Z-arts

CAN brings city’s refugees stories of courage to the stage

Ben Williams — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:08:02 +0000

Refugee Week kicks off on June 17-23 when Community Arts North West (CAN) will be putting on music and theatre productions aimed at giving a voice to the city’s “hidden” refugee communities.

Imagine leaving your home country filled with illusion and hope for a new life abroad only to find when you reach your Utopia that you’ve been sold into a life of prostitution and slavery.

Or being so terrified for your life that you must leave your family to escape to a country where you know no-one, and can’t imagine where you will find your next meal.

Look around you, that lady next to you on the bus may have a harrowing tale to tell. But who would ever know? She’s one of the “hidden”.

To celebrate Refugee Week, Community Arts North West (CAN) is supporting 40 such women to share their hopes, dreams and nightmares in a powerful multi-arts performance, Heart’s Core, directed by award-winning playwright and poet Cheryl Martin at the Z-arts on Saturday, June 15.

Says Cheryl: “The production is immersive in that it actively involves the audience to make them truly understand the experiences of these remarkable women. There are difficult times and these are in the show. But we also share the joy and exuberance from their lives, the good memories they brought from home, the hope, optimism and fun that keep them going. These are the kind of people Hollywood makes films about – heroes.”

There are many fallacies surrounding refugee communities, according to Katherine Rogers, the programme’s Creative Producer.

“The whole asylum issue is a political hot potato. The British public is pretty tolerant, but the impression is that asylum seekers and refugees get privileges, which isn’t true. Most asylum seekers are isolated and living in poverty. They are not allowed to work and their access to benefits is extremely limited with many living on as little as £5 a day. If their asylum claim is refused, many are forced into destitution and homelessness. Women are particularly vulnerable in this process.”

The weekly Heart’s Core workshops aim to provide a dedicated safe space for women from refugee backgrounds to come together, develop their confidence, learn new skills, express themselves, and expand their social networks.

“Heart’s Core gives women participants the chance to speak their own truth and share stories of joy, hardship and exceptional courage with British audiences. Join them and take a leap into the unknown.”

Heart’s Core is on Saturday, June 15 at the Z-arts at 2pm, 3.30pm,5pm,6.30pm and 8pm. Tickets £5.50 and concessions £3.30. Booking: boxoffice@z-arts.org, call 0161 232 6089 or click here

CAN is grateful for funding support for this production from Arts Council England, Manchester City Council, The Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales and the Network for Social Change.

Jamal Edwards visits Z-arts

Ben Williams — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:19:51 +0000

Media Mogul Jamal Edwards stopped by Z-arts in Hulme on Saturday 11^th of May to inspire the next generation of star musicians with his incredible story.

Jamal Edwards isn’t your typical 22 year old. Since founding SBTV as a teenager he’s become a self-made media superstar, racking up YouTube hits in their hundreds of millions. Last Saturday Jamal dropped in to visit Z-arts’ Sat’dy Allsorts to impart his knowledge.

Sat’dy Allsorts is Z-arts’ leading youth music project and is key to their mission of enabling generations of young people to maximise their potential through creativity. The Allsorts meet each Saturday to write and record music under the guidance of industry professionals; Jamal is someone who knows a thing or two about grassroots talent and was impressed with the project. ‘Going to Sat’dy Allsorts at Z-Arts was amazing,’ he said ‘It’s so important for young artists to have somewhere they can go to be creative and develop as performers.’

The project is already reaping the rewards, having performed at Band On The Wall, The Bridgewater Hall and secured a monthly performance slot called Shine in Z-arts’ café. Sat’dy Allsorts are now being recognized at a national level; last year they were awarded £6,800 by the BBC Performing Arts Fund to create, record and perform 10 new songs and this year several Allsorts have received individual recognition. Fabio Ali (aka Flex) is through to the final of the Bigga Fish Just Talent competition, Roman and KC have just secured highly competitive Starbucks Youth Action funding to deliver a tour of local schools, inspiring the next generation of musicians, and have been recently selected for Not Another Festival at Contact. Eleanor Every has just won MCR Superstars with an outstanding new song.

A visit from Jamal is inspirational to Z-arts’ young musicians as Roman explains; “Jamal has an infectious work ethic, he’s always looking to improve and that rubs off. As a young person myself it’s good to know that view gets you places, I came away from the session feeling a lot more motivated and from what I gathered all the other young people felt the same.” Jamal will return to Manchester in July as part of Manchester International Festival ’I’m really enjoying getting to know the city this year’.

