Valise Noire has
received support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), it was
announced today. This exciting project, CARGO, in Poole, Dorset and
led by Valise Noire, has been awarded £36,400 to bring Poole's
maritime heritage out of the archives, interpret and share through
performances on Poole Quay during the European Maritime Festival in
May 2017. This exciting heritage project also has additional grant
support from the Cultural Hub, £2,000, and Poole Culture Fund,
£2,000.
Valise Noire is a
storytelling theatre company that creates, tells and interprets
stories through oral and visual forms. Formed in 2011 Valise Noire
was born from a collaboration by Michele O'Brien and Hazel Evans to
explore the ways in which stories are collected and communicated,
exploring cultural and heritage topics. Working with communities, the
public and schools, outcomes of projects are workshops, exhibitions
and performances.
As part of the Poole
Maritime Festival (celebrating European Maritime Day) CARGO will
deliver key information at a crucial time where the Great Quay of
Poole is being celebrated. It will be able to reach large audiences
through major art/heritage performances. This is a one-off
opportunity to deliver a wonderful learning, sharing and celebratory
experience for thousands of people who may not otherwise have
opportunities to learn about Poole's local and global heritage.
Commenting on the
award, Hazel Evans said: “It’s wonderful that we have been
awarded this grant and we can’t wait to get started. Poole is a
very special place and there’s so much more to discover and share
about our maritime heritage, the mysteries of cargo travelling the
seas, the wisdom of heritage and sea life. We are all really excited
about creating a dynamic project with interactive way of telling
stories and performing for people, in order to share our heritage and
history with them.”
Nerys Watts, Head of
HLF South West, said: “Thanks to money raised by National Lottery
players, we’re delighted to support this project which will enable
volunteers and young people in particular to creatively explore
Poole’s maritime history and play a key role in sharing this
integral part of the area’s heritage at the Poole Maritime
Festival.”
About Valise Noire
Valise Noire is a
collaboration between Michele O'Brien and Hazel Evans, who have
previously collaborated to produce 'Poppy Fields', a Heritage Lottery
supported project to commemorate the First World War, and 'The Girl
and the Shoes’ a modern fairy-tale that has enthralled audiences
young and old. The outreach of their work together includes workshops
in a vast range of schools, community organisations, museums and arts
centres across Dorset.
Michele combines
experience in theatre, dance, storytelling, pre-school, choreography
and directing. She brings history to life through characters that
educate and challenge audiences. She is an Associate Artist for
Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival and is currently working with
the National Trust at several properties including a newly
commissioned pieces on William John Bankes at Kingston Lacy House and
stories of King John at Corfe Castle.
Hazel is Associate
Artist at Lighthouse Poole. Her work is inspired by the play between
the inner and outer landscapes of the body, mind, soul and
environment. As a multi-disciplinary artist she uses illustration,
writing, performance and her voice to interpret multidimensional
landscapes taking the spectator on a journey, with an invitation to
meet a part of themselves. Hazel's work includes artistic direction,
exhibition curating, project management, workshop facilitation,
working with arts organisations in UK and Europe, schools, community
groups.
About the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)
- Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about - from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk @heritagelottery
Further information
For further
information, images and interviews please contact Michele O'Brien and
Hazel Evans at Valise Noire on 07977 969 080
valisenoire@gmail.com
valisenoiretheatre.blogspot.com
facebook.com/ValiseNoireTheatre
http://www.micheleobrien.co.uk/ http://www.hazelevans.co.uk/
