Catherine Wheels Theatre Company are looking for a Scotland-based Muslim artist to work with us on a Primary 6 class project which explores Islam.
You would be a lead artist working alongside Catherine Wheels’ artistic director Gill Robertson and visual artist/designer Yvonne Buskie. The project is created with the lead artists working closely with the teacher in co-creating a programme of inspiring art that stimulates, educates and allows a greater understanding of Islam. The project is improvised and is developed week by week depending on the curiosity of the class and the needs of the teacher.
You would bring to the project your artistic skill, as well as personal understanding of Islam. As an organisation we are on a journey to diversify our way of working and we believe strongly in the need for authenticity within this project, hence the specificity of this call-out. We recognise the need to support this individual to fulfil their role in a way that feels safe and comfortable, and we will endeavour to work together in a way that enables this.
Background
This project is inspired by The Mysterious Object which was a 6-week long project completed in November 2020, with a P3/4 class from Athelstaneford Primary in East Lothian. It began with a rocket (built by Yvonne Buskie and filled with interesting objects to investigate) discovered in a tree by the children. From this developed a creative and meaningful relationship between the artists, the teacher and the class. Over the 6 weeks the artists and the teacher had regular meetings, and decided in what way the work would develop. Letters and objects were sent, two characters – The ‘Grimski Brothers’, inventors and collectors of strange objects, were created, and we managed to have a final socially-distanced outside gathering.
Quote from the class teacher on why the project was successful:
The excitement and engagement from all children and the teacher! The hook it gave me to plan my lessons and learning. The memories we created together.
Who we want to apply
You will be Scotland-based, identify as Muslim, and be interested in exploring Islam as a topic with fellow artists and a Primary 6 class We want to hear from artists from any artistic background, but are particularly interested in writers, spoken word artists and musicians/composers. You should be interested in creating inspiring work for children and making art within a school setting, but experience of working with young people is not necessary.
The project will follow the current Covid guidelines at the time we are working. This may mean that we will not work physically in the school, which is in East Lothian. However, as with the The Mysterious Object, we will find other ways to connect with the class.
Dates: 2 days/week between 26 April – 18 June 2021
Fee: £3,200 (£200/day)
If you are interested in working with us on this project, please get in contact telling us why you would like to be involved and what you think you could offer to the project. We want this to be a simple application process, so please send us a short written/filmed/audio application (no longer than 1 side A4 or 3 mins recording) with attached C.V.
Deadline: Friday 26 March 2021, 5pm
If you have any questions before submitting your application, please contact Gill Robertson / 07947890284