MIF13 has joined forces with Z-arts to find talented urban comics to join them as part of Jokes from the Hood on 15, 16, 17 July. For more information and details of how to apply you can visit Z-arts website.

Photographs (C) Monika Lukasik, visit her on Facebook

Urban? Comedian? Jamal Edwards & SB.TV wants YOU!

Ben Williams — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:10:19 +0000

Jamal Edwards & SB.TV are looking for talented urban comics to join them as part ofJokes from the Hood on 15, 16, 17 July!
This is your chance to perform your comedy as part of Manchester International Festival and join an amazing bill of performers, showcasing your talents alongside the best in British urban comedy. Hosted by Choice FM’s Kojo, Jokes from the Hoodwill feature one comic per night selected for a slot on this prestigious bill.

Applicants are to submit Youtube videos of their live performance (no longer than 5 minutes), which will be judged by the Creative Team on behalf of Z-Arts. The best 10 videos will be posted onto a unique Facebook Event Page, where the video with the most ‘likes’ will be selected as the winner.
To apply you must:

Identify as Urban Comedy and have material suitable for an urban comedy audience.
Live in Greater Manchester.
Be available to perform on 15, 16, or 17 July 2013 from 8.30pm in Central Manchester.
Have previous experience of performing at comedy events.
Have enough material for a maximum of 10 minutes.
Be aged 16+.

If this is YOU, then please email saskia@z-arts.org with:

A short 100 word intro about you (including previous experience).
A Youtube link to footage of your live performance, lasting no more than 5 minutes.
Contact details, including email and phone number.

Notes:

Deadline for applying is: 5pm on Friday 31^st May 2013
For more info about the event please visit M anchester International Festival’s page.

Music Mogul – Free project for 16 – 19 year olds

Ben Williams — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:41:33 +0000

At Z-arts and in partnership with GMYN

Are you the next Jay Z? Is Jamal Edwards your inspiration? Madonna your muse?

Music Mogul is a new free project based at Z-arts working with 16 – 19 year olds to become entrepreneurs and educators in the music industry. We are looking for 12 people to sign up for the 8 week programme that will culminate in producing your own music festival for children, young people and families at Z-arts during the summer holidays.

You may have been involved with music making activity at Z-arts or elsewhere as a participant and now want to:

Progress your education and career
Want to work in the music industry
Work with young people
Have a great idea how to do this

If that’s the case then Music Mogul can help you!

Here’s what you’ll gain by completing the programme.

Learn skills using music based activities to facilitate groups
Gain confidence in your own creativity
Use creative techniques to build teams and enliven learning
Develop safe activities for working with children and young people including risk assessments and safeguarding
Practise techniques that inspire full participation
Learn how to get people to buy your products
Budgeting
Marketing and advertising
Social Action and Charity
Core values of organisations
Hands on skills
Team work

By the end you should feel you have come away from the course feeling like you have developed and further advanced your creative, communication, budgeting, marketing, leadership, facilitation, networking and organisational skills. And you will have also delivered a creative festival and a successful business plan!

The programme with start in June and run until the end of July. We are going to confirm times of delivery once we know people’s availability but it’s likely to be Saturday afternoon or a week night for a couple of hours. To be confirmed.

If that sounds like the kind of creative opportunity that meets your entrepreneurial ambition then please contact Saskia@z-arts.org by Friday 17^th May to express your interest.

Tina O’ Brien visits Mix It Up

Ben Williams — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:13:57 +0000

TINA O’BRIEN JOINS THE KIDS FROM REAL-LIFE CORONATION STREET FOR CHILDREN IN NEED

By Jennifer Dunkerley, originaly published on Daily Star website

GIGGLES echo around the room as former Corrie star Tina O’Brien leaps high into the air. The kids at the Manchester youth centre grin from ear to ear as they get stuck into arts, crafts and their favourite break-dancing class.

But the much-loved telly actress is here for a very special reason today – and it isn’t just to have fun. The 29-year-old grew up close by in one of Manchester’s toughest districts, Hulme and neighbouring Moss Side, where life can often be a struggle. High unemployment, crime and rates of teenage pregnancy see many children in the city facing deprivation and poverty.

But thanks to BBC Children In Need, things are looking up, and Tina has come to visit a new project determined to help to change young lives. She explains: “I was born and raised in this area and went to the same school as some of these children. ”It is an underprivileged area. There wasn’t a lot like this when I was growing up. ”Many kids are at risk of going down the wrong path because there isn’t anything for them to do.”

