Chinatown Arts Space News

SUSTAIN – a new project to commission a third landmark piece of public art for London’s Chinatown

2011-12-04T20:26:24+00:00

Chinatown Arts Space in partnership with Asia House and supported by Shaftesbury PLC launches SUSTAIN – a new project to commission a third landmark piece of public art for London’s Chinatown.

Sustainability at the heart of artists’ brief
Contemporary sculpture positioned on the corner of Gerrard Place and Shaftesbury Avenue – above a famous Chinese herbalist’s shop
A sculptor artist of East Asian descent to be commissioned

The search for the next sculptor artist to produce a striking, thought-provoking and contemporary piece of public art for London’s Chinatown has started this month. Chinatown Arts Space is delighted to be working with Shaftesbury PLC for the third time to improve, ignite and invent a new Chinatown. This ambitious project aims to deliver public art that fully captures the imagination of all those that visit, work or live in and around London’s vibrant Chinatown. Sustainability has been specifically chosen as the key theme behind the project and the sculpture itself. Reflecting the London 2012 principle of ‘sustainable development towards one planet’, the vision for the new artwork is to leave a sustainable legacy for London and the world in the heart of the West End. The sculpture will address vital sustainability issues affecting everyone today, covering anything from Climate Change, Waste, Biodiversity and Healthy Living to Inclusion in Society.

An advisory panel consisting of 24 East Asian arts curators, experts and specialists has nominated 49 potential sculptor artists representing 14 different East Asian countries and diaspora for SUSTAIN. The diverse list of East Asian artists is evident of current strength and depth that exists behind East Asian contemporary art, just waiting to be showcased. SUSTAIN will create the opportunity for an East Asian artist to present their work in a high-profile, permanent setting achieving great art for everyone.

For further information about SUSTAIN and interview requests please contact Pak Ling Wan at Chinatown Arts Space, pak@chinatownartsspace.com 07733884377.

SUSTAIN Timescales

A shortlist of approximately 12-15 sculptor artists chosen by the original 24 curators will be put forward to a Selection Panel. 5 artists from the shortlist will be invited to tender for SUSTAIN. The 5 tendering artists will have their works displayed in exhibitions at Asia House and Chinatown next summer, when public feedback will be collected. The commissioned artist will be announced in September 2012. The new sculptor will be unveiled in Spring 2013.

SUSTAIN is generously supported by Shaftesbury PLC.

New Music 20x12

2011-04-05T14:36:27+00:00

Chinatown Arts Space is delighted to have been chosen as one of the twenty participants of New Music 20x12, an independent commissioning programme initiated by Jillian Barker and David Cohen, and delivered by PRS for Music Foundation in partnership with the BBC, The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and Sound and Music.

Click here to find out more about this programme and our involvement in it.

Download the new brochure produced by PRSF for New Music 20x12 (1.97mb PDF)

Musicians Union Host Workshop; Monday 27th February

2012-02-16T01:05:18+00:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF YOUR UNION-WORKSHOP FOR MINORITY ETHNIC MEMBERS

Unions should represent and speak for the full breadth of their membership and so it is crucial that diversity is attained within the membership at every level of representation and decision making.

The traditional path for both lay and full time trade union officials has been to start out as activists in their union’s local branch and then get elected to other roles within the union. Some eventually serve as leading lay activists while others may choose a career in the union as a full time official.
In order for unions to fully reflect the multiracial nature of their membership there is a need to overcome the barriers which have resulted in Minority Ethnic members not being reflected at all levels of the union and to encourage support and assist them to play and active and full part in their union.

This one day event is open to minority ethnic members from all Entertainment Unions in the Federation to discuss and learn about representation in their Unions. Travelling expenses will be paid and refreshments provided.

Contact Alice Lemon, Equalities Official, alice.lemon@themu.org, for further information.

To book go to:

http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/news-events/2012/02/01/changing-the-face-of-your-union-workshop-for-minority-ethnic-memebers/

Where:
Equity
Upper St Martins Lane
London
WC2H 9EG

When: 27 Feb 2012
Time: 10am – 5pm

Exhibition of contemporary Chinese woodblock prints

2012-02-15T23:11:31+00:00

Exhibition of contemporary Chinese woodblock prints by two artists, Ding Jitang (Xi'an, Huxian County) and Yu Chengyou (Harbin, Heilongjiang Province). Both artists depict rural scenes of their own familiar habitat in charmingly simple styles. Ding portrays, with only touches of colour and bold outlines, the daily lives of the villagers in 'idyllic' rustic scenes. Yu uses more colour to evoke the vast scenery of the 'northern wilderness', with few signs of human habitation, but some wild life, particularly deer. This exhibition continues at Arthur Probsthain Bookshop, 41 Great Russell Street, London WC1, until Sat.3 March.

The Art of the Kunqu Opera Dan -performance, lecture-demonstration and workshop

2012-02-13T17:43:47+00:00

Date: Sunday 25/3/2012, 2 pm - 4 pm.
(Please see file below for all details.)
Kathy Hall will perform the Kunqu opera scene,'In Pursuit of the Dream' from 'The Peony Pavilion', with the LJKOA Kunqu Ensemble. There will be English and Chinese surtitles. Then, with the aid of slides, Kathy will take you briefly through the history of Kunqu Opera, role types and special characteristics, and explain the differences between Jingju (Beijing/Peking Opera) and Kunqu opera. The session will end with a Kunqu singing and movements workshop for anyone interested.
This event is part of a series of 6 FREE lecture-demonstrations and workshops to celebrate the 10th Anniversay of LJKOA.

