Film Production - Nottingham
The Film Production strand was designed to give young people from access to the facilities offered by a major city and to equip them with the basic skills needed for film writing and production. Delivered in Nottingham by Broadway Media Centre, this comprehensive course allowed apprentices to successfully apply their new skills and knowledge to the creation of two short films.
Broadway Media Centre - www.broadway.org.uk
Drama Production & Performance - Newark
Exploring the theme My Generation, young people studying Drama Production and Performance was led by Zest Creative Arts. This strand was designed to give an experience of the theatre, from devising and writing through to marketing and production. The creation of the Gallery 37 Plus Theatre Company enabled the development of skills resulting in a new play, Thr3e, which explores the social stereotyping of and attitudes between older and younger generations.
Zest Creative Arts - www.zestcreativearts.org.uk
Dance & DJing - Ollerton
Dance and DJ-ing apprentices worked with local dance expert, Emma Cotton and the successful music production company, Fickle Chicken Productions. Over four weeks they worked hard to develop a range of dance techniques and leadership skills, culminating in the development and creation of an original dance piece. The music was provided by the DJ-ing project, which also produced original music tracks that were performed live with DJ, MC and Vocals on the final evening.
Fickle Chicken Productions – www.ficklechicken.co.uk
Visual Arts
Apprentices taking part in the Visual Arts project worked on the Thoresby Estate and Gallery in the heart of the Nottinghamshire countryside. Local artist tutors used this environment to inspire the young artists to create work using a variety of techniques and styles. These pieces were presented to the public in a week long Gallery 37 Plus exhibition at the end of the course.
Thoresby Art Gallery - www.thoresby.com
Apprentice Quotes - 2008
I have definitely achieved everything I dreamed of and so much more.’ ‘Amazing. I loved it, I want more!’ ‘I think all the tutors are all amazing. They helped me so much, I can’t thank you enough!’
Absolutely buzzin’! The best experience of my life so far!’ ‘My biggest achievement was learning to control myself and learning to better express my feelings and emotions.’
Participant’s stories
Josh – MC Trax
Before Gallery 37 Plus I wasn’t really doing anything. I got kicked out of school in Year 10 and didn’t get in to doing anything after that, just hanging around and getting myself in to trouble with the police.
I heard about Gallery 37 Plus from a community police officer who knew me quite well! At first I had a bit of an attitude and was mucking around. I realised after a bit though that it was a really good opportunity as we were working with Eddy who is a really good producer. I decided that I wanted to get the most out of Gallery 37 Plus, get my head down and sort myself out. At the time I hated doing all the writing though, having to fill out diaries and evaluations forms was rubbish, but it was a really good experience and I learnt loads of stuff about DJ-ing and producing.
It meant a lot to me to have the chance to work with such a good DJ and learn so much because I’ve always wanted to get on in the hardcore scene. It’s had a great big impact on my life because now I have the skills I need to get on and do more stuff. I’ve learnt to work better in groups and I’m much more confident than I used to be. The course has helped me get more organised.
After Gallery 37 Plus had finished, me and Michael (also on the programme) wanted to get in to teaching other people our age and pass on the skills we had learnt. With Debbie the Youth Worker at the centre where the course was based we set up a couple of nights a week. We pass on our skills and teach them how to use the equipment. We are even doing evaluations every week. Now I know why we had to fill out those forms! I’m glad now I had to do all the writing as it has helped me get better at it. We are planning a night called ‘Destiny’, which is a party where we will do a set and create a line-up with all the lads we have been working with so they can perform for the first time. I’m hoping to get my Silver Arts Award soon.
It’s like before Gallery 37 there were two Josh’s. One who always got himself in to trouble and mucked around and another who wanted to do stuff and could make a go of things. Now I think there’s only one Josh – the good one.
(Josh Lowe, 17)