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ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, SKOPJE, MACEDONIA

 

MAYHEM, LONDON

 

See also 'About Future Trust' for further information.

 

 

ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, SKOPJE, MACEDONIA

 

Performing Arts Centre MULTIMEDIA in partnership with FOSI Macedonia, European Cultural Foundation and Future Trust.

The 'Art for Social Change' programme uses drama and theatre in education as a tool to help young people from all ethnic groups (Slavs, Albanians, Roma and Turks) throughout Macedonia understand who they are and the world in which they live. The aim is to aid self-confidence, self-exploration, cultural expression and aid in conflict resolution. The programme is targeted at children and young people between the ages of 6 and 18 years who are confronted by the many kinds of violence that affect their lives: military, environmental and domestic.

The programme is led by artists, social workers, pedagogues and psychologists. Face to face work with the children and young people is carried out in working groups consisting of 20-25 children, meeting a minimum of twice per week for a duration of two hours. Facilitators-artists lead the workshops, and each team of artists has a group that supports them.

Each session of workshops ends with a final product (theatre play, exhibition, performance etc . . . that is shown to the public. However, it must be emphasised that this product must not be a goal for itself. It must be the outcome of the work of the participating children themselves.

400 children a week are benefitting from this project. Presently there are five projects co-ordinated by PAC MULTIMEDIA. These are based in Skopje at '11 October Orphanage', in Kumanovo, in Ohrid and nearby Resen, and at Debar and Ljubanci.

The Art for Social Change programme for the period 2002-2004 is structured to cover more than 400 children with 40 facilitators. It includes the active involvement of the childrens' parents in this project. Special working sessions are organised with the children and parents.

Future Trust is supporting this work alongside the Macedonia Education Ministry and the European Cultural Fund. Our supervisor, Benjamin May, visits and reports back on the work of this project three times a year.

This support is possible thanks to a grant received from the JJ Charitable Trust.

Further information from Benjamin May at Future Trust, or directly from PAC MULTIMEDIA:

Violeta Simjanovska, Executive Director, PAC MULTIMEDIA

Mihail Cokov, 4 1000 Skopje Macedonia

tel : + 389 2 111 570

fax : + 389 2 109 303

e-mail

vsimjan@osi.net.mk

info@multimedia.org.mk

Web

http://multimedia.org.mk

 

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Click to enlarge - Mayhem, London

MAYHEM, LONDON

 

For anyone interested in real theatre for real young people working towards a real future, Mayhem is necessary. David Lan - Artistic Director, Young Vic - 2006.

 

Mayhem has really helped my acting skills and even though it is only one a week it has given me something to do otherwise I think I would just be ‘jamming on road’. Mayhem Member - 2007.

 

The Mayhem Company work with young people in London using the process of drama and the production of theatre to understand themselves and the world in which we live. We enable young people to:

  • Explore issues and themes that are relevant to their lives in a safe and secure environment
  • Develop their social and artistic skills in a consistent and creative atmosphere
  • Work with professional theatre makers both in rehearsal and production
  • Raise and challenge their personal and professional expectations through performing in professional venues
  • Access further artistic environments such as theatre trips, festivals and film work

The Mayhem Company was set up in 2002 with young people from Geoffrey Chaucer Technology College as an after school drama activity. Since our inception we have worked with a diverse range of young people and professional theatre artists, reflecting both the diverse class and cultural heritage of South London.

 

Previous productions include:

  • Hamelyn Heights - Young Vic Studio 2003
  • 100° Fahrenheit - Southwark Playhouse 2004
  • 100° Fahrenheit - Schools tour to Arch Bishop Michael Ramsay Camberwell London, Collyers Sixth From Horsham Sussex and Bluecoats Secondary Walsaw-Birmingham 2005
  • Deluxe - Southwark Playhouse 2007

We are currently developing our next production looking at how young people develop and explore their sexuality in the age of mass media. The work will be performed in October 2008 at a venue in South London.

 

Our Funders have included North Southwark Education Action Zone, Geoffrey Chaucer Technology College, Metropolitain Police, SE1 United, The London Borough of Southwark, London Borough of Lambeth, Southwark Playhouse, Mountview Drama School, Pool of London Authority and the JJ Charitable Trust.

 

Further information from Benjamin May at Future Trust.

 

 

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