Music and Art

New art project

A new Arts Council funded Craft for All project will start in Okehampton in the spring, led by experienced art tutors from West Devon Art Workshops. Craft for All is aimed at adults who are at risk of social isolation and is also running in Tavistock. It will be an opportunity to make new friends in a natural way, develop confidence through learning a new skill and engage with the wider community through applying their new skills to community events, such as willow and tissue constructions for the lantern procession. Andy Cairns, project leader, said: ‘The Craft for All project plans to build on the success of our Art for All project, by reaching socially isolated people who may lack confidence to try ‘art’ but would be inspired by learning a specific craft skill. There will be an opportunity at the end of each course to take part in a community event, coordinated with other local organisations. ‘We intend to run eight courses of eight sessions each, split between Tavistock and Okehampton. Sessions will be three hours long.’

The first four sessions of each course will be skill building, the other sessions will focus on developing outcomes for community events. For each course there with also be two video classes and additional tools/ equipment for loan should face to face sessions need to be suspended, or a participant need to self-isolate. Guided by a skilled tutor, participants would:

• Be part of a group learning about new techniques, stimulating minds and promoting camaraderie; • Be able to make friendships at a natural pace, with informal conversations about their work as a catalyst; • Have personalised learning support to help develop confidence in their abilities and ideas;

• Engage in group discussions of work where positive feedback would help boost self-esteem and encourage participation • Make a positive contribution to their local community • Help plan future activities West Devon Art Workshops, a community interest company, has been involved in several local projects over the last six years, including a textile hanging for the Okehampton Medical Centre, a mosaic project at Lamerton Primary School, a temporary sculpture trail at Burrator Reservoir, the Tavistock Young Artists Exhibition in 2016, Yelverton Art Festival as well as numerous classes and one off workshops. They run a sculpture studio in the Old Ropeworks, Lakeside, Tavistock and helped establish Tavistock Community Printing Group. For more information, contact West Devon Art Workshops by email on westdevonartworkshops@gmail.co.uk or phone 07724 153381.

The lantern was created by a participant in a pilot project this year involving residents of Yelverton and surrounding villages, where lanterns were displayed in shop windows as lockdown eased and shops reopened at the end of Easter.

MED Theatre has launched a poetry and creative writing competition in partnership with The River Teign Restoration Project following the success of its latest outdoor play Salmon.

Whether you have a passion for nature or interest in creative writing, the local arts organisation is inviting writers of all levels to submit their entries before February 1. For further guidelines see www.medtheatre.co.uk/projects/ our-river

MED Theatre will be showcasing the talent of its very own ‘Wild Nights Young Company’ in this year’s Dartfest, a festival of new writing by young people in the Dartmoor area. Festival offerings include performances of poetry, movement, short plays and mime. The event will take place over two days, on Saturday, November 20 at 7.30pm and Sunday, November 21 at 11am. Tickets available via eventbrite on the MED Theatre website: www. medtheatre.co.uk

On a more festive note, MED Theatre’s Christmas Ceilidh will take place in Moretonhampstead Parish Hall after the Christmas lights switch-on event on Saturday, November 27. There will be a bar, food, raffle, and an evening of Ceilidh dancing led by David Faulkner with musical accompaniment from The Community Folk Orchestra. Proceeds will contribute towards MED Theatre’s drama, playwriting and filmmaking groups which are delivered free of charge to young people across the Dartmoor area. More information about the event will be available soon on the MED Theatre website and across its social media.

Towards the end of the year, MED Theatre will be recruiting a multigenerational community cast for their next touring production. The play will be performed in March, and will take a closer look at moorland ‘peat’, its importance as a wildlife haven and relationship to the climate crisis. If you are interested in finding out more about this performance opportunity contact MED Theatre via education officer Helen Gilbert on 01647 441356 or helengilbert@medtheatre.co.uk.

Choirs and orchestras together again

Folk songs and tunes from Devon and beyond have been filling the air over Okehampton as choirs and orchestras get together again. After 18 months away, Wren Music’s folk groups have resumed their inperson music making and they are welcoming new people every week. When lockdown came way back in March 2020, folk arts charity Wren Music had to suspend its 11 music making groups across Devon. Wren swiftly took its groups online and throughout the pandemic missed only two weeks of regular rehearsals. With restrictions now eased, singers and players have come back together and are now preparing for their winter concerts!

Wren Music’s choirs and orchestras are open to anyone. The folk tradition passes songs across communities and down generations orally. Historically these songs were not written down and simply learnt by ear – much like how many of us still learn songs like nursery rhymes. Wren Music continues this tradition by encouraging their members to learn by ear, and develop a folk style. This is a great challenge for seasoned musicians who are used to music notation (although it is provided where wanted) as well as making the groups really accessible to anyone new to making music. With professional musicians leading community folk choirs, folk orchestras, and specialist fiddle and mandolin orchestras, Wren Music continues to open doors for all of us to make music together.