Spark Festival News
The Spark Children's Arts Festival is launching its annual storywriting competition with a chance for winning entries to be published in a book. Young people aged 7-16 are being asked to let their imaginations run wild and write stories on the theme of 'Arrival in an Unknown Land'.
The competition theme is inspired by Curve theatre's all new stage adaptation of the adventures of Gulliver's Travels, at Curve as part its programme of shows for family audiences at this year's Spark. Young writers' imaginations could wander to far off lands, distant worlds or maybe even different times. Stories could be travel tales, or science fiction...perhaps beginning with arriving through a time portal or stepping on foreign soil.
The Spark's storywriting competition is supported for the third year running by Whatever It Takes, Leicester City's reading campaign. Ten winning stories will be published in a book which will be available for all Leicester city primary and secondary schools in October this year. The successful writers will also win two free tickets each to see Gulliver's Travels which will premiere at Curve as part of The Spark in May.
Entries should be no more than 500 words and must be received by 23rd March 2012. Entrants must be resident in Leicester city or attend a city school.
Games Time is a huge outdoor dance show, staged on a massive games board with extraordinary costumes and breath-taking fireworks. Games Time is coming to Loughborough on 9 June, Northampton on 7 July and Derby on 22 September.
The producers, Déda Producing, are looking for four individuals per location who can take on the role of Games Time Local Dance Champion. For this role they are looking for people who have a dance background who would like the opportunity to work alongside professional dancers from the Games Time Team, as well as be the key point of contact for local participants involved in the show. Candidates for this role may already be leading a group or company who have an interest in taking part in Games Time 2012. The fee for the Local Dance Champion role is £1,000. If you are interested in this exciting professional development opportunity please send a current cv and an expression of interest letter by 12th January 2012 to c.limb@deda.uk.com.
To find out more about Games Time go to http://www.gamestime.org.uk
Spectacular live outdoor stage show to feature 160 local people.
Games Time, a spectacular outdoor stage show combining music, video, fireworks and professional dancers, will be performed in Loughborough as part of The Spark Children's Art Festival in June 2012 – and producers are looking for 160 local people to take part.
The show, which is inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic Games, gives volunteers the chance to work with professional dancers and choreographers, costume makers and set designers as well as seeing how a large outdoor show is put together.
It made its debut in Skegness in July in front of more than 10,000 people, and after Loughborough will be performed inNorthamptonandDerbylater in the year.
Derby-based Déda Producing, in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council, Leicestershire County Council, Charnwood Arts, and Spark Children's Arts Festival, is looking to recruit volunteers to be part of the cast for Games Time, which is set on a stage designed as a giant games board, with the cast acting in four teams to win points.
SPARK CHILDREN'S ARTS FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES NEW FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
The Spark Children's Arts Festival has announced the appointment of Adel Al-Salloum as its new Director. Adel is currently Associate Director of Curve, responsible for the development and delivery of Curve's participation and learning programmes which includes directing and programming work for children and young people, and will take on her new role at The Spark in January 2012.
Commenting on her appointment, Adel Al-Salloum said:
"I am thrilled at being invited to take up the post of Festival Director. Spark is a gem of an organisation that commits itself to providing quality arts and cultural provision to thousands of children and young people year upon year. Whilst there are many challenges that lie ahead, Spark's ambition is bold and I will be dedicated to delivering and growing a programme that inspires, educates and challenges the hearts and minds of all children and young people."
Outgoing Director Ellen Bianchini, who founded the festival in 2003, said:
"I am absolutely delighted that The Spark will be led by someone of Adel's calibre and experience. We have worked together closely since the festival started, when she was at Leicester Haymarket. She knows the festival and the city very well already, and will bring new skills and vision to the team and to the direction of the festival."
David Bell, Chair of the Spark Board, commented:
"We talked to some very high quality candidates about taking on the leadership of The Spark at this crucial time in its development. As we move towards the 10th Spark Festival, next summer, we were looking for a very special person to build on the remarkable achievements of the outgoing Festival Director and Co-Founder Ellen Bianchini. I'm proud and very excited to say we've found that person in Adel Al-Salloum, someone with the rare artistic and commercial vision needed to take The Spark forward and further establish the all-round value and special magic that it brings to children and young people and Leicester's cultural diversity."
