Aims at the Start of the Timespan Project - Autumn 1999
Summary of Aims and Objectives.
The aim at the start of the Timespan project was to celebrate the Millennium in Thatcham and Newbury with a series of Community Arts Workshops and Performances.
We wanted to bring together people from different sections of the community and unite them through participation, and enjoyment in, the arts.
We also wanted to promote developing performers and artists who have disabilities and to widen those participants' experiences, increase their confidence and skill base, and raise their profile in the general community.
The project was exclusively based in West Berkshire, with Thatcham & Newbury as focal points, as these communities have ancient roots but are also currently at the forefront of modern technological development.
We wanted to encourage project users and user groups to take ownership of their project and influence its direction.
Objectives:
To put on a performance at 'The Corn Exchange', Newbury.
To run a series of 'taster' workshops followed with more in depth workshops and training based on people's preferences during the tasters.
To ensure that workshops and performances have a good mix of old skills and modern ideas / technology.
To develop the themes of impermanence and the inevitability of change and juxtapose these with perceptions of continuity.
To encourage a wide mix of cultures, age groups and abilities.
To keep monitoring people's preferences throughout the project and act on behalf of their interests and wishes.
To aim for good quality art and performance, which is entertaining but
also exciting and challenging.
Diary of Timespan Workshop's and Events
September 1999
27th - Music Workshop Taster - Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre -
Learning Difficulties Group - Leader: Keith Holloway
October 1999
4th - Music & Dance Workshop Taster - Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre - Learning Difficulties Group - Leader: Penny Brookman
11th - Music & Dance Workshop Taster - Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre - Learning Difficulties Group - Leader: Penny Brookman
25th - Music & Dance Workshop Taster - Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre - Learning Difficulties Group - Leader: Penny Brookman
January 2000
19th - Thatcham Pre School - Movement & Drama - Leader Tsippy Macauliffe
26th- Thatcham Pre School - Movement & Drama - Leader Tsippy Macauliffe
27th - Beacon Club for the Elderly, Thatcham - Dance - Leader: Penny
Brookman Music: Mark T.
February 2000
3rd - Beacon Club - Drama, Music, Poetry & Reminiscence
Leader: Gaye Poole, assisted by Richard Westall & Mark T.
17th - Beacon Club - Drama, Poetry & Reminiscence
Leader: Gaye Poole assisted by Richard Westall (poet)
28th - Techno-Music Vanguard Group (Learning Disability)
@ MENCAP Centre - Leader Mark T.
March 2000
6th - MENCAP Centre - Music Workshop (Percussion & Techno)
Learning Disability. Leaders: Paul Midgely & Mark T.
13th- MENCAP Centre - Music Workshop (Percussion & Techno)
Learning Disability. Leaders: Paul Midgely & Mark T.
16th- Beacon Club - Drama, Poetry & Reminiscence
Leader: Gaye Poole assisted by Richard Westall (poet)
20th- MENCAP Centre - Music Workshop (Percussion & Techno)
Learning Disability. Leaders: Paul Midgely & Mark T.
23rd- Beacon Club - Drama, Poetry & Reminiscence
Leader: Gaye Poole assisted by Richard Westall (poet)
27th- MENCAP Centre - Music Workshop (Percussion & Techno)
Learning Disability. Leaders: Paul Midgely & Mark T.
April 2000
3rd - MENCAP Centre - Music Workshop (Early Music, Percussion &Techno)
Learning Disability.
Leaders: Paul Midgely , Mark T. & Charles Spicer
4th - MENCAP Centre - Workshop - Music Breakout Group (Learning Disability)
Leader: Mark T.
6th - Beacon Club - Drama, Poetry & Reminiscence
Leader: Gaye Poole assisted by Richard Westall (poet)
10th - MENCAP Centre - Music Workshop (Early Music, Percussion &Techno)
Learning Disability.
Leaders: Paul Midgely , Mark T. & Charles Spicer
Recording session for BBC Radio / Elaine Dexter
11th - MENCAP Centre - Workshop - Music Breakout Group (Learning Disability)
Leader: Mark T
17th - MENCAP Centre - Music Workshop (Early Music, Percussion &Techno)
Learning Disability.
