THE OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENT AND FUTURE PLANS FOR THE FRENCHS FOREST DAY OPTIONS ART AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS

The aim:
This exciting new initiative aims to use the medium of all the arts to give individuals from a variety of different backgrounds from the Northern Beaches the opportunity to explore, develop, create and, above all, to celebrate their artistic contribution to their community.

About Sunnyfield
Sunnyfield is a not for profit organisation with over 57 years experience in providing services to people with disabilities. Using a Person Centred Approach, Sunnyfield provides accommodation, employment, respite, day programs, training and therapy to assist people with disabilities to live an independent and rewarding life. Sunnyfield currently provides over 1,500 services to people with disabilities and their families across NSW. For more information, please visit www.sunnyfield.org.au.


The Sunnyfield Frenchs Forest Creative Program:
Sunnyfield has joined forces with Gaye Fleming - founder and facilitator of ‘Many Hands’ Creative Workshops. Gaye celebrates the diversity of skills and creativity of everyone, focusing on encouraging people with a disability to tap into the rich resources of artistic talents within the greater community.

They do this by working with local:
• Musicians
• Film makers
• Street artists
• Artist
• DJs

‘Many Hands’ specialises in bridging diverse sectors of the local communities together through:
• Community Music workshops
• Digital Story Telling
• Contemporary Art Programs
• Drama and movement workshops
• Theatre


About the Program Content:
The Creative Arts Program is an exciting pilot project involving approximately 400 individuals with an intellectual disability at the new Sunnyfield Frenchs Forest Day Options Centre.

This program is focused on creating unique opportunities for individuals with an intellectual disability to link into creative arts such as dance, drama, music, visual art, art exhibitions and performances. At the same time, there is a strong focus on building and strengthening relationships with local artists, Councils, businesses, communities and Sydney’s prominent theatres, museums and art galleries.

Objectives:
The objective of this program is to create an environment, which make the arts accessible to individuals with both intellectual and physical disabilities. Sunnyfield provides over 1,500 services from the age of seven (7) to 65 years old, with a range of intellectual and associated physical disabilities, sensory impairments and challenging behaviours. Taking a person centred approach, the Creative Arts Program aims to build on each individual’s existing skills and create opportunities to develop their skill sets and showcase their previously undiscovered talents.

Performance:
Six (6) weekly workshops involving the arts and cultural programs have been introduced to the Sunnyfield Frenchs Forest Centre. To evaluate each of the weekly programs, family, friends and the community will be invited into the Centre to celebrate the people Sunnyfield supports and their work through art exhibitions, small performance and food tasting. Each of the weekly programs will be documented and exhibited and publicised.


Who is involved?
A total of 400 people from Sunnyfield - people we support, staff members, family and friends, access the service based at Frenchs Forest. A majority come from the Warringah, Pittwater and Manly local government areas..

Sunnyfield is planning to expand these programs across Sunnyfield services in other local government areas across NSW.

Project Development Plan:

The Creative Arts project is a pilot program, planned to develop over the next year and work towards longer term projects exploring sustainability and future funding sources.

Gaye Fleming of Many Hands Workshops is also in the process of collecting information, establishing links, creating forums with other Sunnyfield services within the regions where Sunnyfield operates i.e., the Sydney metropolitan ara, the Central Coast and New England.

The aim is to celebrate, communicate, develop and share what the people Sunnyfield support have been achieving within the arts. To build on these strengths, work on strategies to encourage new partnerships within local communities, link with leading key bodies such as Accessible Arts, local Councils, Governments within the regions but most importantly to establish steering groups with the art community in order to ensure that their voices are heard.


French’s Forest Day Option Art Program
Media Release


Exciting up and coming events:

‘Digital Story Telling’ during the Manly Arts Festival at Manly Library, September 22nd to September 27th 2008. People supported by Sunnyfield will be sharing their lives and experiences with family, friends and the community through digital audio/visual recording media. A television screen showing the stories will be on continuous loop and will be made accessible for everyone. Story boards will also be shown around the library. A Private Showing to be held on Thursday 25th September, 6pm at Manly Library. Please contact David Somers (02- 8977 2710) if you would like to attend.

A BIG thank you to Fed Ex, for providing a group of volunteers to spend a day with the Sunnyfield drama and art groups. They will be lending a helping hand with rehearsals and preparation work for the ‘Circus Spectacular’ performance at Glen Street Theatre 18th September.

Working with Swoop at Glen Street Theatre, a group of Sunnyfield people are working towards a ‘Circus Spectacular’ performance where they will be show-casing their skills in acting, moving and circus performance. This will be held at the ‘Glen Street Theatre, Friday 19th September 2008 11am’. You will also be able to check out the art work on circuses by Sunnyfield artists and exhibited in the foyer of the theatre.

