On Thursday 17th November at 6pm, the launch and private viewing of the Me You and Everything Else exhibition took place at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

It was a very successful evening with 60 invited guests attending including many Castle Vale residents making their way to celebrate the achievements of the participants work.

Thank you to Jarvis for saying a few words at the start alongside our own Claire Procter and Head of Museums and Heritage Rita Mclean.

The participants were very proud of their work and so too were their families.

As you can see from the series of photos it’s a very impressive exhibition that captures people’s interests.

For further details about visiting the exhibition see the BMAG page

Thursday 17th November is an exciting day for Active Arts as it will be the launch of the Me You & Everything Else exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

From the 18th November 2011 to the middle of April 2012, members of the public will be able to see our fantastic photographic exhibition on view in the community gallery space.

The original installation of photographic screens, has been added to for this new exhibition with some of the photos selected and printed on large exhibition boards accompanied by quotes from participants.  There is also a new short film made with young people from The Sanctuary and a display case of objects selected with residents from Phoenix Court.

If you haven’t had the chance to see the exhibition on its current tour of Castle Vale venues, here’s your chance to see it in a fantastic location and if you have seen it already, come and see how it has evolved.

For those of you who haven’t heard about the project before Me, You & Everything Else was a photographic project developed by Active Arts Castle Vale for an intergenerational group of residents. It explored life on Castle Vale today, using the local landscape and the personal stories of participants.  The project ran from October 2010 to March 2011, working with two groups of young people from the local secondary school and community centre, and older participants living in sheltered accommodation.

A big thank you to all the original participants and artists as well as to those who have been involved this time in its expansion.

If you’d like to come to the private opening please get in touch with us.

When you do go and visit over the next 5 months it’s on view, do come back to our website and tell us what you think.

As in previous years Active Arts is sponsoring the Creativity Award.  So who do you know that has made a difference to make the arts or creative activities happen on Castle Vale or maybe someone who has tried something new or shown a passion or talent for something creative?  It can be an individual person or a resident group.  Here are some ideas of creative activities but we welcome all suggestions: crafts, cooking, sowing, dance, drama, music, photography, film, fine arts…

The nomination forms can be found at the Events Committee website or at CVCHA and at The Sanctuary where you can also post them into the ballot boxes.  The deadline is Monday 14^th November at 12 noon so you still have some time left to vote.

There are 5 voting categories all together: Neighbourly Award, Creativity Award, Sport & Fitness Award, Environmental Champion Award and the Valued Contribution Award.  So while you think of someone for the award we’re sponsoring have a think about the others –  is their someone who perhaps isn’t often recognised for their hard work you can put forward?

The evening of the presentations itself is taking place on Friday 25^th November, 7.30pm onwards at Castle Vale Residents Club and is being hosted by Dave Clarke (Heart 100.7 Radio Presenter), with entertainment interspersed between the awards by local residents.  With doors opening from 7.15pm expect a high energy and fun filled evening with music, dance and some zumba! Tickets are free, but get them quick as they sell out fast. For further information and to reserve tickets go to the website or call Mike Wroe on 07814087775.

It was about taking the event back to basics with all the activities focussed on people having fun and with most things free or at low cost.  AACV created an Arts Zone funded by both ourselves and the Events Committee.

Benny Semp’s workshop making Dream Catchers was busy from start to finish, attracting people of all ages, mostly children who then drew in their mums and dads. Later on other adults enjoyed the quiet moment in making something to take home.

Also very popular was the drumming workshop with Glamba Samba.  Children and the young at heart had a go at beating the range of drums with the words ‘Chips and Ice-Cream’ taking on whole knew meaning.  They often drew a crowd who watched the fun.

Gary Jones from Off Our Trolley was busy all day making up floats for the procession that closed the event.  The fabulous creatures were made with young people from the Sanctuary during the week and those who stopped by on the day.

The procession around the park with Trolly’s and Samba Band made a great ending and has inspired the organisers and many of the local groups for next year.

