A COUNCILLOR is hoping to bring some harmony to two villages by urging people to join in a community singalong.

Coun Brian Wilson is hoping to strike a chord with locals by having their voices heard and getting them to join forces for a community choir-style initiative.

For the past two years, the Durham Independent Group councillor has used the majority of his East Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP) funding to plough money into schools.

In conjunction with The Forge, an education centre in Stanley, County Durham, he has helped the Thornley, St Godric’s and Wheatley Hill primary schools develop their school choirs and put on concerts.

This year, the three schools are joining together to make one choir involving 120 children – and Coun Wilson wants the rest of the community to join in.

Coun Wilson – the namesake of another musical maestro, Brian Wilson of Beach Boys fame, whose hits include Good Vibrations – said: “The people of Thornley are usually very reticent about joining things – trying to get adults to join in is really hard.

“But this could really bring some community spirit.”

He is helping to organise a Community Singalong which will be held at Thornley Catholic Club, in The Villas, Thornley, from 6pm on Thursday, May 10.

Coun Wilson said: “We are taking some children from the choir along and I’m hoping people, including women who usually sing at the local karaoke nights, will come along.

“If you get just one from each club in Thornley and Wheatley Hill, hopefully we can get ourselves a nice choir, they don’t have to have experience.

“If this takes off, it would be an ongoing thing.”

Coun Wilson has previously ploughed £12,000 of his yearly £25,000 AAP budget into the choir scheme.

He plans for the choir to be involved in the next BRASS: Durham International Festival, as well as singing at other venues.

The councillor has previously paid for professional singer Katie Doherty to work with the choirs and they have written their own tunes and lyrics.

For more information about the singalong, call Coun Wilson on (01429) 820997.

Online Version: http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/community/villages-in-tune-1-4504039

Advisers are crucial to Arts Award. They need to communicate with young people successfully and offer them effective support while they are working towards their Award.

Who can attend:
Check the requirements outlined in the adviser person specification

For all of the details go to http://www.artsaward.org.uk.

Arts Award is…

• a great way for children and young people to be inspired by and enjoy the arts

• offered at five levels, four accredited and one introductory award

• a framework for learning new skills and sharing them

• an opportunity to develop creativity and leadership skills

• a link between young people and creative arts professionals

To book please click on the following link: http://www.artsaward.org.uk

Places are limited so please book quickly, click HERE to download a PDF sheet for more information, complete the booking form or email Caroline direct for more information.

The Forge is running Bronze and Silver Arts Award adviser training on the following dates: 7th June 2012; 13th September 2012 and 29th November 2012.  To book, please visit:www.artsaward.com/training.

Click here for all of the info on Arts Award.

The Forge has just launched a project entitled ‘Your Song’ after receiving a grant from the  Neighbour Hood Fund in County Durham. The Forge is working with singer/song writer Katie Docherty who is facilitating singing workshops across Thornely Primary, Wheatley Hill Community Primary and Nursery School and St Godrics RCVA Primary School for 6 weeks. After the 6 week schedule we hope to recruit residents from the Thornley and Wheatley Hill area to be part of a new intergenerational community choir which will include the school children Katie has previously worked with.

The artist Katie Docherty has extensive experience of developing choirs and personal knowledge of the community having worked with the area previously. The choir will be taught a repertoire of songs and provided with support materials including song sheets and a CD backing track. In line with AAP priorities of maintaining the social fabric of communities the central themes she will explore and develop will be environment, aspiration and civic pride.

Are you part of an existing community group? Do you love to sing and have been meaning to join a  choir for years? Do you have a go on the Karaoke on a Saturday night? Members of the community are invited to join a new community choir on Thursday 10th May 6pm at The Thornley Catholic Club – The Villas. If you would like to hear more details about how you can get involved please email nicola or call the office on 01207 284 515, alternatively give local councillor Brian Wilson  a call on (01429) 820997.

The World Record -18 May 2012

The Schools Pledge is all about providing groups with the inspiration and tools to engage with dance and to be one of thousands of schools, colleges, universities, workplaces and any other groups taking part in a global world record attempt.

The Pledge is in two parts:

1. Take part in a world record attempt for the ‘Largest simultaneous dance routine – multi-venue’ on your school site at 1pm on 18 May 2012 which is also the day the Olympic torch arrives in the UK.