ABOVE: Amaya and Tina give Pudsey a makeover (PIC: Tony Spencer)

Tina was able to find a better route through her role as teenage mum Sarah-Louise Platt in Britain’s top soap Coronation Street. And now she is keen to help the young people here to express their creative sides. Skills Cash raised by BBC Children In Need has helped to fund the Z-Arts project, a centre which works with young people to increase their confidence and self-esteem, raise aspirations and improve their life chances.

Z-Arts’ mission is to inspire generations of young people from Manchester to use creativity to maximise their potential – kids like Isaiah Crump, three, and his sister Imaya, 10, who live nearby. Their mum Claire Thomas, 28, says: “I’ve lived here 20 years and there was nothing for us back then. ”Most people I knew went down the wrong path, got locked up or involved in things they shouldn’t.

“There’s not enough for kids to do round here and everything always “There’s not enough for kids to do round here and everything always seems to cost lots of money.

“Projects like this are effectively changing a generation and giving them skills to break the cycle. I wish it had been around when I was growing up.

“My son has learnt how to share and how to interact with other children. It gets them out of the house and allows them to be creative.”

ABOVE: Chantaiya, left, and Shana tell Tina how much they love getting mucky with art (PIC: Tony Spencer)

Tina joins in with the breakdancing class, then pops into the after-school Mix It Up Club where children aged three to 11 get their hands messy painting, sticking and creating their own artworks. Eight-year-old Chantaiya Harris, Amaya Ryan, five, and Shana Morgan-Small, six, show her the animals they have made. Chantaiya giggles: “It’s so fun. We get to get messy and not get told off for it!”

Every penny donated to BBC Children In Need goes towards helping disadvantaged children and young people right here in the UK. Saskia Metcalf, the creative development manager at Z-Arts, explains: “Fifty per cent of kids in Manchester live in poverty.

“This area has high youth unemployment and high rates of teen pregnancy. It affects their aspirations and achievement. These are the cycles of poverty that we hope to break. Our ambition is to give every young person the ability to achieve their dreams.

“There’s proof that getting kids involved in positive activities sees a drop in anti-social behaviour.

“They have the opportunity to volunteer here as they get older which improves their employability skills.

“We’ve seen a huge drop in funding so the money from CIN is absolutely vital.”

Pretty in pink and jumping for joy is Lashay Healy, seven, who is experiencing benefits already.

Mum Adrianna says: “She loves to dance but suffered break cycles from self-esteem issues and low confidence.

“Now she’s completely come out of her shell. Lashay has gained confidence and is so happy here.”

And Manchester United fan Ruben Pantry, six, even practises his moves at home.

Mum Vanessa Bridge says: “It’s something for them to do. He’s excited to be learning a new skill.”

ABOVE: Tina shows off her vertical leap with Chantaiya, left and Lashay (PIC: Tony Spencer)

Sidnie Taylor uses the breakdancing class as an incentive for her son Joel, eight, to improve in school.

Tina, a mum herself to four-year-old Scarlett, says: “It’s amazing to have a centre where the kids can come that gives them some resources. The benefits are endless.

“I’m lucky that I discovered acting at a young age and decided it was what I wanted to do. My parents didn’t have much money so we had to make sacrifices to get me into a class.

“I encourage Scarlett to do everything and be creative and now I have started drama classes of my own in the city.

“Starting in Corrie so young not only got me a foot in the door but gave me the ability to work with a wide range of people of all ages. That’s benefited me immensely.”

It’s grinning Ethan Cheetham-Karcz, six, who has caught Tina’s eye today.

“He has such a natural ability to dance which he might not have spotted without this class,” she says.

“Every child should have the chance to maximise their potential. That’s why this project is so important.”

More coverage on BBC website and in the Manchester Evening News

Word of Warning: Spring Double Bill

Ben Williams — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:15:45 +0000

Word of Warning takes a trip into the world of surreal comedy on Friday 26 April with a double bill featuring The Mighty Boosh’s Stuart Silver and a new show by Manchester’s own purveyor of stop-motion salaciousness: Tam Hinton.

