GET WITH THE PROGRAMME IP(SWITCH) T.V.

The first part of the three year project 'for, but not about' kick starts this Saturday (2.30 - 4.00pm) with Phase One, entitled 'Get With The Programme IP(SWITCH) T.V.'

Harold Offeh will kick start GWTP in the Gallery with a lively introductory presentation looking at approaches to TV in artistic practice showing clips from television shows and his own work.A programme will follow with artist-led sessions and events (via Fashion/ Dance/ Media/ Performance/ Words/ Activism/ Hip-Hop/ Africa/ Diaspora) that give voice to ideas about community, identity, place and ownership, communicated through familiar TV formats and media processes.

Full project details and updates will be available on the gallery wall and on the web
http://getwiththeprogrammeipswitchtv.blogspot.com/
http://townhallgalleries.blogspot.com/
Or follow us http://twitter.com/THG_IP

IN OUR NIEGHBOURHOODZ 2007 EXHIBITION

2007 October half term The Town Hall Galleries, THG play host to an exciting exhibition of artworks produced by young people living in Ipswich. Jennie Reeve PAYP Co-ordinator with Suffolk County Council’s Youth & Connexions Service, initiated a cross-agency arts project that provided groups of young people from across Ipswich valuable opportunity to address and communicate some of the issues that they face in everyday life, whilst simultaneously raising ecological awareness by using recycled and discarded materials as a medium.

Young people and youth workers, waste education, community safety and arts development staff from IBC all came together with lead project artists to raise and exchange their respective issues, experiences and facts. These were developed through practical artist-led workshops that took place throughout the summer holidays.

The resultant exhibition, In Our Neighbourhoodz exhibits an eclectic range of lively responses and approaches to the brief. Small-scale works sit alongside larger pieces; 2D works including graffiti are accompanied by sculpture fabricated from papier-mâché, cardboard and obsolete technology, which also combine additional elements of sound/ music and vision/ film. Interpretations also include modes of performance including dance and rap, parts of which will be performed live at the launch event. Using the power of art and creative talents enabled young people to voice their concerns and hopes, also allowing them to express to others what is important in their lives.

The final exhibition coincides with Ipswich Borough Council’s ‘Not in my Neighbourhood’ week - part of the Changing Lives Making Communities Safer Home Office campaign, which aims to demonstrate that significant progress is being made to tackle crime, drugs, alcohol and anti-social behaviour.

Special thanks to:

Ky Rice & Mandy Roberts lead artists / Julia Devonshire Arts Project Officer (IBC) / Jenny Reeve Ipswich Youth & Connexions (PAYP) / Hannah Besley Community Safety Officer (IBC) / and all those involved in the project.

GET INVOLVED.

PHASE 1 NEEDS YOU!

October 2009: title tbc

Through this introductory phase THG wants to present a flavour of contemporary ideas and practices showing a small showcase of emerging artists.

The gallery will also become a ‘think tank’ and resource/ playspace for young people to in-put, from here we can draft the work that follows. Varied, invited events and artist led activity will be scheduled by us - i.e. public participation, performance, screenings, talks and discussion etc as well as informal drop-ins.

We would also want to invite community and youth groups to use the space to respond to the opportunity and it’s themes.

I would be very interested in hearing from anybody wishing to participate in or facilitate an activity in the Gallery during this time and discuss possibilities. i.e. :

CLICK THE LINKS

Youth Committee

Youth Committee Chairperson

Social Network Promoter

THE PROJECT

What?

for, but not about aims tap into the sensibilities of collective social/ cultural experiences and the influences contemporary black youth culture has on the mainstream - visual information and style (i.e. the fine arts, fashion, the media) music and dance (hip hop, grime) and literature - while engaging in meaningful, reciprocal and critical collaboration with artists with African/ Caribbean heritage. An activity that will in-turn inform the work that follows.

How?

Fully aware of the problems with ‘diversity’ projects our main aspiration is to overcome generalisations associated with working with artists and communities from particular cultural backgrounds by opening issues up to forum for discussion, research, making and sustained collaborative relations. After all we have to start somewhere

Why?

The purpose of undertaking a 3-year research-led project is to establish appropriate terms for engagement from which to develop working relations with diverse young and emerging visual artists and the local community of Ipswich, which compared to other regional centres has a significant population of young people either many generations removed from original settlers or with mixed cultural roots and no single identifiable cultural of heritage.

FOR, BUT NOT ABOUT

For, but not about’s overarching title locates the starting point for an evolving research-led project that aims to provide new and exciting collaborative, cultural experiences and involve young people (attending and participating with artists in the production of new work) in the Town Hall Galleries’ main public programme.