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Recent YCC activity

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News

Recent YCC activity

YCC programmes in the regions

In 2004-5 there have been Young Cultural Creators programmes in several English regions, with libraries and schools linking with a wide range of 'inspiration venues'.

•  London

•  South West England

•  Eastern England

London - coordinated by MLA London (Museums, Libraries and Archives)

Library services in 17 boroughs worked with 14 primary schools and 6 secondary schools across London , partnering with museums, archives and galleries. As always, every programme was a unique combination, including the following writers and venues.

  • Verna Wilkins at the Black Cultural Archives in Lambeth, working with 2 primary schools and the BCA's wonderful 'Black Gold' exhibition which celebrated the achievements of black athletes. The children wrote their own biographical pieces which were then put on display at Brixton Library. See Black Cultural Archives website
  • Celia Rees and Tim Bowler at the National Portrait Gallery. Celia picked out different styles and formats of portraits and explored with the students how these conveyed the character and 'story' of the pictures' subjects. Back at school students produced self-portraits, imagining how they might appear in 20 years' time, with accompanying text about their life story so far. These 'portrait galleries' then went on show at local libraries. Tim's sessions focused on portraits of John Keats and his poem 'When I have fears that I may cease to be', together with parallel themes from Tim's books 'River Boy' and 'Starseeker'. The young people taking part were inspired to write their own powerful and sensitive odes - and in the gallery passers-by were as absorbed as the students. See National Portrait Gallery website

Website for Tim Bowler

Website for Celia Rees

  • Bernard Ashley at the Cabinet War Rooms, with students from Southwark. The programme theme was 'The Blitz' and Bernard based much of the session on his own war-time experiences and those of the characters in his book 'Johnny's Blitz'. The group toured the War Rooms with headphones, learned more about the Blitz, and then wrote accounts as a journalist for a paper or journal of their choice. They will be developing this writing further and meeting again with Bernard to craft and complete their work. See Cabinet War Rooms website

Website for Bernard Ashley

MLA London and London library services are now making plans for YCC autumn 2005. This will include partnership with at least 6 London archives services, as part of the Archives Awareness Campaign. See the MLA London website for details on 'Funding' and 'Archives Awareness Campaign'.


South West England - coordinated by SWMLAC ( South West Museums , Libraries and Archives Council)

Cornwall , Dorset and Torbay have each run YCC events in the past year.

  • In Cornwall students from Penzance and St Ives secondary schools met author Charmian Hussey who talked about her book 'The Valley of Secrets' in the setting of Jem Southam's panoramic photographs at Tate St Ives. This session then linked into a writing workshop with Bridget Crowley, followed by a visit to Penzance Library and its art collection, and a chance for students to show Charmian the wealth of writing inspired by this whole experience. See Tate St Ives website
  • Dorset Libraries have just completed a rich programme of reading, art and writing, centring on the book 'Fish' by local author Laura S Matthews, and working in partnership with the Study Gallery in Poole . Watch this space for a full description, plus students' work and feedback.
  • Torbay Library Services have run the first authority-wide YCC programme, involving all schools and libraries, and a host of children's writers, storytellers, artists, poets and drama leaders. Local partners, providing exciting workshop venues, were Torre Abbey, Brixham Heritage Museum , Paignton Zoo, and a fishing boat in Brixham Harbour!

 

Eastern England - coordinated by EMLAC ( Eastern Museums , Libraries and Archives Council)

  • Several partnerships in the East of England are developing new models for running YCC. In Hertfordshire the Schools Library Service is using pictures from the schools' art collection and made a gallery of them at County Hall. Another programme is based on digitised local studies material - again, watch this space for more detail once the sessions are completed.

 

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