Common Ground
Exploring the role of public space as a place for free expression, social encounter and shared responsibility; Common Ground created a space for shared experiences to understand each others’ beliefs and values; a space to explore and learn, a space where collective memory is revisited and reshaped and where a common future culture is created.
Common Ground combined a programme of artistic production and exhibition; creative writing and artist exchange.
ARTISTIC PROGRAMME
Common Ground combined a programme of artistic production and exhibition; creative writing and artist exchange.
ARTISTIC PROGRAMME
ForageDeveloped during a D6 research residency, Henna Asikainen’s project Forage connected migrant and refugee groups from the West End of Newcastle to heritage sites across the North East for ‘cultural foraging’ walks; exploring how cultural destinations and objects are ‘collected’ and articulated through notions of identity and belonging. During these walks, participants gathered foraged materials, which were transformed into a beautiful installation on the bandstand at Nunsmoor Park during Platforma Festival in October 2017. >>
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Artist Film ProgrammeWorking with artist filmmaker Juan delGado, we developed a curated film programme for the Big M, our inflatable exhibition venue. Curated around Juan’s work Altered Landscapes, the programme included a series of short films and animations created by refugee artists. The programme was presented in the Big M and at Vane in Newcastle as part of Platforma Festival in October 2017. >>
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RECLAIM THE LANESWith groups of young Roma people based at the CHAT Trust in the West End of Newcastle, we supported a series of Reclaim the Lanes events, which took place in the back lanes of the West End in Summer 2017 and supported the local community to reclaim their public spaces. Wideyed Collective brought large-format photography skills; Lindsay Duncanson, giant cyanotype activity; and Henna Asikainen foraging and garland making in the lead up to Forage. >>
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WRITING PROGRAMME
Following our Young Europeans programme with New Writing North, we are continuing to support young writer Dani Watson who participated in this programme to develop new creative responses to our artistic production Forage. Dani accompanied the ‘cultural foraging’ walks and produced a series of short poems in response.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Working with Counterpoints Arts, we developed a Strategic Session for the 4th Platforma Festival, which took place in NewcastleGateshead on 25-26 October 2017. The 2-day strategic event included discussions and workshops for invited guests on themes including popular culture and European networking relevant to the support of migrants and refugees.
Following our Young Europeans programme with New Writing North, we are continuing to support young writer Dani Watson who participated in this programme to develop new creative responses to our artistic production Forage. Dani accompanied the ‘cultural foraging’ walks and produced a series of short poems in response.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Working with Counterpoints Arts, we developed a Strategic Session for the 4th Platforma Festival, which took place in NewcastleGateshead on 25-26 October 2017. The 2-day strategic event included discussions and workshops for invited guests on themes including popular culture and European networking relevant to the support of migrants and refugees.