Archive
In Chronological Order:
ELEMENT OPERA WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE - OPERA BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT (2010) Curious Planet took ELEMENT to the FUSE festival presenting an opportunity to breathe together, set the land a humming and weave a musical enchantment over Strood. This music and theatre workshop was open to the public and was followed by a scratch performance of the work. Selected opera highlights sung by international singers baritone, Peter Grevatt and mezzo soprano, Tania Williams. The concert at Strood Amphitheatre was part of the Fuse Festival and featured arias from Carmen, Tosca and Wagner's Ring cycle. STROOD AMPHITHEATRE
THE NIGHT TRANSLATED (2009) A Lieder recital revisting 19th Century Salon etiquette. It featured both German and French classical song. The concert was accompanied by a ravishing exhibition of contemporary art by painter Jillian Eldridge and took place in the intimacy of the artists living room with repertoire that evokes all the splendours, pleasures and terrors of the night. With songs by Mahler, Berlioz and Strauss.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ELSEWHERE (2008)
This
project emerged from a Curious Planet artist development day. It used the theme
of journeying as a foundation from which to creatively connect and explore a
series of rooms in an old registry office.
What is a poem? How does a poem come into being? What might our responses be to poetry when exhibited in a prepared house, room by room?
Armed with the poetry of Philip Larkin as inspiration we devised a number of arts interventions which revealed and elicited participants' creativity.
The project took place in the rooms of a large rambling Victorian house, with groups of young people, a disabled community, a group of artists and a group of Mental Health service users. The groups used textiles, sound, photography, writing and other art forms to devise a trail of words and other extraordinary imaginings.
Download flier information here
INTERWOVEN (2008) - This programme was a Research and Development project into thel use of collaborative arts practice to build pathways
between Rural and Urban Europe. It explored the relationship between
traditional culture and 21st Century arts and worked with partners in Bulgaria and Spain. The project aimed to provide a new platform for interaction between younger generations in urban areas and older generations living in rural areas
- Encouragement of intergenerational respect and understanding
- New creative and curatorial skills within the community
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The establishment of a community process for using a range of arts
disciplines as a springboard to celebrate cultural traditions in new
ways
- The growth of relevant, transformative and accessible rural arts networks
OPEN ARTS MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMME (2008) - Several Curious Planet artists worked with clients from South Essex Mental Health Trust to deliver a series of visual arts based workshops which sought to provide new skills and nurture confidence and aspiration for the future. This work helped Open Arts to become a multi-disciplinary vehicle for supporting people into rewarding interaction with the world. The work provided vital mid-way steps towards increased social interaction and greater confidence for mental health service users.
BRITISH COUNCIL CULTURAL LEADERSHIP PLACEMENT - BERLIN OFFICE The Director of Curious Planet worked with the British Council to develop the arts narrative for a pan-European programme entitled OUR SHARED EUROPE. This ongoing programme seeks to shift perceptions about the role of Islamic culture on European identity and understanding.
ROYAL ACADEMY CONTEMPORARY SEASON - PATRONS PROGRAMME (2008) In 2008 the RA launched its new Contemporary Season in 6 Burlington Gardens. Curious Planet developed the programme for the Contemporary Patrons Group and acted as a consultant to proposals to support the sustainability of the Season.
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE PRODUCTION PARK (2007/08 Director of Curious Planet, Tania Holland-Williams worked with the ROH to realise its fundraising
strategy for the new Production Workshop, part of the Thames Gateway
regeneration programme. As part of this contract she also worked
with Arts Council East, Thurrock Council and local regeneration
agencies to develop the wider £47m development programme. The work
involved brokering relationships with new donors and advising partners
on funding streams and resulted in:
-Large-scale inward investment into cultural infrastructure and the Thames Gateway area
-Long-term community and education programme
-Support of the Creative Apprenticeship programme and the Thurrock 14-19 offer
-New platform for cultural activity in Thurrock
