Oxford Inspires News
Monday, 21 June 2010
MINI Engineers Challenge Local School Children to Think Green
This month sees the spectacular culmination of innovative arts and science project, The CIAO! Ark. The project, which initially began in January, has been designed to get school children from across Oxfordshire thinking about the positive benefits of a low carbon future.
Fiesta in The Park!
Fiesta in The Park is a summer evening of live carnival performances from internationally renowned world music artists. Kicking off Carnival weekend comes, from the Congo, festival-favourite Kanda Bongo Man, with his 8 piece band and high energy dancers raising the carnival spirit!
Global musicians from the world famous Grand Union Orchestra, including Claude Deppa and Yousuf Ali Khan, bring the infectious dance rhythms of salsa and samba, ska and soca, hi-life and bhangra with exhilarating jazz solos from trumpet, saxophone and trombone!
With hot reggae vibes from local stars Makating, jazzy arabic twists from Brickwork Lizards and reggae, dancehall and ska tunes from Oxford's Count Skylarkin, South Park will be sizzling with carnival fever!
I, Cowley - Get Creative with your Heritage!
June 2010 sees the launch of I, Cowley, a new and innovative community heritage project inviting local people to build a living archive exploring the rise and rise of Oxford's multi-story urban village! Backed by a £47,200 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Fusion Arts Oxford have teamed up with the Ark-T Centre, Museum of Oxford, Oxfordshire Record Office and Oxfordshire Studies to deliver an exciting new project celebrating Cowley, Oxford. Well known for its landmark multistorey car park and shopping complex, Cowley is central to the lives of many and the project will follow the area's growth from village to urban hub!
Rodney Bewes in Three Men In a Boat - Supporting KENTON for KEEPS
Actor Rodney Bewes is the latest in a line of local professional actors who has agreed to perform to support the Kenton for Keeps fund and its an event that will have a special place in history for its the last time the actor intends to perform his one-man show Three Men in a Boat.
The man who became one of British television's best known faces in the sixties with the hit show The Likely Lads brings his version of the Jerome .K .Jerome novel to the Kenton Theatre in Henley on June 23rd and 24th.
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Those Magnificent Machines on Cowley Road
A inventive new procession is happening at Cowley Road Carnival this year. The Magnificent Machines Procession will be on Cowley Road at the Carnival on Sunday 4th July, promising to be a colourful array of amazing, sustainably-propelled ‘vehicles.’ The Procession is open to all and the Machines will be judged on the day.
The Firing Line: Depiction of Conflict at Christ Church Picture Gallery
War and battle have always had a place in art – from prehistoric cave paintings to the most current conflicts of the 21st century. For centuries rulers of states had their military encounters visually glorified, choosing not only their own military encounters, but more often famous historical and mythological battles. Critical depictions of war, with very few exceptions, only occurred from the mid-19th century. The subject matter demands monumentality and most of the painted, woven and sculpted works are impressive in size with the intention to overwhelm and awe the viewer.
Creation’s Summer Workshops are Bigger & Better Than Ever!
This summer Creation Theatre Company’s popular theatre workshops for young people aged 6 – 16 are more exciting than ever. There will be five weeks of fun from 26 July to 27 August when young people can get involved with Creation’s team of actors, musicians and combat directors to share stories from Shakespeare and other great writers, create a play in a week or learn all about stage fights! Younger children can explore fantastic, invented worlds where hungry caterpillars and enormous crocodiles live.
Tuesday, 08 June 2010
MINI Plant Oxford Pledges Continued Investment in County Arts and Culture
MINI Plant Oxford is set to continue its support of local arts and culture throughout 2010 after renewing its corporate membership of Oxford Inspires, the county’s cultural development agency.
Through Oxford Inspires, the Plant has supported a range projects that have included locally focused arts workshops, large outdoor concerts involving local residents, youth theatre schemes and magical spectacles such as ‘Luminox’ and the ‘Magic Hour’. The recently renewed agreement will make the Plant a major partner for 2010, and will continue the pattern of active community involvement that it has successfully developed over recent years.
Thursday, 03 June 2010
Cultural and Creative Industries Provide 10% of Employment in Oxfordshire
Oxford Inspires and partners have recently taken delivery of a study of the economic impact of the cultural and creative economy in Oxfordshire. The report confirms that this sector contributes a great deal to our economy and quality of life in the County.
SAE Institute Oxford Open Their Studios to Children from Blackbird Leys
Children from St John Fisher Catholic Primary School in Blackbird Leys will become pop stars for the day at SAE Institute Oxford, using world-class recording studios to record the song that pupils have written and produced as part of the CIAO! Ark Project. Following the children’s environmental science investigations into the effects of climate change on our water supply, they have been working with Nick Cope of the Candyskins to produce a hit single “The Water Goes Up”!
Cowley Road Carnival 2010: Magnificent Machines Wanted!
Tied in with the theme of Invention this year, there is going to be a Wacky Races inspired procession at 12pm to kick off Carnival on the Cowley Road! Need to promote your group or business? Fancy doing a spot of team building? Or just want to have a great big laugh with your mates?
Oxford High Street Art Gallery Sells Work Hours into Opening its Door
The Meller Merceux Gallery on Oxford High Street is a new Art Gallery show casing significant modern and contemporary artwork. From highlights such as Picasso and Warhol, to contemporary giants such as Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons, the Gallery sets out to exhibit the best the artworld has to offer. The Gallery is the second Gallery to be set up in Oxfordshire, the first being in Witney.
Wednesday, 02 June 2010
Introducing...Launch Collaborative
Launch Collaborative is made up of Emily Alexander, Sarah Mayhew and Phil Marston, who met many moons ago as fine art undergraduates. Having graduated, gone their separate ways, and developed different skill sets exhibiting, curating, working within event management, communications, and personal development in cities across Europe, they’ve reunited fusing skills and ambitions to form an artist and curatorial collaborative based in Oxford.
Music from the Genome: An Intoxicating mix of Science, Music and Poetry
What makes some people musical and others not? Composer Michael Zev Gordon explores this question in a new work, Allele, using the DNA of New London Chamber Choir as its foundation and texts by Ruth Padel. OCM and Oxford Inspires present the world premiere of this science-inspired composition in the atrium of Diamond Light Source, the UK's national synchrotron facility.
Tuesday, 01 June 2010
Prepare to get Dancing in Witney!
Witney will come alive with dancing of all varieties as a special day gets under way to encourage young people in West Oxfordshire to try out their skills and experience the fun and excitement of dance. Dancin’ Witney is the first event of its kind in the district and takes place on Saturday 26th June at the Methodist Church. High Street, Witney, 10am-4pm.
