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Drama workshops for visually impaired

Cohere Arts By Cohere Arts

We are raising funds to support High Spirits; a drama workshop series for visually impaired adults living in Suffolk.

Ipswich Delivery stage

18
backers
£5,560
raised
funded icon
This project was funded on 09 Aug 2024!

Our High Spirits initiative provides specialised access and support enabling people living with sight loss to work alongside professional artists in the development of skills and ideas in creative writing, audio, music and drama. We are raising funds to support our next term of weekly drama workshops for visually impaired adults, which will take place between Sept-Dec 2024. Our workshops take place at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich on Thursday afternoons. They are led by an experienced theatre director supported by an assistant director and 5 trained volunteers.

What we'll deliver:

  • 10 weekly workshops led by a professional theatre director
  • Specialist support by trained volunteers and artists
  • A public sharing of our performance material at the end of term

Why it's a great idea:

Previous participants of our High Spirits drama workshops have told us that they have been excluded from other mainstream drama and theatre groups who cannot cater for their needs. However, they tell us that attending our drama workshops provides: -A sense of camaraderie, reduced isolation and improved mood -Increased confidence, self esteem and feelings of accomplishment -Opportunities to develop skills, be creative, feel part of something -A supportive peer-led environment for people experiencing different stages and levels of sight loss One participant reported that: "These projects fill the void in my life that was created by losing my sight."

Steps to get it done:

  • 5 workshops completed
  • 10 workshops completed

A RNIB-commissioned research report (My Voice 2015: The views and experiences of blind and partially sighted people in the UK) revealed that; -more than 40% of blind and partially sighted people feel moderately or completely cut off from the people and things around them -half consider themselves limited in the activities that they would like to take part in -only 17% of people experiencing sight loss are offered emotional support in relation to their deteriorating vision, despite the fact that 4 out of 10 people attending low vision clinics are recorded as suffering from symptoms of clinical depression

Gallery

Location Ipswich

About the space

Custom Location

Council

Suffolk County Council

How will the money be spent?Target (inc. fees)  £6,812

Volunteer support (5 volunteers for 10x 3 hr sessions @£15 ph - £2,250
Workshop director (10 sessions @£150) - £1,500
Assistant director (10 sessions @ £120) - £1,200
Project management and admin 5 days @£200 - £1,000
Reduced hire fee - £300
Venue space (10 sessions @ £30) - £300

Costs Breakdown

This shows how money raised for the project will be spent. These costs have been confirmed by the project's Delivery Manager and verified.

Volunteer support (5 volunteers for 10x 3 hr sessions @£15 ph
£2,250
Workshop director (10 sessions @£150)
£1,500
Assistant director (10 sessions @ £120)
£1,200
Project management and admin 5 days @£200
£1,000
Reduced hire fee
£300
Venue space (10 sessions @ £30)
£300

Overfunding

This project is enabled for overfunding. If the project hits its funding goal before the end of the campaign period, any extra funds raised will be spent (in order of priority) on:

  • Contingency for the project to protect against price fluctuation
  • Additional workshop sessions
  • Masterclasses with visiting professional practictioners

Target (inc. fees)  £6,812

Our Volunteer List

We're currently looking for people to offer skills and time to develop our project! Check out the list of what we need below and then use the 'Volunteer' button to the right to get involved.

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