Sai on Resonance FM speaking on art, climate justice and oil sponsorship

Catch our very own Sai Murray speaking on art, climate justice and oil sponsorship!
Last week Resonance FM had a four hour special on oil sponsorship of the arts, featuring the Tate a Tate alternative audio tour in its entirety, interviews with Liberate Tate, folks working on the ongoing impacts of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, and a panel discussion in the last half hour featuring Sai and Kevin from Platform - activism, education and the arts

Listen to the show here

Applications Open for Shake! Arts >> Media >> Race >> Power

Monday 5^th – Friday 9^th August 2013

FREE 5-day course for 16-25 year old's

Shake! is a dynamic youth initiative using art as a powerful non-violent force for change and a celebration of youth voices. Each day Shake! creative workshops will provide space to imagine what justice looks like, experiment with new ideas, learn new tools, work with incredible artists and inspire your imagination!

You can get a flavour of how it went from the pilot of the course that took place in 2010 in the trailer that was made by the young people who took part in the course, click here. To see the full video check out our videos sections.

Over the five days, the course will include:

>> interactive workshops, stimulating dialogue & skill-shares with practicing artists/activists/educators ZENA EDWARDS, SAI MURRAY, ED LEWIS, FARZANA KHAN, MARCINA ARNOLD, HI8US SOUTH to creatively campaign for change.

>> practical hands-on techniques in spoken word, online media, film/video and music technology to develop your ideas around injustice and power. 

>> access to a/v equipment, workshop spaces and refreshments at the landmark Bernie Grants Art Centre Tottenham.

>> opportunity to showcase your work and continued involvement in the Shake! and Platform network.

Zena and Sai's Tributes to Jayne Cortez

Shake!'s poetry facilitators for our upcoming August course pay tribute to Jayne Cortez.

We've previously posted about John La Rose being an inspiration for Shake! together with New Beacon Books and the George Padmore Institiute - tonight these organisations are putting on an event paying tribute to the influential poet and activist Jayne Cortez with our Zena appearing on the bill.

Details here.

For those who were at our #VoiceVersePower showcase last month you will also have heard a poem from Sai that was written during a Jayne Cortez workshop. You can read the full poem over on Sai's blog and watch a performance of this piece on our showcase video together with interviews from the night and performances from the Shakers.

Shake! '13 @SLCT, The Low down...

Having completed our first Shake! intensive for 2013 we are bursting with ideas, continuity projects and creative ways to use our voices to shake things up. The week at the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust was truly inspiring, uplifting and emotional.

Through invigorating and eye-opening discussions, skill-shares, workshops and via the mediums of spoken word poetry, film, documentary, visiting guest artist/activists, and international web link-ups we addressed a variety of topics of injustice (power, tar sands, creative campaigning, gender, race, media and mental health).

The caliber and rigor of ideas, opinions and artwork definitely shook us up and over the next few weeks we look forward to sharing some of this with you. So watch this space!

Here’s what some of the Shake!rs had to say:

“Thank you for a wonderful week, for your enthusiasm and for providing a space for openness & creativity. I look forward to continuing my relationship with Shake! I have been inspired to feel as though I can really make a difference, even on a small scale. I have realized the importance of engaging with my creativity and thinking about the way I think ☺”

"This week has been life changing!”

“I have learnt so much that I didn’t even know I didn’t know. I have met people who are amazing, incredible, inspiring who I never would have come into contact with.”

“It’s been fascinating sharing this journey with you, it’s been a reminder of values and ideas I believe in. Carry on the journey and keep refreshing your spirit.”

“One of the most inspiring and energising weeks I can remember... it will definitely get me through my next batch of essays! Looking forward to the next steps...”

A big thank you to the Shake!rs (Adam, Amariah, Annie, Ceris, Catherine, Christina, Dershe, Holly, Ifty, Kate, Khafilat, Nathaniel, Saif, Umaru) for helping create such an honest, warm, humorous, trusting and stimulating environment. Welcome to the Shake! fam, and we looking forward to continued growth and learning with you.

If you are interested in getting involved in our next Shake! intensive this summer at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre or would like to know more, get in touch at: farzana@platformlondon.org.