Dance South West

Project Outline for BASS (Bodmin Area Sound System) Project

Aims of the Project:
• To develop a community sound system which the young people of Bodmin can take ownership of.
• To create individual sound systems for each of the four main targeted areas, to be gifted to residents associations (with youth in mind) for use in the local community.
• To provide positive leisure time activities for children/young people in the targeted areas.
• To raise self esteem of the participating children and young people.
• To equip children and young people taking part with new skills and uncover hidden talents, as well as encouraging and developing existing talents
• To establish a Youth Music and Arts Festival in Bodmin (The BASS festival), with a view to this becoming a regular event
• To assist in the uneasy transition between primary and secondary schools by facilitating both age groups to work together towards a common aim.
• To encourage responsibility within children and young people by asking them commit to the project for a specified length and meet their own personal targets.

What is it?

BASS is a project to show the community at large what the children and young people of Bodmin can do and really what they are made of. It is designed as a positive experience for those involved, a tool to bring communities together and, primarily, as an antidote to all the negative press being peddled about young people and “hoodie” culture.

As well as building a functioning sound system, the children and young people taking part in the project will be able to enjoy taster sessions of a number of activities before ‘specialising’ in an area and being given more targeted support, advice and encouragement.

The areas covered will include:

Sound Engineering
DJ-ing
Street Dance
Live Music
Artwork and Promotion

Each seven week course will culminate in a local performance to invited guests to showcase the new talents of participants and ultimately all these local areas will be brought together in a day long festival of bands, dance, DJing and any other creative skill it’s possible to perform.

How will this project work?

Where?
We have identified four areas in which to work:

1. The Kinsman Estate and surrounding area
2. Hillside Park
3. Berryfields
4. College Green, Moor View, Grass Valley Park and surrounding estates.

A seven week programme will be delivered in each area in an appropriate community building.

Who?
The sessions will be open to children and young people aged between 10 and 15 and will initially be open invitation. However, participants will be required to sign up to a seven week programme to show a commitment to the project and is anticipated that this will reduce numbers, though if not the project will aim to meet the demand.

Equally, the festival is not just about the children and young people who have taken part in the project. It will be open to anyone between the ages of 0 and 19 to book a slot to perform. In this way it is hoped we can get local bands, dance groups, schools. Colleges, brownie, guides, scouts and various other community groups on board as well. It is going to be BIG…

When?

Starting in September 08, the project will go to the areas as follows:

Berryfields – 3/9 until 27/10
Kinsman – 1/11 until 19/12
Hillside – 5/1 until 16/2
College Green - 20/4 until 25/5

The final term 30/5 – 22/7 will be used to prepare and rehearse for the festival which will take place in August 2009

How?

That is the bit where you come in!

The project will be delivered by a core of volunteers (supported by the NCDC Play Team), with additional resources (i.e.: choreography) being paid for on a session-by-session basis as required.

However, this is a BIG project and the process of setting up a festival is going to require Partnership Working on a large scale. What do you think you could offer?

Contact details:

Pete Garcia – 07800754892 (duttystuff@hotmail.com) – organiser and volunteer
Kate Martin – 01208 262865 (kate.martin@ncdc.gov.uk) – NCDC Play Team