DreamMakers is a UK-wide project initiated by 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning and artist Eva Sajovic, supported by the social cohesion programme of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and done in collaboration with Andre, Beatrix, Daniela, Dzesika, Esmeralda, Farzad, Jesika, Maros, Maryuam, Rastislav, Shoaib, Connor, Ernest, Eva, Sophie, Wiktoria, Andrea, Denisa, Frankie, Hesam, Iveta, Kabir, Ladislav, Marek, Nikolas, Sara, Maria, Jennifer, Marcel, Ewelina, Andzelika, Martyna, Dominik, Radka, Nikola and Tomas.
The goals of the project were to support the young people to develop their powers of self-expression, to view their cultural background as valuable in the context of a multicultural society, as well as tackling prejudice in the wider community.
DreamMakers reflects the objectives of 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning, which is an arts organisation that provides representation for diverse communities and advocates for change through art.
A Steering Committee has been established, consisting of representatives from partners from different locations, to create networks (sustainable beyond the lifespan of the project itself), to share experiences and to oversee the processes and outcomes of the project. DreamMakers aims to have an impact on both the micro and macro level: instigating change for individuals, developing a model that might be adopted by others, and empowering individuals to represent their communities in the longer term. The role of the artist is to facilitate each of these processes.
The project methodology imports principles from Gordon Allport’s ‘Contact Theory’, which argues that under appropriate conditions interpersonal contact is one of the most effective ways to reduce prejudice between majority and minority group members, making available broader concepts of identification. According to Allport, to be effective the contact must be positive and involve equal status between the participants: common goals, inter-group co-operations, the support of authorities and personal interaction.
DreamMakers uses contact theory in two ways: 1) ensuring mixed backgrounds in the composition in the groups of young people; and less obviously 2) introducing the groups to community institutions, such as a criminal court, in a context that promotes positive associations on both sides (i.e. from both the perspective of court staff and the young people).
Four locations were selected across the UK: Glasgow, Bolton, Peterborough and London. All have significant new populations of Roma. The geographic spread was designed to establish a network of regional hubs, and to promote understanding of the different issues arising in different environments. In each location a core ‘journalistic’ team of between six and eleven young people from Roma, English Gypsy, Irish Traveller and non-Roma backgrounds was created (Roma being the majority in all cases).
Each team was given training in media (photography, video, sound and the internet) and assistance in recording and collecting material relevant to their lives and their communities.
The project facilitates engagement with individuals from the wider community including other young people, parents, community leaders and organisations. Specific plans are made that relate to the activities and issues already inherent in each location, which have been initially identified during preparatory visits.
The work in each location culminates in a celebratory exhibition. The artist spends nine days in each location, spread over three or four visits, the time divided roughly as follows: three days training (‘pre-production’); four days collecting materials (‘production’); and two days editing material and preparing the exhibition (‘post- production’). A blog featuring participants’ work serves both as an ongoing virtual display and also as a site of contact between the different groups.
The four groups will come together for the opening of the final exhibition at 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning in June 2013. Two representatives from each group are invited to 198 to co-curate the exhibition.
A programme of events designed around themes of multicultural identity and the role of art in facilitating representation brings together organisations, academics and other practitioners to share in the vision of future for these communities.
PARTNERS TO THE PROJECT:
Thomas Deacon Academy is located in a residential suburb in the cathedral city ofPeterborough in Cambridgeshire. The city has a population of around 186,000 and has grownmuch faster than the national average mainly as a result of immigration. The number ofethnic and language communities reflects the changes in this diverse city. Our academy opened in September 2007 for 2200 students aged 11-18 years, specialising inmaths and science. 44% of the students are from ethnic minority backgrounds, includingmigrant and refugee. There are about 40 languages spoken and all students are encouraged toraise their aspirations, widen their horizons and strive for excellence. Our involvement in theDream Makers project provided a small group of students, from Roma, Irish traveller andWhite British heritage with the opportunity to be creative, learn new skills and celebrate theirown identity in the school and the wider community.
The Children’s Society - Roma/New Migrants Project is a part of the New Londoners Programme. New Londoners have been working with young refugees, Roma and migrants since 1996 and aim to support young people and families in fulfilling their potential. We do this by assisting them in accessing essential services, helping them to voice their concerns and supporting them in lobbying and campaigning for their rights.
West of Scotland Regional Equality Council (WSREC) is a charity organisation working for a just society which gives everyone an equal chance to learn, work and live free from discrimination and prejudice and from the fear of harassment and violence.
Working primarily with minority ethnic communities across all ‘protected characteristics’ our aims are:
·To work towards the elimination of discrimination in all its forms in the West of Scotland
·To reduce inequality and promote a culture of human rights
·To promote good community relations between all people of all communities in the West of Scotland
For more information on WSREC services contact us on:
Tel: 0141 337 6626 or [email protected]
The Achievement, Cohesion & Integration Service (ACIS) is a Bolton Council service within the Children’s Services department. ACIS supports families who are new to the UK and speak English as an additional language (EAL).
The focus of ACIS is to receive and assist International New arrival families from across the globe in accessing education; these can include refugees, asylum seekers, EU migrants, migrants from outside the EU, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families (GRT). Sign-posting families to other support agencies are also a key role.