After a 10 year BAFTA-nominated + Perrier Award-winning collaboration with Kim Noble as Channel 4′s (nobleandsilver) and a stint on The Mighty Boosh, Stuart Silver brings to Manchester his ‘surrepticiously seductive’ solo: You Look Like Ants. A Big Picture monologue on getting perspective and attempting to get a hold on life, under the crush of great advice. With ukulele when you least expect it.
Award-winning, Tam Hinton is Manchester’s answer to Terry Gilliam. Using video, claymation, and judicious swearing, in Delicious Monster, he presents a vision of the human soul in torment, taking us on a rollercoaster ride into the diseased heart of modern England. Former winner of Best Comedy at the Buxton Festival and ‘Best Play’ at Not Part Of Festival, Hinton’s work is a mixture of live action storytelling and stop-motion animation. Expect laughter, tears, and a strange tingling sensation in your left earlobe.

Stuart Silver’s You Look Like Ants and Tam Hinton’s Delicious Monster are here, on Fri 26 April, 7.30pm, book your tickets online.

Two Sides To Her Story: Anne Frank and You

Ben Williams — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:24:02 +0000

Neil Harrison delves into the world of Anne Frank and discovers why her story is still relevant today. This article was originally posted on the Humanity Hollows Blogspot

WHEN, IN 1942, OTTO AND EDITH FRANK gave their daughter Anne a diary for her 13^th birthday, they could not have realised that they were also giving a gift of immeasurable value to the entire world. Now a Manchester exhibition is passing on that gift to the public and to a new generation of school children from the region.

Anne Frank and You, at Z-Arts in Hulme, is both a moving account of Anne Frank’s tragically short life and a powerful lesson in the strength of hope and innocence in the face of hatred and discrimination.

The exhibition begins with Anne Frank’s birth in Frankfurt, 1929, and charts her family’s move to the Netherlands in 1933 in order to escape what her Father Otto described as, ‘hordes of nationalistic, cruel, anti-Semitic criminals’.

The Frank’s fears were realised in May 1940, when the German army invaded the Netherlands. Rather than risk them being deported, Otto, with the selfless aid of his employees, who risked their own safety to help, took the decision to hide his children in his business premises in Amsterdam. It was here, in a concealed room in the attic, where Anne Frank would spend the next two years.

Amid the historiographical section of the exhibition sits a life-size replica of Anne’s bedroom. This room in the secret annexe where she wrote the diary that ‘became a real friend for her, and a way of expressing her innermost thoughts’, would serve as her sanctuary, but also her prison.

Today, however, the room and the whole exhibition are filled with the smiles and exuberant chatter of children from Moss Park Junior School in Stretford. There can be no better measure of the worth of Anne Frank’s enduring message than new generations eagerly learning about, and interacting with, the lessons of it through the activities provided for them here – there is a blank diary in which the children are invited to ‘denounce an injustice, condemn an act of discrimination or speak up against abuse’ and, like Anne, share their ‘own dreams, ideals and hopes for the future’.

Leading the children through the displays and orchestrating the activities is Marian McQueen of The Anne Frank Trust, assisted by volunteer ambassadors from St. James C of E High School in Bolton. Marian is clearly passionate about her work and she explains why the continued telling of Anne Frank’s story is so important.

“All the key themes of Anne’s story are still in evidence today. The purpose of the exhibition, of bringing children to learn about it, is to make them aware that prejudice and discrimination are still around but they have the opportunity to stand up to it”.

In fact, the second part of Anne Frank and You does exactly that. Whilst still immersed in the context of the hidden annexe (the fear of the Gestapo and the holocaust), the exhibition takes an inspiring turn. Suddenly we are right up-to-date: contemporary issues are observed through the lens of history. These issues bear an important relevance to the children in attendance. They range from the story of footballer Mario Balotelli, who has often suffered racist abuse from the terraces, to Malala Yousafzai, the 15 year old Pakistani schoolgirl shot in the head and neck by the Taliban last year, after daring to speak out about equal rights to education for women. Malala herself has been described as, ‘the Pakistani Anne Frank.’

There are stories here of the evils of prejudice: the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence and the horrors of the Bosnian Conflict. There are also inspiring stories of courage and of those people who take a stand against violence and injustice: Liberian peace activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Leymah Gbowee, and Alexander Rose, founder of the STOP campaign against youth violence. All of these examples – and more – are used to bring Anne Frank’s voice into the 21st Century. As Marian emphasises: “Anne’s story did not die with her. It continues to challenge preconceived notions of the nature of prejudice.”

This dynamic and intelligent exhibition succeeds in its mission to bring Anne Frank’s message into the modern world. Extracts from her diary are dotted around the room. In spite of the (sometimes difficult) nature of the subject matter presented, her words remain a constant reminder of the endurance of human spirit and of the power of innocence over prejudice, discrimination and intolerance.

