The idea
This inter-generational project is designed to share the story of a unique feature of Doncaster's heritage in new, exciting and engaging ways. We are using the arts to bring the Sand House to life. At the core is a brand new play by award-winning writer, Peter Spafford, to be performed at Cast in Doncaster in June 2018.
Both Peter and Director Olwen May will provide outreach workshops to local schools, elderly and amdram groups. This will draw the community in and provide content for an exhibition. Sand art workshops will engage the young. Illustrated talks and walks will offer diverse opportunities for people to learn about the subject. A documentary film will provide a lasting legacy. Our community will reconnect with our town’s rich history.
Funding has been obtained from a wide range of sources already. It includes public funding by Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund. This crowdfunding campaign is to permit the final elements of the overall project to be completed.
What we'll deliver
- Six performances of "Sand House", a brand new play.
- One of the six performances will be 'relaxed' encouraging inclusion.
- Four outreach literary workshops with local primary schools
- Four outreach workshops with groups of elderly residents
- Four outreach workshops with local amateur dramatic groups
- A two-month exhibition at Cast.
- Five days of pop-up sand art sessions for families
- Two illustrated talks telling the definitive story
- A 15-minute documentary film and 2-minute promotional video
Why it's a great idea
Doncaster’s Sand House was unique in the world. This project satisfies an increasing, proven demand for people to find out more about the subject and does so in a wide range of interesting and fun ways. At its core, a brand new play by an award-winning writer tells a fascinating story of Doncaster’s past, at a venue within sight of the Sand House’s location.
Through this project, the Sand House will be better interpreted. Many of the myths associated with it will be dispelled. Pop-up sand art workshops will provide an unusual and stimulating way of interpreting the heritage, especially for younger participants. New resources will be produced, providing a legacy for ongoing education.
By using theatre, outreach workshops and other methods, a large and diverse group of people will engage with both the arts and heritage. A sense of pride in Doncaster will be fostered, by revealing a unique and amazing aspect of its past to current residents. The local economy will be boosted.
Steps to get it done
- The play itself will be performed on 8, 9 & 10 June 2018
- Outreach workshops take place by 1 June 2018
- Exhibition at Cast from 1 May to 30 June 2018
- Pop-up sand art sessions between 31 May and 9 June 2018
- Illustrated talks take place on 14 June 2018
- The promotional video will be available by 25 May and the documentary film by 14 June 2018
This project already enjoys the support of public funding by the National Lottery through both Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Other trusts, foundations, associations and commercial organisations are also helping to bring it to fruition, as are volunteers. This crowdfunding campaign is aimed at closing the remaining funding gap, so as to ensure that the complete project can be delivered to the highest possible quality. The funds raised through this campaign represent the amount needed to create both the documentary film and the promotional video. The documentary provides a legacy for the project and the promotional video helps to ensure its success.
