These are beautiful – and two in good ol’ Blighty!
Top 10 Tree Tunnels of the World
These are beautiful – and two in good ol’ Blighty!
Category: Culture
Medway celebrates International Women’s Day
Every day throughout the world,International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8th March. IWD is a celebration of the achievements, talents and work of women all over the world. Some groups use this as an opportunity to campaign about various issues that affect women, such as violence against women, our working lives, health and our caring responsibilities.
This year the theme of International women’s day is “The gender agenda: gaining momentum”. Over time and distance, the equal rights of women have progressed. We celebrate the achievements of women while remaining vigilant and tenacious for further sustainable change. There is global momentum for championing women’s equality.
In Medway, the celebrations are organised by a small core of volunteers. This year we have arranged for a motivational speech from Sam Hall, founder of 17% the social enterprise championing and encouraging work from female writers and playwrights. We will also have belly…
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Gallery: Chinese New Year Parade, Chatham
Another of Medway’s diverse cultural events saw Chatham’s high street packed yesterday afternoon, for an explosion of colour and sound as the Chinese community let us share in celebrating the Year of the Snake.
You should be dancing!
So sang the Bee Gees, and who are we to argue?
I seem to have been immersed in dance recently, with a visit to Mid Kent College for a Dance Careers Event, an article in Medway’s finest publication, and a Gothic workout.
Hosted by Luci Napleton, from Dance Development of Medway’s Arts Development Team, the Dance Careers Event allowed me to cast my shoes off and take part in a Contemporary half hour workshop, surrounded by students – I thought I held my own – and a Musical Theatre workshop. I managed to not trip myself up, although I was left facing the wrong way on occasion and hitch kicking when I should have been pivoting, but hey, it’s been a while, ok?
The Mayor, Cllr. Vaughan Hewett was on hand with praise and encouragement for the students of Mid Kent College and the Medway Youth Dance Theatre, following their excellent performances, while the awesome Loop Dance Company reprised the Joss Arnott choreographed ‘Current Being’, their commission for last year’s Big Dance 2012. It’s an inspiring company, led by Nina Atkinson, who began it twenty years ago upon realising there were very few chances for aspiring and professional dancers in Medway. Go see them!
Loop Dance Company: (Top) Anna, Nina, Natalie.(Bottom) Claire, Emmy, Marie
The February issue of Wow Magazine is a dance special spectacular, an interview with the Ballet Boyz being the highlight. And I finally made my debut for Emma Dewhurst’s classy must-read mag, interviewing Craig Bartley of local dance studio, Starquest. You’ll find that on page 14 in the magazine here. On the opposite page, there are a selection of dance classes and groups in our region. For Sarah, who I met at Mid Kent College, here’s a link to Jade Street Dancers – I expect you’ve already found them by now, but just in case!
My other debut, in practise at any rate, was for Wolfshead and Vixen – I’m sure I’ve mentioned them before. The premier Morris side from Rochester have been auditioning for new members and somehow ended up with me. It’s much harder than you think – I was more tired after twenty minutes of Vixens than after an hour at the Dance Careers Event. I’m hoping I’ll have learned enough to be ready for the Sweeps Festival (although, I’m not so sure about dancing at dawn on May Day!) If you fancy trying out for us, there’s a workshop being held at the Beacon Court Tavern, Gillingham, on Sunday, March 3rd, from 1pm.
In national news, Let’s Dance for Comic Relief is back with us again from this Saturday, persuading comedian Tim Vine and others to set aside their modesty and don leotards and leggings. Read all about it here. Time permitting, I’ll cover it on The Rhythm of Life.
“Exceptional dancers in my experience are also exceptional people. People with an attitude towards life, a kind of quest and an eternal quality. They know who they are and they show this to you willingly.” Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Creative People and Places announce community engaging events
Swale and Medway residents are being invited to say how they’d like to spend their share of an arts grant totalling £1,476.000 at a series of events being held throughout both boroughs.