Leaders: Paul Midgely , Mark T. & Charles Spicer
18th - MENCAP Centre - Workshop - Music Breakout Group (Learning Disability)
Leader: Mark T
May 2000
4th - Beacon Club for the elderly - Music Workshop
Leader: Mark T.
6th - Performance - Newbury Spring Festival Parade - Samba Percussion Group - Musicians with learning disabilities.
8th - MENCAP Centre - Music Workshop ( Percussion & Techno) Learning
Disability.
9th - MENCAP Centre - Workshop - Music Breakout Group (Learning Disability)
Leader: Mark T
11th - Early Music Workshop - Leader: Charles Spicer
15th - MENCAP Centre - Music Workshop (Early Music, Percussion, Dance
& Techno) Learning Disability - Leaders: Charles Spicer &
PennyBrookman.
18th - Early Music Rehearsal - Leader: Charles Spicer
16th - MENCAP Centre - Workshop - Music Breakout Group (Learning Disability)
Leader: Mark T
22nd - First Soundbeam Day - 11.00 a.m. - 10.00 p.m. - MENCAP Centre-
Leader: David Jackson
Session 1 - Pre- School Group
Session 2 - Learning Disability, Young Adults
Session 3 - Performing Arts Students from Newbury College
Session 4 - Learning Disability , Adults.
23rd - MENCAP Centre - Workshop - Music Breakout Group (Learning Disability) Leader: Mark T
27th - BBC Music Live Performance, Timespan 1 - Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre - 2.00 p.m. - 3.30 p.m.
JUNE 2000
27th - Early Music Workshop - Castle Special School -
Leader: Charles Spicer
29th - Early Music & Dance Workshop - Castle Special School - Leader:
Charles Spicer
JULY 2000
17th - Workshop - Time Spanners Samba Band - MENCAP Centre
24th - Workshop - Time Spanners Samba Band - MENCAP Centre
AUGUST 2000
3rd - Banner Making Workshop - Children with learning difficulties -MENCAP
Centre - Leaders: Cloth of Gold
4th - Banner Making Workshop - Children with learning difficulties-
MENCAP Centre - Leaders: Cloth of Gold
5th - Samba Band Performance - Hillview Farm, Ashmore Green.
7th - Music workshop - Children with learning disabilities - MENCAPCentre
- Leader: Mark T.
9th - Interview BBC Radio Berkshire
10th - Music workshop - Children with learning disabilities - MENCAPCentre
- Leader: Mark T.
13th - Samba Band Performance - Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre.
23rd - Early Music Workshop - Leader: Charles Spicer
26th - Samba Band Performance - Newbury Corn Exchange
29th - Recording session - Richard Westall (Poet)
29th - Early Music Workshop - Leader: Mark T.
SEPTEMBER 2000
4th - Recording session - Richard Westall (Poet)
5th - Early Music Group - Rehearsal - Leader: Charles Spicer
9th - Samba Band Performance - Sticks & Strings - Thatcham
12th - Early Music Group - Rehearsal - Leader: Charles Spicer
24th - Workshop with M4 vocal group, Reading. - Leader: Mark T.
27th - Early Music Group - Rehearsal - Leader: Charles Spicer
29th - Early Music Group - Rehearsal - Leader: Charles Spicer
OCTOBER 2000
1st - Samba Band Rehearsal - MENCAP Centre
1st - Performance - M4 - Kick FM
2nd - Cloth of Gold Banners Exhibited at Newbury Library and Thatcham
Nature Discovery Centre
3rd - Rehearsals with Early Music Group & Richard Westall
3rd - Soundbeam Workshops - Newbury College - 1)Performing Arts Students2)
Students with Learning Difficulties
Leader: David Jackson
4th - Second Soundbeam Day - Leader: David Jackson - MENCAP Centre.
Session 1 - Pre- School Groups
Session 2 - Richard Westall (Poet) & Charles Spicer (Narrator)
Session 3 - Soundbeam Group (Young Adults with learning difficulties).
Session 4 - Workshop with David Jackson & Samba Band
5th - Performance: National Poetry Day, Timespan 2 - Newbury Library
7th - Performance: National Poetry Day 2 (Poetry, Early Music Group,Soundbeam
Group).
