Crossing the Line project: Residency at Mind the Gap

Written by Crossing The Line / March 23, 2015

Artists

In March 2015 Mind the Gap held the first of the three international residencies at their home MTG Studios in Bradford, England. This was the first opportunity for artists from each company to meet each other, socialise and take part in workshops together. It was a big learning experience for everyone involved, particularly working together in different languages.

Mind the Gap’s Resident Artist JoAnne Haines said: “I found it interesting working with people from other countries and in different languages. I liked how enthusiastic everyone was and can’t wait to go to France in January 2016.”

It was a busy and fun week with everyone learning different and new techniques from each other, particularly new warm up exercises. The artists involved agreed everyone was kind, supportive and respectful of each other, and new connections and friendship bonds were made between the groups.

Organisations

In March 2015 Mind the Gap held the first of the three international residencies at their home MTG Studios in Bradford, England. The aim of the first residency week was to share the way Mind the Gap make theatre through practical workshops using their current production CONTAINED as the creative stimulus.

Resident Director Joyce Lee ran the first workshop of the week in Cantonese – a language that only she understands, using visual clues to communicate with the artists what she was asking them to do. This was particularly interesting as it meant that everyone taking part, regardless of their first language was on the same level of understanding and helped to unite the group.

Mind the Gap also showed examples of their work through a live performance of extracts from international touring productions Irresistible and Trickster.

The Wider World

In March 2015 Mind the Gap held the first of the three international residencies at their home MTG Studios in Bradford, England. A key aim of this project is to increase opportunities for international touring and engage with new international partners. On 23 March Mind the Gap held an international conference event, which was attended by all partners, alongside other influential peers from across the UK and Europe. This event opened up conversation about Curating, Creating, Critiquing and Championing of work made by and with learning-disabled artists in an international context.

This event provided an ideal opportunity to introduce the Crossing the Line Project to the wider international arts sector and signpost the Temps Fort | Festival, which will happen in January 2017.