In bringing multicultural work to rural areas, the arts can play a role in community cohesion. Jo Treharne explains how one touring project more used to urban touring fared in Shropshire.
Emergency Exit Arts (EEA) has toured its spectacular outdoor fire-show Runga Rung: The Colour of Colours around the UK and Europe for the past four years. The show has been performed in London, Edinburgh, Darlington, Leeds and Bradford, but when Shropshire County Council decided to programme the show for the rural Craven Arms area, everyone had a surprise in store. EEA Co-Artistic Director, Deb Mullins, said: It was a very different experience for us but not in the way we thought it would be. For us this turned out to be one of the most exciting and successful events on the Runga Rung tour. I felt refreshed by the work that we were doing, because of the community that we were working with. Co-Artistic Director, Les Sharpe, agreed, Everyone we worked with was so welcoming and really wanted to be involved in the project.
Runga Rung fuses a carnival-style fire-show with a unique procession and community-focused artistry. EEA artists work with local artists and community groups in the area prior to the show to make video, lanterns, large illuminations and costumes that will later contribute towards the processional stage of the performance. The decorations created for the procession reflect the culture of the area in which the project is taking place, so it was no surprise when one group in Craven Arms announced that they would like to make an illuminated sheep on wheels to represent the sheep farming community. One local organisation that got involved was the Walking For Health group. Group member, Barbara Whitehead, said, When Runga Rung came to town it helped us to integrate even more and to get involved even more in community life, which is what we want.
Over 200 children, young people and their parents attended arts workshops during the Easter holidays and on the night carried their lanterns, flags, giant flowers and puppets through the streets to celebrate their community and the rich cultural heritage of Shropshire. Also included were special needs groups and the elderly, groups that often feel marginalised from mainstream arts activity. The procession led the 3,000 strong audience to a performance site where the show unfolded with a fusion of Asian Bollywood, Caribbean Carnival and European Fiesta. One local member of the Craven Arms Girls Group commented, When the parade started and everyone was moving, and when the elephant came, I just forgot about everybody else and just did my own thing, in my own little world, and it was so exciting because I was involved in something I hadnt done before, and I felt important and special to do this, and I just forgot about everyone else and got on with it. It was the best time of my life.
The last word goes to Sue Goodwin from Shropshire Councils Arts Service: Key to the success of this project was the high artistic quality of the show, and the professionalism of the workshops offered to the community. The project stimulated peoples imagination and inspired them to join in with local community activities increasing their participation and encouraging social inclusion. It also generated a sense of pride in the community, and gave the opportunity to embrace, explore and celebrate a diversity of cultural images and traditions alongside their own. By bringing this unique experience to the people of Shropshire, we delivered opportunities for remote communities to work together for a common purpose, which was then enjoyed by the wider community. It also provided training for local artists through professional development workshops, and helped to foster and strengthen partnerships between the local authority and community organisations. Our intention is now to build on the success of this project by creating a wider programme of arts projects that engage directly with rural communities.
Jo Treharne is Marketing Manager for Emergency Exit Arts.
e: jo.treharne@btinternet.com