27th - Performance: Samba Band, Fairclose Day Centre, Newbury.
Statistical Information: Summaries
Total number of events held: 78
Workshop Statistics
Total number of Workshops held: 56
Total attendance figures based on average no. per. workshop: 257
58% Of workshops were specifically accessed by people with learningdifficulties and disabilities.
14% Were specifically accessed by elderly groups.
8% Were specifically accessed by pre-school groups.
2% Were specifically accessed by Afro - Caribbean participants
18% Were accessed by the general public.
Female / Male ratios:
Elderly 80% F 20% M
Learning difficulties & disabilities 40% F 60%M
General 42.5 F 57.5M
Pre - School 50% F 50% M
Afro - Caribbean 0 % F 100%M
Average Workshop Attendance Figures:
Taster Sessions: 10
Beacon Club Elderly Group: 23
Thatcham Pre- School: 11
Learning Difficulties & Disabilities Group: 20 - 25
Early Music Group: 4
Song writing Workshops: 5
Performing Arts Students (Soundbeam Days): 20
Cloth of Gold Banner Making: 25
Breakout Group: 6
Soundbeam Group: 8
Total throughput for Soundbeam Days: 60 (per day)
Average workshop attendance across all workshops: 15.7
Workshop Leaders:
Artforms (number of workshop leaders):
Visual Arts: 2
Dance: 1
Music: 5
Drama: 2
Poetry: 1
Workshop Reg. Disabled
Male Female
Afro/Caribean
Leaders
1
6
5
0
All leaders professional or semi-professional status.
Average number of paid support workers per workshop:
October 1999
Taster Sessions: 0
Beacon Club Elderly Group: 0
Thatcham Pre- School: 2
Learning Difficulties & Disabilities Group: 1
Early Music Group: 0
Song writing Workshops: 0
Performing Arts Students (Soundbeam Days): 2
Cloth of Gold Banner Making: 1
Breakout Group: 0
Soundbeam Group: 1
Soundbeam Days: 2
Average number of volunteers per workshop -
October 1999
Taster Sessions: 0
Beacon Club Elderly Group: 1
Thatcham Pre- School: 2
Learning Difficulties & Disabilities Group: 1
Early Music Group: 0
Song writing Workshops: 0
Performing Arts Students (Soundbeam Days): 0
Cloth of Gold Banner Making: 4
Breakout Group: 0
Soundbeam Group: 0
Soundbeam Days: 4
Performance Statistics
Total number of performances held: 15
Total number of performers across all performances: 147
Breakdown of performance groups (number of performers)
Performance
Disability Afro-Caribean
Elderly Pre-School
Other
Event
Music Live
20
1
6
8
10
Newbury Lib 18
5
4
0
12
Thatcham Lib
4
0
2
0
2
Spring Festival 11
0
2
0
3
Radio Broadcast 14
4
0
0
5
Samba Band
12
0
0
0
4
Performer Status
Performers Who Are:
Professional: 4
Semi Professional: 8
Number of Paid Support Workers per. Performance (Average):
Music Live - 1
Newbury Lib - 3
Thatcham Lib - 1
Spring Festival - 1
Radio Broadcast - 0
Samba Band - 1
Number of Volunteers per per. Performance (Av) -
Music Live - 17
Newbury Lib - 10
Thatcham Lib - 1
Spring Festival - 8
Radio Broadcast - 2
Samba Band - 2
Audience Numbers:
BBC Music Live - 54
Newbury Library - 99 (Limit of fire regulations!)
Thatcham Library - 30
Spring Festival - 50
Radio Broadcast - 1000's !
Samba Band:
a) Hillview Farm: 40 +
b) Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre: 40+
c) Corn Exchange: 18 in Foyer + around 30 - 40 outside
d) Sticks & Strings: 25
e) Fairclose Day Centre: 50
Average Live Event Audience Size: 49.5
Total Number of Rehearsals held: 8
Financial Information
Income:
Regional Arts Lottery Grant
£7700
West Berkshire Council
£5000
Public Funding e.g. A4E etc.
