We are pleased to announce that Rose Bruford College has received support from Artswork, the South East bridge organisation, through its Partnership Investment programme. The investment of £25,000 will enable the college to deliver performing arts workshops to young people and practitioners in Ashford, Kent.
The project, called DREAM: the Joy of Creating, will promote the performing arts to children and young people and provide opportunities for them to participate in, see and create new works, and influence the development of professional practitioners.
Together with Ashford Borough Council, Kent County Council and internationally renowned theatre companies Oily Cart and Punchdrunk, we will facilitate a series of workshops for experienced theatre-makers and professionals who work with children and young people. These workshops are embedded in schools and youth organisations and will attract participants from across the world.
At the same time the college will also run workshops for young people in October and February that will culminate in a festival of performance in Ashford on Saturday 21 February 2015. The young people participating in the workshops will be encouraged to work towards their Bronze Arts Awards.
Lucy Medhurst, Artswork’s strategic manager for Kent said;
“Artswork is delighted to support DREAM: the Joy of Creating, which will enable over 100 children and young people in Kent to work with internationally renowned theatre companies including Oily Cart. It also sees the creation of a new performing arts network in Ashford for teachers, youth workers, arts organisations and professionals. This exciting collaboration is the result of Rose Bruford College and its partners responding to our Partnership Investment programme call for 2014/2015 and we look forward to its long-term benefits for children and young people in the area and the valuable connections made.”
The CEO and Principal of Rose Bruford College, Professor Michael Earley, said;
“We are hugely excited to receive this investment from Artswork and to be working with them in Ashford. The college has a growing reputation for our work in theatre for young audiences and this partnership will help us to continue to build our knowledge in this important area. This project encapsulates the philosophy of the college – learning through practice – and we are excited by the benefits to young people in Ashford and how this experience will influence our own teaching.”
Chris Dixon, Arts and Cultural Industries Manager, Ashford Borough Council, said:
“We are delighted to be a lead partner in DREAM as we know that by supporting such a dynamic project we inspire our young people, develop our audiences, and bring together the rich mix of grass roots and professional arts in the borough.”
The college is looking for schools and youth organisations in and around Ashford to get involved. If you are interested please contact Jeremy Harrison on [email protected] .