decibel at British Council Edinburgh Showcase
Published 18 August 2011
Image: TEN by Hetain Patel
Photo: Ralph Barklam
As decibel’s Nike Jonah prepares to make a presentation to 230 international delegates at the British Council’s Edinburgh Showcase (22-27 August), we take a look at the close links that have developed between decibel and the British Council.
British Council at decibel Performing Arts Showcase 2009
The British Council actively promotes diverse work throughout its practice. Carole McFadden is a Drama and Dance Project Manager and Arts Group lead for the Unlimited International strand of the Cultural Olympiad Unlimited programme. She attended Showcase for the first time in 2009.
'It was well run and delegates were very well looked after. Seeing all the same shows at the same time was a bonus as it aided networking and allowed people to have meaningful and immediate conversations about the work in between shows. It made for a very friendly atmosphere – like one big festival family', she said.
'Showcase allowed me to update my knowledge on artists working in the diverse sector as well as meeting support organisations at the Market place - some not previously known to me', McFadden continued. 'It opens up all sorts of interesting discussions and possibilities which you can build into your programme and long term planning.'
decibel artists tour internationally with British Council
At Showcase McFadden was introduced to the work of Lisa Hammond and Rachael Spence, Sonia Sabri Company, Hetain Patel, Stacy Makishi and Company Chameleon.
She has since contracted Lisa Hammond and Rachael Spence’s No Idea for a tour to Syrian and Egypt in December 2009. According to McFadden, 'No Idea worked very well in Syria, where it has created an interest in the disability arts sector'. British Council Syria is now sending an international delegation to this year’s decibel as a result, to continue these discussions and connections.
Sonia Sabri Company’s Kathakbox toured to Jordan in May 2011. McFadden saw the work in progress in decibel and was happy to support it when Sabria solicited an invitation from a dance festival in Amman. Kathakbox was warmly received. The audience was curious about Sonia’s cultural background as a British artist and the work itself was different for such a conservative audience.
British Council Edinburgh Showcase 2011
Having met production partners Dance4 at Showcase 2009, Hetain Patel is now one of the featured artists in the 2011 Edinburgh Showcase. 'We feel that the theme of his work is very interesting and will have resonance in different cultural contexts,' said McFadden. Patel performs the fully realised production of TEN, his decibel 2009 work-in-progress, at Loft, Edinburgh, from 21–29 August.
decibel Project Manager Nike Jonah will be presenting a focus session on diversity and equality in Edinburgh, on Saturday 27 August.
Inspired by decibel Showcase online, this year British Council’s Showcase will also embrace the best of digital innovation in the UK, reaching a wider audience through a new website and an app for the iPhone app and iPad. Thanks to a new partnership with Arts Council England, a video trailer will be made for each of the 27 participating acts, providing them with a valuable tool with which to promote their work.
British Council at decibel Performing Arts Showcase 2011
For artists and companies interested in touring their work internationally with the British Council, McFadden’s colleague in Drama and Dance, Andrew Jones, will offer an overview of their working methods at the decibel Performing Arts Showcase in Manchester on Wednesday 14 September.
LINKS
Website for British Council Edinburgh Showcase, 22-27 August
More information about the British Council at decibel 2011
Watch videos of Sonia Sabri Company, Hetain Patel, Stacy Makishi and Company Chameleon at decibel Showcase online
