MY WORLD, MY VOICE: AN EXPLORATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE 2024

With key funding from ‘Islington Community Chest Fund’, The Venus Blazing Summer School began a series of Saturday sessions at The Park Theatre in June 2024 culminating in a week-long programme in a new partnership with Kings Place, London in July 2024. Participants had the opportunity to work with Artistic Directors Lou Stein and Deirdre Gribbin and were mentored by students from The Royal College of Music, London supported by RCM’s Knowledge Exchange Programme. These music students were trained by the Trust in facilitating inclusive practice in devising creative projects for those with additional needs and benefited from a supported process of reciprocal learning. Having a longer chunk of time to develop ideas in this extended programme was important as many of our participants have a range of cognitive challenges. This allowed us more in-depth time for our creative ideas to come to fruition. We focused on an aspect of climate change and its impact on living in inner London. We studied changes in flora and fauna and discussed the effects these changes had on butterfly and bee populations in nearby parks. 'Changing patterns' was a key artistic stimulus for text and movement. We developed songs using Makaton signing alongside lyrics written by participants. This work was performed to an invited audience at Kings Place. We were also invited to share our approaches to inclusive practice at an all-staff meeting at this key London Arts venue.