Arts Council Bursary

Hi,

I wanted to share the good news of being awarded a bursary for The Arts Council's State of the Arts conference.

Forgive me for just pasteing the information:

"We are delighted to inform you that your application for a bursary to the Arts Council’s State of the Arts conference 2012 has been successful. Your bursary includes entry to the preconference events on the 13^th February, your ticket to the State of the Arts conference on the 14^th February and entry to the post conference reception at the Imperial War Museum, also on the 14^th February.

 You are also invited to attend the Arts Council office in Manchester on the 13^th February 2012 from 3pm – 4pm.  This is an opportunity for you to meet and network with other successful bursary applicants."

My application:....

My name is Jo Willis, I am Cornish and have lived and worked in Cornwall for most of my life. I am founder and artistic director of Shallal Dance theatre an inclusive community company. www.shallal.org.uk. I am 48 years old with 5 children, 4 of which are or have been educated outside school, which gives me a different view of education within society. Shallal is based in Newlyn /Penzance, 10 miles from Lands End, an area rich in visual arts culture, now with The Tate at St Ives, but also isolated, and a long journey from many cultural centres. Dartington College of Arts moved to join with University College Falmouth last year and we are successfully working with them. I have a new regular inclusive community performance group there and we have performed at the Performance Centre Opening Ceremony and in each Community Platform event.

“The Company produces inspiring work........  Companies such as this make experimental theatre accessible to all actors and audiences.”

Rector of Dartington

I feel that the artists I represent through my work rarely have their voice well heard, they do not all want to go under the Disabled Artists banner, not all of them have those challenges, they are aged 11- 81, many are vulnerable in some way, including people with autism, learning disabilities, physical challenges, mental health issues, as well as artists broadening their experience or easing back into work from ill health,etc

“They do fantastic, inspiring work but, like many others, Shallal has this year lost all the funding it had, not because it is not worthy of support but because those with the gentlest voices are the hardest to hear.”

Colin Rogers

Managing Director, Deco Films & Television Ltd.

Mencap trustee

Our culture provides many routes for Great Art, but often not “for all” or not “all together”, too often art, which is a uniting force is taught separately in ages/ability, this is fine and often necessary, but I believe we offer an important balance to that world, by being inclusive. Our work can create a very positive sense of community and belonging, thereby allowing those “outsider” artists to be heard and seen. Outsider artist is a term used in visual art but I would use it in performing arts for us - indicating people with talent, passion and commitment but outside the normal art milieu. All our shows are devised by the company members and improvised.

So I believe I would provide an interesting “other” voice at the conference from geographical position and experience. I have a wealth of experience with working in the arts with vulnerable people in the community but also have little formal training, my main influence being shadowing Wolfgang Stange of Amici in the early 80’s.

 Shallal also collaborates with many local and international artists in diverse mediums. ( One of our patrons is international rock guitarist Robert Fripp.)

I would be interested in attending;

4. Artists shaping communities  and 7. Artists and audiences - great art for everyone