Lucie Fremlova is an independent inclusion, equalities and human rights consultant, researcher and an international practitioner in the domain of human rights, particularly minority, Roma, sexual and reproductive rights, and the movement of Roma within the EU, with extensive advocacy, policy, research and programme management experience from working in the UK and mainland Europe. She has sixteen-year knowledge of the situation of human/Roma/minority rights in Europe and the same length of experience of working with survivors and victims of racism, discrimination, segregation, coercive sterilisation and racially motivated hate crime.
The goals of the project were to support the young people to develop their powers of self-expression, to view their cultural background as valuable in the context of a multicultural society, as well as tackling prejudice in the wider community.
DreamMakers reflects the objectives of 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning, which is an arts organisation that provides representation for diverse communities and advocates for change through art.
A Steering Committee has been established, consisting of representatives from partners from different locations, to create networks (sustainable beyond the lifespan of the project itself), to share experiences and to oversee the processes and outcomes of the project. DreamMakers aims to have an impact on both the micro and macro level: instigating change for individuals, developing a model that might be adopted by others, and empowering individuals to represent their communities in the longer term. The role of the artist is to facilitate each of these processes.
The project methodology imports principles from Gordon Allport’s ‘Contact Theory’, which argues that under appropriate conditions interpersonal contact is one of the most effective ways to reduce prejudice between majority and minority group members, making available broader concepts of identification. According to Allport, to be effective the contact must be positive and involve equal status between the participants: common goals, inter-group co-operations, the support of authorities and personal interaction.
DreamMakers uses contact theory in two ways: 1) ensuring mixed backgrounds in the composition in the groups of young people; and less obviously 2) introducing the groups to community institutions, such as a criminal court, in a context that promotes positive associations on both sides (i.e. from both the perspective of court staff and the young people).
Four locations were selected across the UK: Glasgow, Bolton, Peterborough and London. All have significant new populations of Roma. The geographic spread was designed to establish a network of regional hubs, and to promote understanding of the different issues arising in different environments. In each location a core ‘journalistic’ team of between six and eleven young people from Roma, English Gypsy, Irish Traveller and non-Roma backgrounds was created (Roma being the majority in all cases).
Each team was given training in media (photography, video, sound and the internet) and assistance in recording and collecting material relevant to their lives and their communities.
The project facilitates engagement with individuals from the wider community including other young people, parents, community leaders and organisations. Specific plans are made that relate to the activities and issues already inherent in each location, which have been initially identified during preparatory visits.
The work in each location culminates in a celebratory exhibition. The artist spends nine days in each location, spread over three or four visits, the time divided roughly as follows: three days training (‘pre-production’); four days collecting materials (‘production’); and two days editing material and preparing the exhibition (‘post- production’). A blog featuring participants’ work serves both as an ongoing virtual display and also as a site of contact between the different groups.
The four groups will come together for the opening of the final exhibition at 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning in June 2013. Two representatives from each group are invited to 198 to co-curate the exhibition.
A programme of events designed around themes of multicultural identity and the role of art in facilitating representation brings together organisations, academics and other practitioners to share in the vision of future for these communities.
PARTNERS TO THE PROJECT:
Thomas Deacon Academy is located in a residential suburb in the cathedral city ofPeterborough in Cambridgeshire. The city has a population of around 186,000 and has grownmuch faster than the national average mainly as a result of immigration. The number ofethnic and language communities reflects the changes in this diverse city. Our academy opened in September 2007 for 2200 students aged 11-18 years, specialising inmaths and science. 44% of the students are from ethnic minority backgrounds, includingmigrant and refugee. There are about 40 languages spoken and all students are encouraged toraise their aspirations, widen their horizons and strive for excellence. Our involvement in theDream Makers project provided a small group of students, from Roma, Irish traveller andWhite British heritage with the opportunity to be creative, learn new skills and celebrate theirown identity in the school and the wider community.
The Children’s Society - Roma/New Migrants Project is a part of the New Londoners Programme. New Londoners have been working with young refugees, Roma and migrants since 1996 and aim to support young people and families in fulfilling their potential. We do this by assisting them in accessing essential services, helping them to voice their concerns and supporting them in lobbying and campaigning for their rights.
West of Scotland Regional Equality Council (WSREC) is a charity organisation working for a just society which gives everyone an equal chance to learn, work and live free from discrimination and prejudice and from the fear of harassment and violence.
Working primarily with minority ethnic communities across all ‘protected characteristics’ our aims are:
·To work towards the elimination of discrimination in all its forms in the West of Scotland
·To reduce inequality and promote a culture of human rights
·To promote good community relations between all people of all communities in the West of Scotland
For more information on WSREC services contact us on:
Tel: 0141 337 6626 or [email protected]
The Achievement, Cohesion & Integration Service (ACIS) is a Bolton Council service within the Children’s Services department. ACIS supports families who are new to the UK and speak English as an additional language (EAL).
The focus of ACIS is to receive and assist International New arrival families from across the globe in accessing education; these can include refugees, asylum seekers, EU migrants, migrants from outside the EU, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families (GRT). Sign-posting families to other support agencies are also a key role.
Lucie Fremlova is an independent inclusion, equalities and human rights consultant, researcher and an international practitioner in the domain of human rights, particularly minority, Roma, sexual and reproductive rights, and the movement of Roma within the EU, with extensive advocacy, policy, research and programme management experience from working in the UK and mainland Europe. She has sixteen-year knowledge of the situation of human/Roma/minority rights in Europe and the same length of experience of working with survivors and victims of racism, discrimination, segregation, coercive sterilisation and racially motivated hate crime.