Sound Circles in the Forest is a series of voice and movement workshops where the people from Sunnyfield will explore sounds, rhythms and improvisation alongside like-minded people in a creative and supportive space. The focus will be on co-creation, spontaneity and the equal sharing of ideas, talents and goals. October 16th to November 20th.


A day with NIDA on 22nd October the drama group from Sunnyfield will be spending a day with NIDA (The National Institute of Dramatic Arts) exploring different acting skills and techniques, as well as working with professionals and touring the NIDA facilities.


‘Powerhouse museum’ a group of Sunnyfield people is experiencing exclusive weekly workshops at the Powerhouse sensory music rooms. These will commence on 16 October.

Commissioned Piece of Art The Sunnyfield Art Group has been commissioned to create a grand piece of work for Alan Evans (President of the NRMA and CEO of Thrifty Car Rentals). Work commences on October 15th . The finished piece will be presented to Alan during the ‘Dutton Rally Race’ on 23rd November.

AGM Art Exhibition Art works created over the last three months will be exhibited at the Sunnyfield AGM to be held at the Dee Why RSL Club on 23rd October.

Museum of Contemporary Arts Groups of Sunnyfield people will be going to creative art workshops at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). The Sunnyfield people will be exploring the great art works in the MCA collections and will be given the chance to make their own artworks using a variety of materials. Two workshops are scheduled on 29th October and 19th November, 2008.


Accessible Arts and ARRTBOXX 08 On 6th November, two of our emerging artists are going to the ‘Tin Sheds’ Gallery, Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning, the University of Sydney, for a tour of the AART.BOXX 08 exhibition of Works by emerging artists with a disability, and to discuss possible future Art opportunities with Josie Cavellaro Arts Development Officer for Accessible Arts.

Recognition and a Big Thank You to Manly Council for granting $750 for the ‘Digital Story Telling Exhibition’ and to FedEx for donating $2000 towards the Frenchs Forest art program.

Music at Manly To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Manly Youth Council five (5) budding musicians and performers from Sunnyfield are going to join in with live performances from local young people on the Main stage. It will be a festival of music and singing. Marquees will be set up with information tables, art displays, and a screen showing films 24/7. There will be something for everyone on Sunday 23rd November from 1pm – 5pm
Mosman Art Gallery: Redlands Westpac Art Prize Exhibition A group of Sunnyfield inspiring artists have been invited to visit the Redlands Westpac Art Prize exhibition at the Mosman Art Gallery. This is an annual, invitational prize exhibition for art and was established in 1996 by Redlands School to promote the work of contemporary artists and to inspire greater school and community engagement with the arts. 26th November 2008
Warringah Council – Concert of Songs and Dance for Intellectual Day of People with a Disability The Sunnyfield Digital Stories and Slide Show of the Circus Spectacular are going to be shown throughout the day at the Warringah Council Concert of songs and dance by people with a disability at Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club on the International Day of People with a Disability (3 December)

Photo/Video Exhibition Four digital cameras and a video camera have been purchased with funds donated by Manly Council and FedEx. Teams from the Sunnyfield Frenchs Forest Day Options Program (DOP) will all be each allocated a camera and encouraged to take photographs of their day’s events. Then, a steering group of Sunnyfield people will be asked to select the photos they like and speak about them. This process will be filmed. The video and the chosen photos will be shown to the Manly and FedEx sponsors on during December 18th 2008 at a public exhibition at the Frenchs Forest Day Options Program site, 3 Rodborough Road, Frenchs Forest.

The Sunnyfield Frenchs Forest DOP Music group is putting together a Christmas performance as part of the Photo/Video Exhibition. Moving away from tradition the group will be performing songs from Santana, Abba, Kiss, Sound of Music and other bands. There will be songs, musical equipment for everyone to use and join in. Don and his cooking group are planning some delicious Christmas nibbles for everyone. Art work and photo exhibition, digital stories and Circus Spectacular slide show will also be shown. Everyone is invited, parents, carers, friends, managers and people from the community December 18th.

Other possible events in the pipe line:
 The Australian Employers Network on Disability has shown an interest in exhibiting some of the Sunnyfield Art works and Digital Stories at the Westpac sponsored corporate evening event on December 3rd (International Day of the Disabled Person) Waiting on confirmation.
 Frenchs Forest Day Option Program is hoping to invite Lois Birk and her son Michael to talk and sing traditional and contemporary songs from their Aboriginal ancestors. Date to be confirmed.
 Establish a creative arts steering group.

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