in Brooklyn last year, he ran into fellow guitarist Fausat Abioye whose roots in Nigeria and the Caribbean can be heard in her approach to guitar playing. Together they explore the music of West and North Africa and the Middle East adding their own distinctive South London twist.

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OLD TRUNK STAGE:

Old Trunk are an emerging new-writing company producing original theatre creating work that is compelling, fast-paced and visceral. Writer/actor Sadie Hasler (Russell Howard's Good News) and actor/improviser Sarah Mayhew (Quirkish Delight) premiere their new play 'The Secret Wives of Andy Williams' at Village Green before going on to a west-end run in the autumn.

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RADIO 4'S SKETCH SHOW JIGSAW: JIGGLE IT

Jigsaw (BBC Radio 4's Sketchorama, BBC3 Live At The Electric) are comedians Dan Antopolski, Tom Craine and Nat Luurtsema combining unique styles of sketch comedy. Their first live show was a sell-out and took the 2011 Edinburgh Festival by storm with five star reviews.

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RIDLEY STUDIOS 'SONGS FROM CHICAGO'

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THE NATIONAL THEATRE'S TWO FOR TEA

The National Theatre's Two For Tea are Wendy Morgan (award-winning actress, worked alongside Anthony Hopkins, Elizabeth Taylor) and Heather Simmons (jazz singer/songwriter, performed at Ronnie Scotts, Kensington Palace); an exquisite duo specialising in 1920-40s melodies. Rhythmic ukelele and glamorous bass bringing a freshness to old time entertainment.

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STATE OF INDEPENDENCE:

A stage where the usual rules don't apply - anyone brave enough, with a talent to share can take centre stage - whether you sing, rap, dance, are a poet, comedian or ventriloquist, here is your moment to make your mark on the Village Green public.

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WORKSHOPS:

JULIAN WILD'S 'MAKING THE CONNECTION'
Making the Connection is a communal sculpture project giving people the opportunity to participate in the construction of a large-scale sculptural installation by Julian Wild, using low-tech, everyday materials that are safe to use. The project (V & A Museum, Jerwood Sculpture Park, Secret Garden Party) offers an equal opportunity for people of all ages to take part in the activity from under 5s to the over 60s.

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RAMPAGE CARNIVAL ARTS

Carnival Unplugged will showcase specialised design and fabrication techniques that are used to construct large scale Carnival costume/structure, audience members will have the opportunity to experience Carnival Arts first hand lead by award-winning artists and crafts-professionals with extensive experience in the carnival arts industry.

 

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VILLAGE GREEN ARCHIVE:

VILLAGE GREEN 2012

VILLAGE GREEN 2010

VILLAGE GREEN 2009

VILLAGE GREEN 2008