Grupo Cultural AfroReggae, an exciting collective of international performance artists from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are coming to Liverpool to work with young people throughout the city.
During a month-long visit which will include an intensive programme of workshops, community events and performances between 26 July and 21 August.
AfroReggae are being brought to the city by Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatres in association with People's Palace Projects in an innovative partnership with Liverpool PCT and Liverpool City Council who are supporting the visit as a highlight of 2010 the City's Year of Health and Wellbeing.
Since their inception in 1993, AfroReggae have developed a continuous programme of outreach work in five of Rio’s largest and most violent favelas and have created a movement of 11 companies with diverse street arts skills running 72 projects out of 5 cultural centres. The AfroReggae UK Network, is coordinated by People’s Palace Project, which launched in 2006 with a visit to the Barbican and currently has active partnerships in London, Newcastle Gateshead, Salisbury, Manchester and London.
AfroReggae’s mission is to promote social justice using art and education to bridge differences and create the foundations with which to build sustainability and exercise citizenship within the communities where they work. This summer they will bring their unique model to Liverpool where they will apply the same principles that have succeeded in Rio de Janeiro. As young people emerge through the group’s arts workshops, they are trained to become leaders within their own communities as much as they are encouraged to become artists.
The four-week residency focuses on transferring AfroReggae’s direct, effective approach to conflict resolution. In Liverpool levels of anti-social behaviour and gang violence are of concern to several communities and the group’s programme for the city will be designed in conjunction with hard to reach teenagers in those areas. Joining the AfroReggae artists will be two break dance performers from Bad Taste Cru in Northern Ireland who will bring their experience of using culture as a catalyst for conflict resolution.
Among the 46 weekly workshops within the communities, including Anfield, Garston, Parklands, Alt Valley, West Everton, Kirkdale, Vauxhall and Toxteth. Following the workshops, and imbued with their new skills, the young participants will then perform at sharing events in community centres and parks within their own neighbourhoods to share their experience.
In addition to this some of the groups will be invited to join in a number of celebratory events, performing on stage with the AfroReggae artists themselves, including a concert in Williamson Square as well as appearances at the Liverpool Pride and the Out of the Blue Festival.
Several of the artists who are coming to Liverpool also perform with AfroReggae’s main band which opened for the Rolling Stones concert to two million people on Copacabana Beach in 2006 and have played major stages from Carnegie Hall to the Barbican.
Liverpool has a rich pool of talent in Brazilian Samba, as host city to The Carnival Company, Batala and Beatlife, all groups who have a commitment to working together with young people to give them a fresh, informative and invigorating experience of these dynamic art forms.
Gemma Bodinetz, artistic director of the Everyman and Playhouse said: "AfroReggae are one of the most inspiring companies in the world today, producing work that is at once joyful and life-changing.
"The Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse are thrilled to be part of such an extraordinary partnership of stakeholders all keen to bring the AfroReggae experience to the young people of Liverpool."
Gideon Ben-Tovim, Chair of Liverpool PCT said: “I am delighted that AfroReggae have agreed to come to Liverpool to share their vision and expertise.
"This project is a key part of the Year of Health and Wellbeing programme and I am confident that there is much to learn from AfroReggae’s experience of working with communities to provide positive solutions to some really complex issues."
Councillor Jane Corbett, who represents Everton ward and is cabinet member for education and children's services said: "It's brilliant news that this world famous group are coming to Liverpool this summer and I'm delighted that they will be joining in with our "Out of the Blue Festival" in Everton Park in August.
"They are renowned for their dramatic programmes and will be challenging and teaching our young people new and exciting skills."
AfroReggae have been brought to Liverpool by Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse in association with People's Palace Projects and with funding and support from Liverpool PCT. The project is also supported by City Safe in association with Weekend Arts College, Liverpool Youth Service, Riverside, National Lottery ‘Green Spaces for People’ and Cobalt Housing and is in partnership with Liverpool’s neighbourhoods and communities.
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