SHIFT
SHIFT 2022 - 2023: Cole & Joslin received an Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grant in 2022 to develop new research in partnership with Brighton Women's Centre, Phoenix Arts Space and FuseBox, Wired Sussex. This project also involved a collaboration with Acting Our Age, Flexer & Sandliland's intergenerational movement group and mentoring with film-maker Andrew Kotting, supported by an A-N Artist's Bursary.
Still from improvised movement workshop with Acting Our Age,Flexer & Sandliland's intergenerational movement group
A group of twelve people met regularly to explore what 'shift' meant to them, using a studio space to draw, write, sing, make prints, photographs, video and performance. The process was been speculative and responsive, with the images and conversations informing what happened each week. Work-in-progress was then presented for themselves and the public, in the Project Space in March 2023. The week of activities included drawings, monoprints, photographs and 360 video, with participants facilitating workshops and screenings for the general public and invited groups and staff from Brighton Women's Centre.
Concurrent to these weekly sessions, Cole & Joslin developed work alongside, noting their process and progress on Instagram and on an A-N Blog.
Working creatively in this way, forming a collective and testing ideas amongst ourselves, the project has been enormously affecting for those involved. Participants have spoken about re-connecting with play and their sense of joy, learning to speak up with more confidence, being surprised by what they can achieve and produce, and making new friends.
Reflecting on the week-long residency, comments from participants included:
"It was awe-inspiring, I felt a sense of wonder. Everyone's work felt powerful and empowering. There was teamwork on display. To see it all together felt amazing"
"My heart melted when I heard what someone wrote after hearing my poem"
"I felt loved and looked after. I also felt camaraderie. My guard has been dropped a lot and I feel safe with you guys"
"How proud I felt that everyone was coming to see it, to see our work"
The success of the project led to an invitation to be part of the Community Takeover in September 2023, with Cole & Joslin recieving support from BWC and Phoenix to continue to work with the group on a monthly basis to develop and refine the work for this exhibition.
Cheeta, by Leila
Collective collage
Time Zone, by Cindy
Not Mine, by Lee