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University awarded London 2012 Inspire Mark for Street Arts initiative
The Faculty of Arts at the University of Winchester has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark for the third year running, in this instance to develop an innovative Street Arts project in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The project is a collaborative venture with the internationally-acclaimed performance company Periplum who are currently working with students to develop a new production, provisionally titled The Art of Demonstration.
“It’s fantastic that our project with Periplum has been awarded the Inspire Mark in the year of the Olympics,” explained John Lee, Programme Leader for BA Streets Arts at the University of Winchester. “The project will offer great opportunities for our students to develop their practice through a combination of both learning and work experience. They will be stretched beyond their comfort zones and find new ways of making performance, whilst receiving feedback from professionals about how they can develop as practitioners.”
Periplum first teamed up with the University of Winchester in 2010 to devise a piece for Street Arts students aboard HMS Alliance, a World War II submarine at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport. The new project involves Periplum working with students at Winchester’s Performing Arts Studios over a four week period, devising and shaping new performance material.
“Initiatives like this are an essential part of Street Arts training at the University,” added John, whose students have appeared at a number of international festivals over the last year. “This kind of involvement ultimately adds to a student’s employability when they graduate from the course. Street Arts can offer access to practice through a wide range of opportunities in theatres, arts centres, festivals, events heritage and more.”
The Faculty of Arts at the University of Winchester was awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark in 2010 and 2011 for the Emerge Festival, a vibrant showcase of imaginative performances by Street Arts students and emerging artists across the UK.
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A print-ready image is available to download by clicking here
Caption: Artistic Directors Claire Raftery and Damian Wright (back) at Periplum working with Street Arts students in Winchester’s Performing Arts Studios.
Notes to editors:
The new Performing Arts Studios building at the University of Winchester was recently shortlisted for a National Civic Trust Award, for its innovative design and positive contribution to the built environment.
Further information about Street Arts at Winchester can be found on
http://www.winchester.ac.uk/academicdepartments/PerformingArts/streetartscourse/Pages/streetartscourse.aspx
Further information about Periplum can be found on www.periplum.co.uk