Cultural Connections, a week long music project for primary school children, took place at King Edward VI Community College on Monday 26 to Friday 30 July 2004. Pupils from South Hams primary schools were invited to attend a summer school of workshops and games led by artists and performers from the world renowned WOMAD Foundation to explore African and Latin American music and dance and develop new musical skills.
The initiative, funded by Dartington Plus, featured WOMAD artists who also performed a sell-out concert in Dartington’s Great Hall, as well as a lively show for pupils at Bidwell Brook Special School in Totnes. During the summer school the performers took participants on an exciting journey across centuries and continents to discover music and dance that has influenced generations of musicians and musical genres.
Later there was an opportunity for the participants to demonstrate the skills they’d developed during the week, at the celebratory final performance, which was jointly presented by the artists and children. The concert was an absolute knockout: the large audience - predominantly parents & families - was blown away by the talent and enthusiasm demonstrated by their children and the atmosphere was phenomenal.
Cultural Connections followed on from the recent pop and rock summer school, BandiT, for secondary school children, which was also partnered by Dartington Plus and held at KEVICC. Dartington Plus Development Director Matt Griffiths says, “our new Summer Schools for young people are a fantastic complement to the festivities taking place during the Dartington International Summer School and Dartington Plus is delighted to be a part of these inspirational projects.”
Download report by Lydia Eyland KEVICC sixth form student (word document)
Dartington Plus is a partnership between The Dartington Hall Trust, King Edward VI Community College and University College Falmouth – incorporating Dartington College of Arts. Funded by Arts Council England