The PASCO (Performing Arts Scene in Obrenovac) project has had significant effects on the cultural infrastructure in the Obrenovac municipality since the project started in 2009. Due to generous support both locally, Buskerud County in Norway and the KS funding programme of the Norwegian government, PASCO has had demonstrable economic, cultural and social impact on the region. The Aspire Trust, together with its Serbian and Norwegian partners had a critical role to play and this post discusses what could be provided in the short term in order to maintain the project momentum and continue to build cultural capacity.
There are three important processes we believe could be undertaken to embed the work of PASCO in Obrenovac and further afield:
* Accrediting practitioners as qualified community artists – a process which will give them credibility and visibility nationally and internationally;
* The provision of professional development programmes (both accredited and unaccredited) for teachers who are looking to develop their own skills in the field;
* The development of enterprise and small business start up skills in the region, particularly focused on the development of the cultural sector and creative industries.
Details of these proposals are as follows.
Accredited Courses: Foundation Degree in Community Arts (FDCA)
The FDCA places a significant emphasis on developing collaborative skills in interdisciplinary arts practice through drawing on, extending and focusing professional arts skills and applying them in a range of community contexts.
Designed by Aspire and accredited by the University of Chester in the UK, the course provides the knowledge, understanding and work-related skills required to play active and proactive roles in the community arts industry. Students reflect on their work and develop the interpersonal and intrapersonal skills required to work as arts practitioners and team members.
Modules are offered at either Level 4 within the UK Higher Education Qualification framework and can be offered at two levels (Level A for beginners Level B for those with more experience.)
Module titles at Level 4A include:
Workshop Skills Workshops form the foundation of all community arts practice. Gaining an understanding of the different approaches to running workshops, the theories that underpin the workshop process and how they can be applied in different contexts is essential to the work of the community artist.
Creative Process Successful community arts projects rely on a finding a concept which can be developed and realised through the integration of a number of art forms. At the core of this process is a creativity that permeates the progress of the project enabling a variety of practitioners and participants to make their contributions.
Research Skills Gaining as detailed a picture of the landscape and environment as possible, both past and present, will provide a firm foundation for community arts projects. Developing and interest in finding out and the skills with which to do it form a significant part of the community arts process.
Project Development Like any other activity community arts projects require good management and administration. Clearly defined aims and objectives need to be planned, budgets and timetables identified and information communicated to all those involved in the safe delivery of a programme.
Module titles at Level 4B include:
Workshop Leader Practical experience of running workshops for as many different kinds of groups and in as many different situations as possible is the best way to learn how to become a workshop leader. Starting with the aims and objectives of community groups, working to a plan, improvising if circumstances arise, being able to recognise and correct errors are all part of the process.
The Creative Practitioner The work of the creative practitioner in the community is to respond to the aims and objectives of that community. Responses could be based on a single art form, but community arts projects that are based on a combination of art forms have more chance of attracting a range of people to participate, and therefore have a greater likelihood of being inclusive.
The Researcher Community Arts work is being practiced by individuals and organisations locally, regionally and nationally. A starting point for both finding employment and creating work has to be a sound knowledge and understanding of what work has happened recently and is happening at the moment.
Further details are available upon request.
The MPPACT Programme: Methodology for Pupil and Performing Arts Centred Teaching
The involvement of teachers from Obrenovac in PASCO has been another essential element in the project’s success: we would suggest that should other municipalities develop their own PASCO type programme, that accredited CPD programmes for teachers could be established early on in the process.
Aspire together with a number of other European partners have designed and delivered the MPPACT project: the Methodology for Pupil and Performing Arts Centred Teaching Project. MPPACT was designed and developed by a range of experienced educational partners from around Europe and co-ordinated in the UK by the University of Winchester. Other project partners were: VIA University College, Viborg, Denmark: the European Performers House, Silkeborg, Denmark; the Hellenic Theatre / Drama & Education Network, Athens, Greece; the Directorate Of Secondary Education Of Eastern Attica, Greece; the University Of Peloponnese, Greece and the University of Cyprus.