Well done to everyone and thank you to all those who took part.

At our stall is Benny Semp leading a visual arts drop in workshop for all ages, especially the adults who’d like a quiet corner in amongst the family activities.

You can also be part of creating floats and decorations for the Trolley procession with Off Our Trollies.  Drop in throughout the day and then join in with the procession around the park at 3.40pm.  If music is more your thing you can join in with the music workshops with Glamba Samba throughout the day before leading the procession.

We look forward to seeing you there.

This will be a very special event – Dance with Me – which has involved children from Chivenor Primary and residents of Chivenor house making their own dance pieces with dance tutor Ruth Jacombs. Come and join us for some drinks and nibbles and watch their new dances performed live and a new short dance video made specially for the project.

Here are some of the listings for the Forthcoming People’s Festival – more will be added as they come in!

Wednesday 29^th June  6pm Castle Vale Performing Arts College

Dance With Me

Intergenerational dance project performance with dancers from Chivenor Primary and Chivenor House. Come and see their brand new dances in this special celebration to open the festival. ADMISSION FREE

Saturday 2^nd July  10am – 12pm The Astral

Big Brum Drama Day

Big Brum’s Danny O’Grady leads a fun drama session exploring ‘who we are’. For over 5’s and their families. ADMISSION FREE

Wednesday 6^th and Thursday 7^th July   7pm Castle Vale Performing Arts College

E’State of the Arts

A collaborative project led by Castle Vale School with all local schools that Involves Topcliffe School year 6 doing a selection of tracks from Rocky Horror; Minworth School performing a piece based on the Beatles; Gunter School performing new music to mark their transition from primary to secondary school and Chivenor School perfoming music/dance from around the world including a Ghanaian chant and an exciting colourful carnival procession!

Thursday 7^th July Sanctuary 4pm – 9pm

Urban Art Festival

A project led by young people in Castle Vale culminating in this special day at the Sanctuary. ADMISSION FREE

Thursdays  30^th June and 7^th July   4pm-5.30pm  Astral Centre

Jamming Sessions

Fun music workshops led by George Sims Open jamming – bring your own instruments. Open to all ages. ADMISSION FREE

PLUS LATER IN THE SUMMER Sunday 14th August   11am-4pm Centre Park

Castle Vale Carnival

Free fun and traditional carnival activities for all with local performers, workshops, stalls, 5-aside football and more.

Various venues all around Castle Vale

Two weeks of fun and creativity on your doorstep. The Castle Vale Active Arts People’s Festival brings together performances, workshops and activities across the area.

Come and join in with the family drama workshop  for over 5s and their families with Danny O’Grady from Big Brum or come and watch new dance performances involving residents of Chivenor House and children from Chivenor School.

There are also art trail walks and exhibitions during the festival and a very special event at Castle Vale School involving children from all the Castle Vale Primary Schools.

There is something for all the family at the People’s Festival! More details coming soon!

The residents of Phoenix Court were charming hosts and made sure we saw the story board they had put up in the corridor outside the dayroom with the photos and stories they had been inspired to put together as a result of what they referred to as”the best event we have taken part in”

Thanks are due to Brendan Jackson and Geoff Broadway for the dedicated work they have put in to produce this work and of course to Sally Rew who had the good taste to choose them for the job!

Please visit http://myaee.posterous.com to see the latest pictures and details of the places where the exhibition can be seen after it moves from Phoenix House can be found in the previous post on this page

touring exhibition in Castle Vale

The launch of Active Arts’ photography exhibition, created by older and younger residents of Castle Vale, takes place on the afternoon of  Thursday 31st March at Phoenix Court.

Participants in the project and their families and friends are invited to attend to be the first to see the fantastic 10-screen digital display of their work and to celebrate their creative achievement. 

Note: attendance is by invitation only.  If you are interested in attending and have not received an invitation, please contact Active Arts’ Secretary, Claire Marshall, on 07775 712788 or claire.marshall@mac.com.