‘How wonderful it is that no-one need wait, but can start right now to gradually change the world. How wonderful it is that everyone, great and small, can immediately help bring about justice by giving of themselves’. -Anne Frank

Neil Harrison is studying Social History at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is an aspiring journalist and a terrible guitar player. Read his blog LooseRiver and follow him on Twitter @looseriver

The Fourth Insight Film Festival

Ben Williams — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:19:40 +0000

15-17 March 2013, Z-arts, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5ZA

The Insight Film Festival, directed by John Forrest, (freelance Producer, BBC Religion et al) is an international film festival based in Manchester. The Festival focuses on faith as a theme, not working to promote any religious or non religious views, instead offering a platform through which faith can be explored.

Highlights of the Festival include our opening feature, the UK Northern Premier of Material. The film premièred at the London Film Festival 2012. Following the feature, we are having a Q&A with actor Vincent Ebrahim from Kumars at No. 42 and Executive Producer Tendeka Matatu.

SCREENING: FRIDAY 15TH MARCH, 7.30pm, £3 (free with day/weekend festival pass)

Insight is a weekend full of screenings and seminars, all taking place Z-arts, including:

Saturday Seminar Cinema Islam:Theology, Representation and the power of Film chaired by Radical Middle Way,
Sunday 11am – Free BBC Writersroom workshop with Henry R. Swindell
Guest screening of The Invitation followed by Director Q&A from Acting on Impulse, Manchester based charity working with homeless and disadvantaged

Insight are a non-for-profit organisation, with tickets only £10 students for the whole weekend or £6 day.

Book tickets and passes here, view the Event Schedule here

http://www.insightfestival.co.uk/

Les Misérables Trailer

Ben Williams — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Trailer for the award-winning Musical Youth UK perform Les Miserables School’s Edition. Their run begins here next week, book your tickets now!

Performances:

Monday 18th February – 7.15pm

Tuesday 19th February – 7.15pm

Wednesday 20th February – 7.15pm

Thursday 21st February – 7.15pm

Friday 22nd February – 7.15pm

Saturday 23rd February – 2.30pm

Saturday 23rd February – 7.15pm

Anne Frank + You exhibition comes to Z-arts

Ben Williams — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:46:11 +0000

Anne Frank + You exhibition comes to Z-arts

From 25^th of February to 22^nd March

Z-arts, 335 Stretford Road, Manchester, M15 5ZA

info@z-arts.com | 0161 226 1912

The Anne Frank Trust is delighted to announce that we will be premiering the latest edition of our flagship exhibition, Anne Frank + You, in Manchester this month. The exhibition will be hosted by Z-arts from 25^th February – 23^rd March and is free of charge.

Using the lessons of Anne Frank’s life and diary, the exhibition challenges prejudice to reduce hatred. It relates themes from Anne’s diary such as conflict, family relationships and the value of freedom to the present day, drawing parallels with Britain’s modern social fabric. Anne Frank + You attracted 12,000 visitors in 2012 and we are now looking forward to an equally successful 2013.

Marian McQueen, the Anne Frank Trust’s North West Project Coordinator, says: “The exhibition will feature an almost-life-size reconstruction of Anne Frank’s bedroom in hiding, and the historical timelines of both Anne’s life and of the Holocaust which took place in Europe during the Second World War.” New editions to the exhibition explore the consequences of hatred, persecution and conflict, such as that of Malala Yousafzi who was shot by the Taliban for defending girls’ right to education.

Anne Frank + You is presented by both local volunteers and Anne Frank Ambassadors. Our Ambassadors are teenage students who have been trained through the Trust’s schools programme to help visitors explore the themes and questions the exhibition raises.

http://www.z-arts.org/events/annefrank/

http://www.annefrank.org.uk/

ENDS

For more information on the exhibition, please contact the Communications Team at info@annefrank.org.uk or call 020 7284 5858.

Notes to Editors

The Anne Frank Trust UK was founded in 1991 to fulfil the wish of Otto Frank for an educational charity in Britain in memory of his daughters.
Anne Frank + You is supported by the Social Action Fund
In 2012, the Anne Frank Trust’s schools programme worked with 24,000 young people and had 12,000 visitors to public exhibitions.
Z-arts is the new brand name for Zion Arts Centre, Manchester’s dedicated venue for children and families. Our mission is to inspire and enable generations of young people from Manchester and beyond to use creativity to maximise their potential.