NEW Intercultural dance work - Beloved emoh - YUYU RAU

2012-02-10T17:16:23+00:00

When the yearning for home intensifies, cultural identity unfolds. Creating a new contemporary dance language inspired by classical Chinese dance, Beloved Emoh rediscovers 'home' through different perspectives and cultural backgrounds.

Conceived and choreographed by Yuyu Rau
Material devised and performed by Angelina Jandolo, Marie Chabert, Raul Ibanez
Live musician – Cheng-Ying Chuang
Composer - Barbara De Biasi
Lighting Designer - Sammi Fang
Concept –Jih-Wen Yeh and Yuyu Rau8pm, Friday 17th Feb 2012
Robin Howard Dance Theatre
17 Duke's Road,
London, WC1H 9PY
Tickets: +44 (0)20 7121 1100

Beloved emoh is part of 3 bills show at the last night of Resolution! 2012.
Find out more details about the night
http://www.theplace.org.uk/11701/whats-on/yuyu-rau-divo-company-seke-chimutengwende-friends.html
8pm, Friday 17th Feb 2012
Robin Howard Dance Theatre
17 Duke's Road,
London, WC1H 9PY
Tickets: +44 (0)20 7121 1100

Chinese New Year celebrations @ National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Sat 18 Feb 2012, 11am-4.30pm

2012-02-09T22:53:19+00:00

Celebrate Chinese New Year of the Dragon and British East Asian heritage @ the National Maritime Museum with a day of music, workshops and performances. Contribute to a giant dragon installation, take part in a New Year parade and meet Chinese sailor James Robson, who worked on-board the Cutty Sark tea clipper (performance by Yellow Earth). Discover how the sea trade brought ideas, culture, language and people from Asia to Britain.

East Zest Productions will be filming (11.30-13.30 and 14.00-16.00) in the Trader Gallery upstairs (next to Paul's Cafe). The museum has hand-picked four very special objects - a cargo vessel, a royal flag, a teapot and an oil painting - that will fire your imaginations, connecting the past to the present. EZP would like to capture your responses to these objects by interviewing families, groups of friends and individuals. It's a great day out for everyone. Come and get your beautiful faces on camera!

http://www.rmg.co.uk/visit/events/chinese-new-year

Calling Young Drummers!

2012-02-09T14:02:34+00:00

Free Urban Youth Junk Drumming Workshop
Sunday 19th February 2012 - 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Chinatown Arts Space (CAS) presents, in partnership with London Chinese Community Centre, an Urban Junk Drumming Workshop for young people of 11- 21 years old!

This workshop is part of CAS New Music 20x12: XX/XY project, a commission for the Cultural Olympiad composed by Liz Liew and Andy Leung.

Drumming Director Bernie Gardner will show you a new way of drumming - creative, spontaneous and fun - using urban junk such as pots, pan, and bins, plastic buckets, anything that can be hit to create a rhythm!

Participants will have the opportunity of being selected to perform, together with young composers and musicians, in the New Music 20x12: XX/XY public performances in summer 2012!

Anyone from 11-21 years old with East Asian and non East Asian backgrounds are welcome. No experience required.

For more details on registration, download the pdf flyer on the link below…

New job opportunity - bilingual English-Mandarin Administrator

2012-02-08T09:50:33+00:00

ResCen Network Administrator (Bilingual English/Mandarin Chinese)

Middlesex University

Salary: £21,516 - £24,580 inclusive of Outer London Weighting
Full Time, Permanent
Location: Trent Park until academic year 2012-13 when ResCen moves to Hendon Campus
Ref: CTPCH_A120

ResCen Research Centre is developing an international network of researchers to complement the work of the team of six UK-based Research Associate Artists. ResCen, with funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and private foundations, is developing performing arts projects in Mandarin Chinese speaking contexts (see www.rescen.net).
ResCen Network Administrator (Bilingual English/Mandarin Chinese)

Middlesex University

The post requires an enthusiastic and capable administrator who will manage the Centre's office, including normal secretarial duties of typing, record-keeping, financial administration, database management, marketing and publicity for events and publications. This will include occasional duties at off-site meetings, evening events, and overseas travel for periods of up to four weeks, so the ability to be flexible and to travel internationally is required.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with good communication skills and who is willing to work as part of a team.

For an informal discussion about the post please contact Professor Christopher Bannerman: 020 8411 5610 /c.bannerman@mdx.ac.uk

Closing date: 17 February 2012

Further information, an application form, job description and directions on how to apply for this post are available from www.mdx.ac.uk/jobs

Middlesex University is working towards equality of opportunity.

Professor Christopher Bannerman
Head of ResCen Research Centre
c.bannerman@mdx.ac.uk
www.rescen.net

IndieGoGo Funding Campaign Now Live

2012-02-06T16:56:13+00:00

Funding campaign is now live!

A crowd funding campaign has been launched today for
ABANDONED, ADOPTED, HERE...
Click here to be taken to the IndieGoGo! website

You can donate as little as £1:00 or $1

HELP TO SUPPORT BRITISH-CHINESE/EAST ASIAN CREATIVESIdentity,many of us take for granted. We see ourselves reflected back as we gaze into the eyes of our parents. What if your image isn't the same? What then?

What if you bear no resemblance to your parents? What if you bear no resemblance to anyone within the community that you grew up in?

Abandoned, Adopted, Here is an independent documentary film which will gaze at multicultural London through the eyes of an abandoned, trans-racially adopted Hong Kong Chinese. How has this precarious non identity affected, work, life, perception, identity?
See the world for once from the inside out and not the outside looking in

© Lucy Lai-Tuen Chau Sheen January 2012