The Spark Children's Arts Festival has launched a new fundraising campaign and is asking for local businesses to donate to help protect children's arts. Local businesses have donated to the Shine For The Spark appealto start the ball rolling, but the Leicester-based festival needs to raise £10,000 to protect its education programme which makes a difference to thousands of children in schools each year.
The appeal is now under way with Next plc making the first business donation closely followed by the generosity of Kirby & West and the performers' trade union Equity.
Graham Smith, Director at Kirby & West said:
"Kirby & West cares about the community and is keen to support the well being of children and families. The Spark Festival works hard to involve them in arts experiences that really affect them and educate, empower and inspire children as they develop. We want to help them continue to do that and are happy to help".
The Spark's Director Ellen Bianchini said:
"This is a great start to our appeal by Leicester's business community. As public sector funding is squeezed, business donations are becoming increasingly important. The arts for children are particularly vulnerable – they are not statutory, not high profile, and not high on education priorities, yet we know that The Spark makes a big difference to the lives of thousands of children each year and boosts their learning. "
The business donations will provide a 'matched fund' that will match public donations pound for pound. The Spark needs businesses and individuals to support the appeal and to give as much as they can to help protect arts for children at this time of funding cuts.
In 2011 almost 13,000 people attended Spark events. Next year is The Spark's 10th birthday and the festival will run from 28th May – 10th June bringing to Leicester leading international and national artists creating work for children. The festival strives to be accessible to all children and runs an inclusive schools programme, taking the arts into classrooms, and subsidising theatre visits and workshops for thousands of children. According to a 2010 audience survey 95% of parents felt that their children learned from and were inspired by the festival. The 'At Your School' programme tours to schools in Leicester's most deprived wards.
An exciting new ‘made in Leicester’ book will be launched next week – the product of 10 young Leicester writers who won The Spark Children’s Arts Festival 2011 storywriting competition.
The winning stories were selected from 475 entries and written by children aged from 7 to 14 years. Each one has a different interpretation of the competition theme, Never Judge a Book by Its Cover, originally inspired by David Walliams’ popular book Mr Stink which was dramatised at Curve for the festival in June. Each story has a colourful illustration, courtesy of students at Sir Jonathan North Community College
Festival Director Ellen Bianchini said:
“This book is a brilliant realisation of young people’s imagination and skill – skill in both the writing and the illustrating of the stories. Some stories are funny, others spooky, sad or downright fantastical – aliens, vampires, boys who can fly and the secret life of the Queen. We’re thrilled to have been able to create this beautiful book from the stories that children sent in, which others will now be able to share”.
The shortlisted stories were judged by a number of schools across the city and by a panel that included author Andrew Cope. He commented:
“In an age when the media often portrays young people in a negative way, this book will restore your faith in the young generation. Talent unlimited!”
The competition was supported by Whatever It Takes, Leicester’s reading campaign and the books have been printed by Leicester print company Taylor Bloxham, The Spark’s Print Partner. The books will be distributed to every Leicester primary and secondary school this autumn.
Help The Spark protect children‘s arts
The Spark Children’s Arts Festival is calling for public support as it launches a new fundraising campaign - Shine For The Spark 2012. The Festival needs to raise £10,000 to protect its education programme which makes a difference to thousands of children in schools each year. The Spark is calling for public donations to reach a target of £5,000 in an appeal which will see donations doubled by business contributions.
Public donations will be matched pound for pound. The Spark Festival is delighted that Next plc has started the ball rolling by making the first business donation to the appeal. Spark Director Ellen Bianchini said: “This is a great start to our appeal by a majorLeicestercompany and we hope that more businesses will follow their lead. Public and business donations are becoming increasingly important as public sector funding is squeezed. The arts for children are particularly vulnerable – they are not statutory, not high profile, and not high on education priorities, yet we know that The Spark makes a big difference to the lives of thousands of children each year and boosts their learning. ”
Next year’s Spark will run from 28th May – 10th June. The festival brings leading international and national artists creating work for children toLeicester for two weeks a year. In 2011 almost 13,000 people attended Spark events. The organisation runs an accessible and inclusive schools programme, taking the arts into classrooms, and subsidising theatre visits and workshops for thousands of children. From storywriting competitions and pop-up galleries to breathing new life into play areas in city parks, ongoing Spark projects are deeply rooted in communities across the city and engage children in inspiring ways.