2. Undertake to do 20 minutes of dance a day during Big Dance week

The Choreography

The choreography for the world record attempt will be created by Wayne McGregor, Artistic Director of Wayne McGregor | Random Dance and Resident Choreographer at the Royal Ballet.

What Next

The taught sections are available to download from the Big Dance website now – after that it’s all up to you to learn the dance and join in on 18 May. To sign up now follow this link.

Over the past two years, 900 schools have signed up to take The Big Dance Schools Pledge. We’re hoping that 2012 will be the best yet. The record is currently held by the Netherlands with 264,188 participants in 1,472 locations.

Get Set

London 2012 wants to reward you! Schools and colleges that take part in Big Dance can join the London 2012 Get Set network. They will be recognised by London 2012 with a plaque, certificate and can also use the London 2012 education logo.

These schools and colleges will also receive exclusive rewards such as Olympic Park tours, visits from athletes and priority access to Games tickets through the London 2012 Ticketshare initiative too. Visit www.london2012.com/getset to find out more.

Visit the Schools Pledge page on the Big Dance website for more information.

Here at  The Forge we are very excited about being involved in the Big Dance 2012 – The UK’s biggest ever celebration of dance. There are already two opportunities to get involved now! You can read about them below.

Travelcard Wallet Design Competition with Design Museum

Can you capture the rhythm, energy and movement of dance in a design?

To celebrate Big Dance 2012, you are invited to design the cover of a Travelcard Wallet. The design for the wallet should capture the energy of dance as part of the programme’s promotion to the public.Your design should reflect your ideas on the theme of Dancing in the Streets.

Two finalists will be selected from all the entries, years 5 – 11 years and 12 – 16 years. The winning design will printed on to travelcard wallets and displayed in the Design Museum Shop.

Click here to download the competition brief and travel card template for details of how to enter.

Submission Form

Closing date for entries is Thursday 1 March 2012.

Sign Up Now!

Big Dance Schools Pledge – 18 May 2012

The World Record

The Schools Pledge is all about providing groups with the inspiration and tools to engage with dance and to be one of thousands of schools, colleges, universities, workplaces and any other groups taking part in a global world record attempt.

The Pledge is in two parts:

1. Take part in a world record attempt for the ‘Largest simultaneous dance routine – multi-venue’ on your school site at 1pm on 18 May 2012 which is also the day the Olympic torch arrives in the UK.

2. Undertake to do 20 minutes of dance a day during Big Dance week

The Choreography

The choreography for the world record attempt will be created by Wayne McGregor, Artistic Director of Wayne McGregor | Random Dance and Resident Choreographer at the Royal Ballet.

What Next

The taught sections are available to download from the Big Dance website now – after that it’s all up to you to learn the dance and join in on 18 May. To sign up now follow this link.

Over the past two years, 900 schools have signed up to take The Big Dance Schools Pledge. We’re hoping that 2012 will be the best yet. The record is currently held by the Netherlands with 264,188 participants in 1,472 locations.

Get Set

London 2012 wants to reward you! Schools and colleges that take part in Big Dance can join the London 2012 Get Set network. They will be recognised by London 2012 with a plaque, certificate and can also use the London 2012 education logo.

These schools and colleges will also receive exclusive rewards such as Olympic Park tours, visits from athletes and priority access to Games tickets through the London 2012 Ticketshare initiative too. Visit www.london2012.com/getset to find out more.

Visit the Schools Pledge page on the Big Dance website for more information.

This is a fun, informal workshop is aimed at primary and secondary teachers who are interested in developing creative approaches to teaching writing. This is not a Forge event, we are just helping to market it to Teachers.

Please click here to download the information flyer.

Find out more about Arts Award

Arts Award adviser Specification

The Forge is running Bronze and Silver Arts Award adviser training on the 23 February 2012. To book, please visit: www.artsaward.org.uk/training.

Arts Award is a national qualification which supports young people to develop as artists and arts leaders. Young people aged between 11-25 can achieve Arts Awards at Bronze, Silver and Gold, Levels 1, 2 and 3 on the Qualifications and Credit Framework.