News
Inspired and Delighted
Now an essential part of PAL’s R&D process, our recent Art of Enquiry Lab was a welcome counterpoint to the prevailing bleak view of the future of arts. As theatre practitioner Ola Animashawun remarked, “Here’s to the power of thought, action, vision, listening, feeling and moving together as one. United, inspired and delighted”: a neat summing up of the principles that underpin PAL’s work.
PAL’s New Trustees
We are very proud to announce the appointment of three new trustees, who have joined the PAL Board this month. They bring with them a wealth of experience in arts practice which complements the skills of the existing trustees.
PAL in ‘A Place to Think’
PAL is featured as a case study in Graham Devlin’s new report, ‘A Place to Think’, launched on 24th June. The report was commissioned by CIDA International in its role as a partner within the EU consortium ECCE Innovation.
Calling STEM teachers in the East Midlands
The application process for teachers to participate in the next STEM Fluency Lab is now open. STEM Fluency Labs are part of a 3-year programme, called Ignition*, to promote and develop creative approaches to the learning and teaching of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) in the East Midlands.
PAL and the Mystery of Fullerenes
Andrei Khlobystov is Associate Professor and Reader in Chemical Nanosciences at the University of Nottingham. He took part in the second PAL-Ignition STEM Fluency Lab in November 2009, working with teachers, artists and other scientists to explore and challenge their own practice in relation to teaching and learning science, technology, engineering and maths.
Growing PAL’s R&D - Artists commissioned
We’re delighted to have poet Jacob Sam-La Rose, theatre director Ola Animashawun and arts practitioner Roanne Dods working with us on the research and development of three new programmes of work. By opening up the early developmental phase of our programming to artists and arts practitioners, we aim to increase our capacity to respond to artists’ current concerns.
Couscous Global Lab artists’ timely play opens
Couscous Global Lab participants Mimi Poskitt and Ben Freedman, otherwise known as Look left Look Right Theatre, timed the opening of their new work, Counted, immaculately. The documentary play, which Mimi and Ben were talking about at the Lab in May 2009, is about British democracy. In a country where people are more likely to vote for X-Factor than for the next Prime Minister, the piece comes right to Westminster’s doorstep, shedding light on why – in a world at war over democracy and in economic meltdown – so many people don’t vote. You can catch it until 22 May 2010 at The Debating Chamber, County Hall, London SE1. For booking details go to the Look Left Look Right website.
PAL launches A Pedagogy of Curiosity Research in Chicago
PAL will launch its research programme, A Pedagogy of Curiosity, at the international symposium ‘Claiming Creativity’ to be held in Chicago 21-23 April. The conference is hosted by Columbia College Chicago in partnership with the European League of Institutes of the Arts. PAL’s Founder Artistic Director Susan Benn is co-directing the research with Professor Kerstin Mey, Director of Research and Enterprise at the University for the Creative Arts in the UK.
A Pedagogy of Curiosity is an emerging body of cross-disciplinary sensory research, originated in the UK in 2006 by Susan Benn. She was joined in 2008 by Professor Kerstin Mey. Together they are co-directing this international research programme. Research partners will include molecular and neuro scientists; artists and designers who use the senses as their medium; and environmental scientists and educators who are experimenting with sensory approaches to learning and teaching across disciplines. The experimentation is focused on human needs, engaging members of the public of all ages with the aim of sensitising society.
The co-directors of A Pedagogy of Curiosity research are currently developing site-specific case studies and opportunities for collaboration and partnerships with like-minded researchers, policymakers and funding bodies in Europe. Asia and America, where interest has been expressed in this work.
Lab Film ‘The Infidel’ Released
Developed at the 2008 PAL Script Development Lab for production company Slingshot, The Infidel, written by David Baddiel, directed by Josh Appignanesi and starring Omid Djalilli premiered this month, drawing considerable media attention. Jasmin Alibhai Brown of The Independent described it as “Funny, profound and extraordinary”. Baddiel, Appignanesi and Djallili all participated in the Lab, in February 2008
STEM Fluency Lab Reunion
Participants in the 5-day residential PAL/Ignition STEM Fluency Lab in November 2009 got together again this month. Lab teachers, artists and scientists met at a one-day reunion at the New Art Exchange, Nottingham, to share what they had been doing since the Lab.
What next for the Children’s Film Lab in India?
Our first Lab for Children’s Film screenwriters in India, held in December 2009, was a resounding success with one script already scheduled for production later this year.
PAL’s Annual Report 2008-09
We have decided to stop hiding our light under a bushel and publish our Annual Report.
PAL goes to India for the first Children’s Film Lab
Our brand new Screenwriters Lab for the development of Indian feature films for children and family audiences took place in December 2009. The 10-day residential was held in the beautiful hill station of Metheran, outside Mumbai.
Simon Beaufoy, the Oscar-winning screenwriter for Slumdog Millionaire writes,
“I have always been a huge supporter of the PAL Screen Labs. I have taken part in them as writer, tutor, and visiting speaker and cannot speak highly enough of a process that both refines the script and the screenwriter in equal measure. The guiding principles of PAL Screen Labs mean that the writer not only walks away with a much clearer vision of their project, but most importantly, also with a vision of how they can pursue their life and their writing career. PAL doesn’t just improve a single script, it nurtures the writer for the next script and the one after that. I was so excited when I heard that PAL were setting up a new Lab programme in India. There are a million new Indian stories to tell and just as many ways to tell them. This is an incredible opportunity to make films that reach beyond the ambitions of Bollywood, to tell real stories about real people that can still move, provoke debate- and make money at the box office! I can think of nobody better to nurture this amazing potential than PAL Screen Labs”.
Writers for Indian Children’s Film Lab announced
The Indian Children’s Film Lab will focus on the writing, development and production of high quality children’s films. For the first time in India this programme will offer a unique opportunity for developing talent specialised in writing and film production for a young people’s audience.
The Lab will take place in Matheran, near Bombay, from December 4-14 December 2009.
Training Observatory website launched
We are delighted to report that the Training Observatory website has now gone live. The Training Observatory is an information network for professionals working with the arts with children and young people in volatile and challenging contexts. It grew out of PAL’s Volatile and Challenging Lab programme which began in 2005.
Creative Scotland - have your say
Perspectives, a new on-line discussion forum, has just been launched. It describes itself as an evolving dialogue with Scotland’s creative communities to strengthen the purpose of and ambition for Creative Scotland, the new national development body for the arts, culture and creative industries.
Creativity: Luxury or Lifeline?
PAL delivered a workshop at CapeUK’s conference, Creativity: Luxury or Lifeline? Survive and Thrive in a Changing Educational Landscape, held at the National Media Museum in Bradford on 30th September 2009.
PAL’s New Website
Welcome to our website. It is a work in progress and there is bound to be the odd glitch, but we hope that we have achieved our principle aim: to be clear and accessible.
The Art of Enquiry
To mark our 20th year, PAL held the first in a series of one-day Labs, called The Art of Enquiry on 29th June 2009 at our home in the Siobhan Davies Studios.