Last summer, Arts Council England awarded the grant to a consortium called Creative People and Places: Swale and Medway, who will ask locals for help in deciding how the money should be spent on art-based activities within the community. The aim of the grant is to inspire people and groups who don’t think the arts are for them to become more involved and the events will give them the chance to suggest what kind of art projects, events and activities they’d like to see staged to improve their local environment.
The first event will be on board LightVessel 21, the floating cultural facility moored at Gillingham Pier. Called ‘Hook Up’ it’s taking place between 11am – 4pm on Sunday, February 17th. You can drop by anytime to help create a “message in a bottle” installation, generate electricity by pedal power, star in a film about the day and enjoy a free soup lunch, tea and cake, subject to availability. Wear flat, non-slip shoes; access is limited due to steep stairs.
A clay modelling day has been organised at Castle Connections in Queenborough, by FrancisKnight Contemporary Arts Practice. It will take place on Saturday, February 23rd, from 11am until 4pm and you’ll be able to get your hands dirty, make stuff, play, chat and tell the FrancisKnight girls what you would like to get involved with. Flamboyant ceramic artist Duncan Hooson will coax the creativity out of you! To book a free place at the clay day, phone 01795 661277 or email castleconnections@btconnect.com
Castle Connections pottery snake
‘Flux’ will run from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, March 2, at Creek Creative, Abbey Street, Faversham. A stall in Market Square will showcase locally produced art and craft with live demonstrations, while performers will entice the gathering crowds along to Creek Creative’s premises, where an intriguing hub of activity with live musical experimentation awaits. Demonstrations, films and performances and surprising characters will delight and entertain.
Three more public events will be held in March, including a pop-up cinema, interactive performance and open discussions between active members of the arts and non arts communities.
Residents are also asked to nominate ‘community catalysts’ – prominent members of local life who do a lot locally and will encourage others to become involved. Nominations can be made at the events and via the website (address below) from March.
Sign up to receive regular updates and newsletters about Creative People and Places: Swale and Medway at http://www.creativepeopleplace.info/
The Swale and Medway group was one of seven successful applicants across England and the only one in the South East. In total, just under £16 million has been awarded.
Medway’s creative community’s Big Night Out!
You know when you haven’t been drinking but end up feeling like you have? Giddy, happy, bit louder than normal? That’s exactly how I felt last Thursday night after just one glass of champagne.
The reason? It was the Medway Culture and Design Awards, held at the Corn Exchange in Rochester, and many of the creative community I’m privileged to be a part of were either nominated, won or just there, participating as always.
Head creative of the night was undoubtedly Martin Green, Events Manager of … The London Olympics! He gave the keynote speech and showed us a behind-the-scenes film of the creative processes involved. He’s the one you need to thank for putting the team together that included Danny Boyle. “… he built and inspired the team that delivered the welcome and victory ceremonies, the torch relays and the opening and closing ceremonies … received universal critical acclaim” as it says on the programme. Hugely inspiring.
Among the winners, the lovely Emma Dewhurst’s Wow magazine in the Media category and Bill Lewis in Literature. Highly commended in Literature were ME4 Writers – there will be more about those three on the Rochester LitFest website in due course. Another organisation I’m so pleased for is Full Frontal, who won the Open Space and Public Realm award, plus the overall Special Achievement Award. A very special well done to the awesome Fern Alder, the driving force behind that particular community project.
Biggest cheer of the night – and an invasion of the stage – followed the announcement that coFWD were winners of an award for Contribution to Urban Regeneration, especially since many of those in the room have some kind of connection with this awesome space. Thrilled doesn’t even come close – it’s fantastic recognition for everything that’s been achieved there so far. There’s more to be done though and you’re all invited to come along and get involved 🙂
There will soon be a write up with a list of winners on Going on in Medway but for now, here’s a gallery of pictures for you. (I’ve added the names so you won’t be left doing the whole “Oh, that’s um thingy, oh you know” thing!)
A wonderful time had by all – it’s fair to say the King’s Head was expecting to close a lot earlier than they did that night! #dirtystopouts
Jaye Nolan 