Culture Clash

Men in Tights
- What happens when somebody's culture mission gets the TV reality makeover treatment?
Dorothy Max Prior of Total Theatre looks at ITV1's recent programme featuring eight shipyard workers from the Swan Hunter yard on Tyneside, trained up as dancers by English National Ballet to perform a show, with ENB dancers, for their families, friends and workmates back at the shipyard.

Newcastle writer Keith Armstrong and Anthony Waller of Cornwall Dance Agency offer their own very sharp perspectives on the programme and the project, alongside a string of views from the dozen other people who loved it, hated it and worried about it in different proportions.


Values Revisited - Participatory Arts - Why do it?
Jenny Hayes, AHRB Research Fellow in Creative and Performing Arts in the Centre for Creative Enterprise and Participation at Dartington College of Arts, has interviewed more than 50 people working in the sector to explore the values that inform their practice. She looks at what has emerged so far.

Between a rock and an arts space:
MAiLOUT interviews John Fox, Artistic Director of Welfare State International, which innovates, influences and makes new creative alliances from its Lantern House base in Cumbria.

Community Dance

Seismic Shift
A recent project by Motionhouse dance company in the heart of the Midlands.

Let's dance
Wigan's "Let's Dance" Festival didn't feature a national company and may not have made it to your TV screen, bit as Alexandra Butler explains, it made an impact.

Creative Consultation

Beside the Seaside
Creative consultation has proved its value in community contexts across the UK, and for some neighbourhood renewal professionals hs become the technique of first resort. Mike McCarthy of Eventus reports on summer in Scarborough.

Lifelong Learning

Reaching the parts that other courses can't reach?
Founded in 1987, the Open College of the Arts is now offering a Diploma in Higher Education in Creative Arts, Creative Writing tutor Andrew Woodward explains.

Creative Industries

Creative Columbian Aspirations
Keith Evans of CIDA reports on an international entrepreneurial venture into South America.

Arts Connections
Chrysalis Arts' new one-stop public arts service.


A sense of liberation
Foiunder member of Escape Artists, Paul Malcolm, reflects on a project aimed at easing racial tensions at HMP Chelmsford.


"Can You Hear Me?"
A recent NSPCC projext aimed at giving a voice to young people.


Facing Challenges:
Challenging Assumptions
Brighton-based Carousel has been working in te arts and learning disability field for 21 tears, and Tilly Gregory looks at the way its practice has developed over that time..

…in Huddersfield, Full Body and the Voice present Knock Knock - a grand fantasy, a series of dreams-come-true, created, enacted and directed by an integrated company of non-disabled and learning disabled performers. At Lawrence Batley Theatre 12 & 13 Nov 2003. BOX: 01484 430528 W: www.fullbody.org.uk

…in Kendal, the Kendal Mountain Film Festival - the best in mountain sport and culture. 8-16 Nov 2003. W: www.mountainfilm.co.uk

…in Barnet, Texterritory version 2.3, be a part of a dynamic and influential audience in this truly unique multimedia, interactive text messaging performance at The Bull. 23 Oct 2003, £9/£7. BOX: 020 8449 0048 W: www.artsdepot.co.uk

…in Brighton,. AVIT - a live audio visual arts festival including live video performances & international VJs and DJs, AV installations, AV experimental performances, workshops and multi-format projections. 23-26 Oct 2003. W: www.avit.info / www.avit.org.uk / www.avit.us / www.vjcentral.com / www.vjforums.com

…in York, Marco Polo and the Silk Road - An exploration of the sound world of the famous 13th Century Venetian explorer from the silk road to China to his journeys across Europe. 1 Nov 2003 as part of the Early Music Christmas Festival. BOX: 01904 658338 W: www.ncem.co.uk

…in Cambridge, Opera in Pubs 1 as part of The Cambridge Music Festival. 20 Nov at Pure, The Cloisters, Ely. Free. T: 01223 350544

…in Covent Garden, Halloween Special! Write your own ghost story - learn about the basic ingredients of a ghost story or play and write or draw your ideas for a spine chilling scene. 28 Oct 2003. 13.30 - 15.30 at the Theatre Museum. W: www.theatremeuseum.org

…in Somerton, The Unocorn Workshops - a weekend of traditional music, song and dance. 24/26 October 2003. T: 01458 273663 E: pennywhistel@musician.fsnet.co.uk

…in West Devon, Baring-Gould Folk Festival and Study Break, organisaed by the Wren Trust. Study Break - 27/31 Oct 2003. Festival - 31 Oct/2 Nov 2003. T: 01837 53754 E: sbg@wrentrust.co.uk W: www.wrentrust.co.uk

…in Gateshead, 4REEL - a trans-European weekend full to bursting with ceilidhs, concerts, club nights and jam sessions from Folkworks. 7 - 9 Nov 2003 at The Sage. BOX: 0191 443 4555 W: www.musicnorth.org