Working Parts

See website to tell you all about it www.wwad.info

Windows with a Difference have invited artist Bobby Baker to the Black Country because she is uniquely placed to bridge the Arts and Mental Health worlds, it is the ambition of her company Daily Life Ltd to access, connect, support and inspire people and organisations across the UK via Bobby’s performances, exhibitions, and related outreach and engagement activities. Windows with a Difference share this ambition in large print

“Exceptionally funny, Bobby Baker is a performance artist of rare quality and distinction” – The Daily Telegraph

The objective of Window with a Difference as set out by Teresa is to find out if there is a wish to show work outside of the therapeutic mental health setting and niche, and find a way of removing the stigma of mental health from the presentation of the work.

The July meeting of the Window with a difference group suggest that there is a desire to create presentation opportunities and the discussion followed on from the theme of trying to get user groups involved in producing art for specific shows to be held alongside Bobby Bakers work due to be shown in venues around the 20^th-Feb 2011- 2^nd March 2012.

You can find out more by attending the next meeting on Tuesday 13 September at 1.30pm at the Public (Ask at reception)

You can download the minutes of July Window meeting

A good night was had by all at Brook Street Centre Tipton, Steve Day delighted the audience and Jessica Heller did a great job of BSL interpretation. Jonny Fantastica did his audience participation as Doctor Deaf and invited people to join his Surgery of Laughter. Following this event Black Country Touring’s  promotor in Dudley wishes to set up a diary of events, so that events and local activities do not clash, enabling Deaf people in Birmingham and the Black Country to have more access to great entertainment by deaf and hard of hearing artists.

http://www.vimeo.com/19829001
Over 25 deaf and disabled people attended focus groups in late January at the Public in West Bromwich and the Arena theatre. It was organised by Black Country Touring for Alison Smith of Pesky People. Paul Annett and Lizzie Ostrum of A&E facilitated the focus groups. People who attended said,”There was a clear purpose to the meeting, and that they felt very welcome. Access had already been sorted out prior to the meeting which meant that the meeting flowed well.  That someone is actually interested in the needs of Deaf people and prepared to involve Deaf people in the creation of accessible information has to be good.”

On Thursday 20 January there was a follow up meeting to the successful Window with a Difference event which was nurtured by artist Teresa Townsend and led by Alan Cheeseman, see blog post. Todays meeting invited people to discuss how they might move forward, facilitated by Working Parts Co-ordinator Alan McLean, it was decided that The Window was for people who wish to step out of the art groups they attend, and have the opportunity of working together to create new work for a public exhibtion.  It was proposed that could be guided by a lead artist of national acclaim who has the experience of the mental health system but whom has made creative work which speaks to all, and is not tainted by the stigma of mental health. It was proposed that a lead artist could help guide the group and open the doors of contempoary galleries offering a package of their work and that of the window group, it was felt it was important to talk to galleries sooner than later as they may have ideas, which could shape a successful outcome for all involved. Read the rest of this entry →

Working Parts were contacted by a Psychologist who is trying to establish a drama group in Sandwell.  We are going to meet the group and find out what they want to do, we can offer a range of  taster workshops, Song writing, using masks, stand up comedy. We hope to involve artists with experience of mental health, like Sean Burn who is an artist working at New Art Gallery Walsall.They also want help evaluating the benefit of using the performing arts and creativity, as well as planning a series of drama workshops.Working Parts hope to support this project because it seeks a community outcomes, like workshops at the public, run by members of the group.