I've raised £2000 to The Big Exchange project, an inclusive arts initiative celebrating the talents of people with learning disabilities.
Organised by This New Ground
Story
Who We Are & Why Now?
This New Ground is an ambitious initiative to elevate the artistic talents of people with learning disabilities. Based in West London, UK, we run integrated exchange projects that inspire communal transformation and celebrate human experiences of all kinds. Our collective of learning disabled and non-disabled artists is the driving force behind everything we do.
Around 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability and they are one of the most excluded groups in our society. The Big Exchange Project has been designed to respond to the profound challenges that people with learning disabilities face today. Through inclusive collaboration we build out networks of social connections, bringing participants opportunities to access mainstream arts spaces in the borough. As a result of the work we do, people with learning disabilities have more choice, feel more socially connected and build their confidence to work towards more independent lives.
"I feel like I get a choice and it gives me confidence to speak out. I like meeting new people and feeling connected." - Martin, Member of This New Ground's collective
Us In Action
What We Want To Fund
We are raising funds for The Big Exchange Project. This is a participant led project in partnership with Bush Theatre and Bishop Creighton House promoting the power and talents of adults with learning disabilities. It will be an opportunity for This New Ground's Collective to collaborate with more artists in different mediums, to create bold and inspiring work, gain employment opportunities, new skills and develop their artistic talents. We aim to share our work with as many people as possible, stimulate social change and create a living resource for future communities & practitioners.
The project is comprised of five core encounters:
* Our Voices
Through a series of devising workshops the Collective will create their own performance piece in collaboration with associate artists at Bush Theatre.
* Let’s Talk About It
A podcast mini-series creating a platform for encounters and celebrating the voices and experiences of adults with learning disabilities in partnership with the Lyric Hammersmith
* The Living Library
A design initiative to archive the experiences and communal values of the collective to be published and promoted as an online pop up.
* Skills Shop
Opportunities for members of the Collective to be employed as part of This New Ground’s public engagement activities.
* Sparks on Screen
A short film to document moments from our process and to capture on screen the individual personalities that make up the Collective.
How Can You Help?
This will be our most expansive and ambitious project to date. We have already secure 90% of the funding from Arts Council England, Hammersmith and Fulham Council and partner organisations. Now, we need YOU to help us for the final stretch of our funding campaign. We need to raise an extra £2000 to cover: the sound technician fee for the filmmaking project, costs of materials, hiring film & sound equipment and fees for inclusive creative workshop facilitators. Any contribution you are able to make is very much appreciated. Every penny counts!
You can also show your support by sharing our campaign on Facebook and Twitter. You can find us @thisnewgroundUK Please use the hashtag #bigexchangeproject and lets get everyone talking!
