If you are on the Island this weekend, do try and get along to this excellent launch event of No Man is An Island organised by Newport Artist and Project Manager, Melanie Swan. We have an interview with Melanie coming out on VB over the next couple of days, but in the meantime, read on for more info. There sounds like lots to do and it should be great fun. Ed
An Isle of Wight Community Arts group called No Man is an Island is taking part in the London 2012 Open Weekend at Quay Arts and Naturezones again this year.
No Man is an Island is a community group of artists working to provide creative opportunities for families living with autism.
Project Manager Melanie Swan said: “We’re delighted to be able to open our Project to the public and share our work. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate our part in the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad through the Inspire programme. All of this has been made possible with the support we’ve been given by Awards for All and South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).”
On Saturday 25th July, No Man is an Island will be at Quay Arts, the Isle of Wight community Arts Centre in Newport, which has opened its facilities to the group who are presenting a day of free activities.
There will be a chance for visitors to see art and craft demonstrations in the Seminar Room throughout the day and to try their hand at marbling on silk and paper and felt making.
The Theatre will be open for people to take part in circus skills with Matt Splatt and interactive performance workshops with Leigh Hofmann who, in association with Independent Arts, will be presenting Soundbeam and Arkaos.
This is an exciting and interactive tool which allows participants the opportunity to create both music and moving images.
Starting at 2pm, there will be a poetry reading and workshop with Luke Kennard whose second collection The Harbour Beyond the Movie was published in 2007.
It was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best Collection, making him the youngest poet ever to be shortlisted. Luke is also part of the award winning comedy writer/performer group Pegabovine and at 3 o’clock he’ll be joined by fellow Pegabovine performers, Tom Wateracre and Matt Johnson, for a comedy writing workshop.
The event organiser Melanie Swan said “we’re delighted to be able to offer such an interesting and exciting programme of free events and there should be something of interest to visitors of all ages. It’s a special privilege to be able to bring the award winning Pegabovine comedy team and poet Luke Kennard to the Island, to give people a chance to see them perform and join their workshops.”
No Man is an Island will be taking their Open Weekend events to Naturezones on Sunday 26th July, between 11am and 4pm, showing how their work links with nature.
There will be more performances and another chance to try the interactive skills between 12 and 2pm, weather permitting.
Details of these free events can be seen on their website at www.nomanisanisland.org and you can also find them listed on the London 2012 website at www.london2012.com