According to a survey of parents conducted in 2010. 100% felt that their children enjoyed The Spark, 95% felt that their children learned from and were inspired by the festival, 85% felt that their children became more confident as a result of the festival experience and 80% felt that The Spark experience improved their child’s emotional health. The Spark strives to be accessible to all children with a schools programme which tours to schools inLeicester’s most deprived wards.
The Shine For The Spark appeal is now up and running and the festival has its very own justgiving text number. Donations can be made by texting 70070 and key in SPAR10 followed by the amount e.g. SPAR10 £10. Alternatively donations can be made at www.sparkfestival.co.uk by clicking on the donate button. Donations can also be made by cheque made payable to The Spark Children’s Arts Festival and can be posted to The Spark Festival, LCB Depot, 31 Rutland St, Leicester, LE1 1RE. For enquiries please call 0116 261 6893 or email admin@sparkfestival.co.uk
The Spark Children’s Arts Festival is seeking a new director, following the announcement that the current director and founder Ellen Bianchini will be standing down in the autumn. Ellen Bianchini founded the Leicester-based children’s arts festival which is due to celebrate its tenth birthday in 2012.
Ellen Bianchini, Festival Director comments:
“The organisation was given National Portfolio status by Arts Council England this year, which gives us a measure of security of funding for the next three years, so this is a good time for a new director to come in and take the festival forward. The Spark has an outstanding and dedicated small team behind it, and many fantastic partners in the city and region. I’m immensely proud that together we have created a thriving and high quality arts festival for children in Leicester. And with our 10th birthday coming up in 2012 there is much more to look forward to!”
Ellen Bianchini established The Spark in 2003 and the festival features some of the best national and international artists creating work for children. Last year The Spark was attended by nearly 13,000 people and the 2012 festival will run between 28th May -10th June
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, David Bell comments:
“Ellen has led the development of the Spark Festival over the last nine years, building onher original idea to establish what is nowthe largest independent children’s arts festival inEngland &Wales. The festival is a major part of the cultural scene locally and has a well-deserved national and international reputation. The Board wish to thank Ellen for her personal dedication, which has been crucial to our success. The organisation is now heading into a new phase and we look forward to welcoming a new director on board.”
A job description is available from the company, please email jobs@sparkfestival.co.uk or call 0116 261 6893 for further details. For more information visit www.sparkfestival.co.uk/jobs.
If you missed “Visitor" during the Spark Festival, there is a chance to see it again! Speakeasy Theatre Company presents Movers in a unique interactive performance created and performed by Learning Disabled Artists.
What will your visit awaken, in this secret world of stories? A groundbreaking interactive installation, a magical world of strange delights, Visitor is a unique experience created by the audience’s interactions with a multi-sensory environment, building to a captivating performance by Movers Theatre Company. Who knows what you may find as you explore the avenues of trees? Sounds, and visuals are hidden, waiting to be awakened by each new visitor. This is a truly accessible environment suitable for children and adults of all abilities.
Performances takes place on the Mez and in Rehearsal Room 2. Tickets £5 from Curve on 0116 242 3595
Performance times:
Thu 8 - 10.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm
Fri 9 - 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 7.00pm
Sat 10 - 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 7.00pm
The Spark Festival is looking for volunteers for the Kidzone at Summer Sundae 2011.
The Spark Festival are delighted to be curating the Kidzone this year, and we are looking for volunteers to help run the craft and play activities over Friday 12th – Sunday 14th August.
You must be over 18, and be able to volunteer a minimum of 12 hours over these three days (Between 10 am – 6 pm approx). In return you will get a free weekend pass to Summer Sundae.
For more information and an application form, please email Harriet Roy at admin@sparkfestival.co.uk or call 0116 261 6893.