£5000
Thatcham Town Council
£500
Newbury Town Council
£200
Greenham Trust
£1200
Vodafone
£500
Income from performances
£520
Income in kind
£3675
Total Income: £24, 295
Expenditure:
Artistic Programme:
£13,801. 04
Marketing
£1217. 40
Overhead Salaries
£4216. 16
Project Management Overheads
£1475
Capital Expenditure
£2286. 25
Other Expenditure
£598
Evaluation of project
£700
Total Expenditure: £24,293 - 85
Surplus £1.15
Outcomes at the end of the project:
The legacy of 'Timespan'.
Formation of 'Time Spanner Projects'
The biggest single, beneficial, outcome of the Timespan project
was the formation of
Time Spanner (Projects) in November 2000.
Time Spanner (Projects) is an association of musicians, writers
and artists, with and without disabilities,
based in West Berkshire.
It is run by a board comprised of artists and developing artists with
and without disabilities.
Thirty eight artists, performers and developing performers are currently
a part of the Time Spanner Network.
You can find out more about Time Spanner Projects by clicking on the link (a web-site will be up and running by July 2001 - this will also include a symbol version of the site).
Use of Items Aquired with Capital Expenditure from the Project
The items acquired for the project were:
The Soundbeam
A two- user Soundbeam which was jointly funded by Thatcham Town Council, Circle of Sound and Time Span.
The soundbeam will continue to be used by both
the Time Spanner (Projects) group who have their own
Sound Beam performing group led by Tim Baker
and Tony Doak.
Circle of Sound will also make use of the Soundbeam
in performing and workshop groups with pre-school groups, elderly groups
and people with physical disabilities and learning difficulties.
Two AKAI S20 Professional Sampling Machines
Unfortunately one of the Akai sampling machines appears to have sustained permanent damage when it was dropped by a participant during a workshop / rehearsal for National Poetry Day.
The second machine is the property of Time
Spanner Projects and continues to be used for a range of community
projects involving Time Spanner Project members.
It will be heard as part of the YOTA Return of the Summer Birds
performance, where it will be operated by Bernard Johnson.
Raising the Awareness of Artists with Disabilities (and How they can work in Partnerships with Artists without Disabilities)
Throughout the Timespan project a major vision
was that of bringing different sections of the local population
together to celebrate the changes and traditions
which have arisen from two thousand years of Western civilization.
In many ways the National Poetry Day event at Newbury Library was the best of this.
On one bill we had a young black r'n'b boy band,
a writer suffering from M.E., a Samba Band made up of 75%
people with learning disabilities, a early music
re-mix band , a singer from Zimbabwe and a futuristic wizard
of the soundbeam with his laboratory assistants...
...and the large audience reflected this same
healthy distribution of the population!
Throughout the project young have met old, black
have met white, traditional artists have met innovators, able
bodied have met people with disabilities.
Not only this but members of the public have
shown enthusiasm and concrete support for events.
Mayor of Newbury, Sue Farrant booked the
Samba Band for one of her events as did Sticks and Strings in Thatcham.
The press, a little cautious to pick up on what
we were about at first, by mid way through the project had thrown in their
whole-hearted support; photos, reviews and half page spreads became
the norm as they covered
events week by week as the project slowly unfolded.
Prior to the 'Timespan' project there was very
little disability arts provision in West Berkshire.
The status and profile of artists with
disabilities such as Richard Westall had been transient,
lacking focus and largely unsustainable.
The formation of Time Spanner Projects has gone
a partial way towards rectifying this but the organisation itself
is badly underfunded, virtually unsupported at
a local level and badly in need of a 'core' type of funding.
Dispite these draw backs the artists involved,
regard themselves as a unified movement and their art as a
newfound vehicle for personal expression.
These people have been given a new voice in the
media, at local events and functions and in the wider community.
Because this has happened during the year 2000
I do not see it as something they will give up lightly in the year 2001.
Timespan started with my original idea of a a
single large scale event, which would bring people of all ages and abilities
together to celebrate, share and create.
I always said at the start, that the sign of
a good project is one which takes on a life of its own and almost directs
itself.
Well this came true, what was meant to be a single
major live event turned into ten smaller live events,
each with their own mood.
The big plus, however, was the formation of a
Samba Band, which I never would have imagined in my original plan, and
the legacy of a permanent organisation run by artists, for artists
...and, notice, I've stopped using the word disability!
Mark T. April 2001