Peak 11 Summer School photos above by Andrew Robinson
Photos above from Hope Valley Music Making
Recent Project
Peak 11 Summer School 2009
Global Futures
The fifth annual residential summer school for 100 year nine pupils of the Peak 11 High Schools took place once again at Sheffield Hallam University. This year High Peak Community Arts worked with the Federation of Secondary Schools to provide the creative input for a 2 day residential, taking the theme of Global Futures. The keynote speaker, Jaya Graves of Southern Voices, introduced the theme with a discussion of the impact of globalization, on migration, climate and poverty. The young people then broke out into one of the 6 modules to spend two days interpreting the issues; animating an imagined future, “Dystopia”; creating fashion with recycled materials; designing powerful images to produce in Hit & Run art around the campus; learning about the history and culture of francophone Africa; Producing a spoof documentary on Climate Change; or finding a new fusion of dance and martial arts, in Capoeira.
The results, coming from a packed, intensive two days, filled an impressive final presentation, which left the audience wanting more.
Here are some responses:
- It was fun, the staff were great!
- My legs ache but I really like the dancing!
- It was a joy to work with teachers and pupils that were so enthusiastic about what we were doing
Hope Valley Music Making
Following a successful bid to the Foundation for Youth Music, Hope Valley College is working with High Peak Community Arts on a two year programme inspired by the celebration of the school’s 50th anniversary.
Phase 1 worked collaboratively with a grant given by Performing Rights Society Foundation to commission Ornette Clennon in a new composition to celebrate the school’s 50th Anniversary. He worked with the Choir and Big Band to develop a work of three movements, which uses their ideas and allows for key parts to improvise sections of their input. The piece, “Tell me wha’ gwan, blood”, was performed at the National Schools Competition, 3rd April and the school’s 50th Anniversary Concert, 22nd May.
Phase 2 identified a number of pupils from across the school who are interested in learning to lead groups themselves. Initially there was a taster day for anyone interested to find out more about the training. This was followed by three full training days to explore the techniques for leading groups, the creative content to be used and how to address practically the issues of the Code of Practice, promoted by Youth Music. From this training we have identified three lead trainees and up to nine assistant trainees, who will form three teams going out to the Primary Schools of the feeding cluster, in the new academic year.
This is an exciting time for those taking part, and with such a spread of age groups there is real opportunity for the programme to have a lasting legacy at the school.
The final performance to showcase the project was on Tuesday 25th May 2010 at 5pm at Hope Valley College.
Future projects
New piloted work will aim to increase access to arts activities by those young people who are least likely to take part at the moment. We will look at the barriers to up take, such as transport issues, and pilot working with target groups to signpost interested participants into existing provision elsewhere in the district.
