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Gig-Arts in New York March 2011

Gig-Arts in New York

When you have the opportunity to do something that you've always dreamt of, the logistics of actually making it happen become mere details!

Two years ago Abbie Cooke (co founder of Gig-Arts) held a one day event at the London Guildhall School of Music & Drama. One of the participants, American Double Bassist, Salima Barday, really enjoyed the day and recommended it to the Juilliard School, where she had been a student. 

To take the Gig-Arts concept to one of the most most prestigious performing arts conservatories in the world, in one of the most exciting cities in the world was a dream that eventually came true, two years after the GSMD event.  
Gig-Arts partnered with witness.org, an international human rights organization that provides training and support to local groups to use video in their human rights advocacy campaigns. The Juilliard students are planning a special concert to help Witness raise awareness of their cause. 

Barli Nugent, Assistant Dean at Juilliard said "The atmosphere Abbie set, encouraged imaginative self-reflection, trying the unexpected and much laughter.

Abbie is planning a trip later this year to work with new Juilliard students during Induction Week.

A Special Gig March 2011

A Special Gig

A special Gig-Arts event was held for students of Penhurst School, Chipping Norton on March 23rd.

It was a colourful day that took place beneath a rainbow parachute suspended from the ceiling in the main hall. The students were divided into four teams – Blue, Yellow, Red and Green. Each team spent time in the different colour zones where they each received a gift – a print of a yellow sunflower painting by Van Gogh, a blue ‘touch and feel’ Usborne book, a red helium balloon and a green leafy branch.

The aim of the ‘Gig-Arts Colour Carrousel’ activity, created an enjoyable visual, auditory and kinaesthetic experience of art, stories, balloons and nature.

After a break 12 large canvases were set up in a circle with an array of paint, glitter, glue and felts which were applied to the canvases using rollers, brushes and sponges. The 12 canvases were all primed in the four team colours – Blue, Yellow, Red and Green.

The aim of the ‘Gig-Arts Rainbow Painting’ experience was to create a series of 12 canvases which would then be donated by the students to St Mary's Primary School in Chipping Norton.

In the afternoon everyone met in the main hall for the grand finale – The Gig-Arts Show!

The students became actors for the afternoon and performed in a ten minute show. Using music and props which included silver shakers, bubbles and coloured balls. Abbie Cooke narrated the story – the students became astronauts who set out on a voyage of discovery through space – their challenge – to reach Planet Star! On the way, they experienced life onboard their spaceship and an asteroid storm. Eventually they reached their destination where there was a big celebration as they discovered the Star Treasure!

At the end of the Show, and after a huge round of applause, all the students received a Gig-Arts certificate of achievement.

Future Gigs February 2011

Future Gigs

Gig-Arts are delighted to announce forthcoming events for 2011

Gig-Arts at Penhurst School, Chipping Norton. 23rd March 

Gig-Arts at The Juilliard School, New York. 30th March

Gig-Arts at Burford Grammar School. 17th May

Gig-Arts University of Leeds. 8th June

Chipping Norton School at Penhurst February 2011

Chipping Norton School at Penhurst

Following a Gig-Arts Event on 10th December, students from Chipping Norton School, visited Penhurst – a school for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties. They performed a specially prepared show and met and chatted with the children. 


Tom McAllister, a student at Chipping Norton School, had this to say after their visit,
"I thought Gig-Arts was really good! It was nerve wracking at first building up for the Gig-Arts Show. It was scary, fun, exhilarating! Now coming to Penhurst School, which is a local is really good! I enjoyed chatting with the students there. It's taught me how to give back to other people who are more disadvantaged than me. This gives me confidence. I definitely recommend Gig-Arts!"

Another student, Kayleigh Clemons said,
It's been so much fun! It's taught me more than I thought it would. I've learnt how to do an interview, be on the stage, and take a main part rather than hiding at the back. I'm now not embarrassed anymore." 

Sharon Clements, an IT co-ordinator at Penhurst School said after the show, 
"It's great that they came and met our kids. Our students at Penhurst loved seeing young people their own age. They just get such a positive buzz out of it - they really do." 

and Emma Beck, a teaching assistant said,
"It's absolutely fantastic! They had so much confidence doing their show and sharing their talent within a completely different environment. They excelled themselves! I think our students would really enjoy giving at Gig-Arts!"

Giving back, is central to the Gig-Arts experience. It encourages participants to take responsibility and to take action. And when young people give their time and talent to help the community there is a knock on effect. Those who receive the kindness cannot fail to be touched by the experience and are inspired to follow the example of Gig-Arts' young leaders of tomorrow. 