The purpose of the programme is to foster new teaching practices that engages with contemporary social realities and their reflection in the classroom, and recognises a new broader role for the teacher as pedagogue and works from pupils own creativity, imaginations and criticality.
It does this through the application of arts based disciplines which can develop new means of learning for children and adults, can provide new forms of knowledge and can be instrumental in catalysing personal and social transformation. The emphasis of the programme is on the creativity, imagination, resourcefulness and inspiration that teachers bring to their classrooms and how this can be enhanced, developed and celebrated.
MPPACT’s objectives are:
1. To evolve an integrated arts-based approach to teaching through the sharing of disciplines;
2. To foster educators abilities to revive pupil’s motivation to learn, using participatory performing arts practices and exploring young people’s own creativity and criticality;
3. To develop new practices that foster a ‘co-intentional’ synergy between pupil and teacher;
4. To develop a training course offering an alternative classroom strategy for achieving a critical understanding of relevant social issues;
5. To support and document the process and publish its outputs through web, DVD and printed media.
Further details are available upon request.
Informal Courses
We recognise that full time or long programmes may not be suitable for some artists or teachers so would also recommend providing short, focussed interventions for practitioners as follows:
The Creative Entrepreneur: A week long course will provide participants with the skills to become a provider of websites, photographic services, corporate and community video, and graphic design. It will provide the learner with the essential skills they need to successfully create websites for online businesses and develop their abilities as an all round producer of media. During the project, participants will create their own online portfolio for their own website which they can then use to promote themselves and their services. The course consists of the following modules: WordPress and e-commerce; Photoshop Essentials for Graphic Design; Making promotional videos; Photography: product, portraits, websites; Creative Writing.
Visual Artists in Early Years: a 2 day programme which introduces Early Years practitioners to working with visual arts skills in order to develop creative practice of both practitioners and very young children between 3 and 5 years old.
Rhythm and Things: a 2 day programme of training and skills development in singing, musical composition and percussion for Early Years practitioners; and a parallel 2 day programme of skills and knowledge development for musicians who wish to work in the Early Years sector, taught by Early Years practitioners.
Creative Writing in Schools: a 4 day programme which develops teacher’s creative writing skills in order for them to develop their own pupils writing abilities.
Film in a Day: a day long programme which introduces learners to the skills of film-making, both in front of and behind the camera. Each learner ends up with their own copy of their own film at the end of the day!
Cultural Leadership and Enterprise Programme (CLEP)
CLEP would aim to provide knowledge, skills and expertise to new business developers who are working in the field of culture and the creative industries in Obrenovac and the surrounding municipalities in the fields of creative and cultural leadership and enterprise.
CLEP would provide leaders in the fields of creative industries and culture a programme of activity which will contribute to developing a sustainable cultural and creative sector in the region. This will include the fields of film, media, theatre, dance, music, visual arts, web design, graphic design etc.
CLEP will be structured around the following programme:
Business Start-Up Weekends – for those who are interested in starting up their businesses but have yet to take the first step
Entrepreneurship Bootcamps – for entrepreneurs who need additional focused advice and guidance on specific entrepreneurial issues
Enterprise Learning Programs – a suite of activities which provide specific skills to business developers who are interested in specific areas of expertise e.g. fund raising, Intellectual property, project management etc
Enterprise Clubs – social events in which members of the PEP network are able to share experiences, expertise, advice and contacts
Mentoring – Building A mentoring Network – for all leaders who want to learn at their own rate and in their own time, e.g. through on-line mentoring services
Sectoral Start-Up – workshops which focus on specific sectors e.g. film, graphic design, theatre
Business Networking & Other Events – opportunities to meet other business leaders from other sectors and other countries to share knowledge, contacts and expertise.
Future posts suggest long term strategies and possibilities.
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