Shipton Gig-Arts is a great success December 2010

Shipton Gig-Arts is a great success

What the audience said:

“We thought the Gig Arts experience was just incredible …to see 40 young people producing such high quality entertainment after just one fantastic workshop! But much more than that – to see their confidence on stage. We gather some had been quite fearful first thing that morning, but to see how professionally they handled the microphone and themselves and how maturely they answered your question as to whether they had enjoyed the stage experience; to see their enthusiasm and rousing cheers for the other teams – there was no competition, just delight in their own offering and everyone else's! We, the audience were quite redundant, they did not need our approval – I liked this!

Then of course the double whammy with their project to help those at Penshurst School.

A winning formula, terrific input from you and your team”.


"We thought your presentation was brilliant and motivated us as well as your pupils…The young people must get so much satisfaction from having their hidden talents unleashed... We were both so pleased that we could be there".


"I really enjoyed yesterday – it was quite uplifting! I thought the kids seemed extremely immersed in it, especially given they'd only been working on it that day. They seemed really fired up and enthusiastic and not at all cynical or self-conscious as teenagers can sometimes be!
 
I was impressed by the way they conveyed their message in a very clear, distilled play and then performed it confidently. I can imagine that the whole experience would have taken them into new territories and brought out talents and reserves not normally called upon in their ordinary lives. I expect they'll remember last Friday well into adulthood. I'd love to think that my own children would have the opportunity to experience something like that when they're older".


"I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The talent and enthusiasm on display was amazing. To think that you had them for a few hours only before the groups put on their shows is a testament to your skills and the ability and willingness of the kids to take part. Let's hope that the participants continue to develop their skills which they will be able to if Gig-Arts can continue to work with them".

Gig-Arts in the Cotswolds December 2010

Gig-Arts in the Cotswolds

Friday 10th December


2.45-3.30pm at the New Beaconsfield Hall, Shipton under Wychwood

Pupils from Chipping Norton School will be presenting an improvised one hour, art, music and drama performance on stage, following a day of inspirational talks and workshops.

Free admission. Doors open 2.30pm. All welcome.

Gig-Arts Uk Tour May 2009

Gig-Arts Uk Tour

Over two weeks the Gig-Arts bandwagon rolled out across the UK with their Gig-Arts Tour, holding events at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, University of Edinburgh and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London

Graduates Get Creative at Loughborough University October 2008

Graduates Get Creative at Loughborough University

It was UK Enterprise Week in mid November and Gig-Arts held a showcase enterprise event for post-graduate students at Loughborough University. The first session took the students on a life-story approach to entrepreneurial learning where they reflected on enterprising episodes in their lives. Working in teams the students then took on challenges in the 'Creativity Gameshow' to develop their on-the-spot thinking and creative innovation.

Abbie Cooke, Co-Founder Director, Gig-Arts Said:

"I always love working with Loughborough University's Enterprise and Innovation team which is headed up by Marina Pickles. The students were brilliant. They were all from different academic areas and their diverse approaches led to some fascinating entrepreneurial ideas. I was particularly impressed by the number of sustainable and socially motivated solutions that the students presented."

Vale Festival in Birmingham May 2008

Vale Festival in Birmingham

Engaging with 'Enterprise and Innovation' was the theme for the University of Birmingham Business School at the 2008 Vale Festival.

Abbie Cooke, Co-Founder Director of Gig-Arts, hosted a day of creativity, leadership and enterprise development for the students.

The event was packed with eager onlookers who enjoyed the creative games, Water Aid activities and live music on one of the hottest days of the year. The winning enterprise teams had the thrill of receiving their prizes on the festival's main stage and were quick to tell the crowd how their sustainable ideas create a difference.

Dan Corlett, Director of the Business School's Enterprise and Innovation Centre said: "The day came together brilliantly."

Click on the following link to watch a short video clip about the day:

http://www.isambard-dm.com/vale/vale2.htm

Bishopsford Community School March 2008

Bishopsford Community School

For the second year running the outcome was "Brilliant!" at Bishopsford Community School who hosted a Gig-Arts Giving Event for pupils aged 14 and 15.

Over three days the arts and music students developed business and communication skills. The finale was a packed house performance delivered to parents, teachers and school governors. The pupils were delighted with their learning experience:

"The best bits were having the chance to experience taking your talent and knowing you can develop it into a business in the future. Also, having Abbie as an inspiration proves that it actually can be done and this is real."

Following this three-day event, the pupils will continue with the second part of the programme, which is 'giving back' through action learning in the community. Working in teams they will be visiting local primary schools and hospitals and donating their time and talent to help others. Watch this space as these young Gig-Arts leaders of tomorrow make their mark!

For further information go to the Giving section on this website.

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