European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion : World première of ‘Quimeras’ by the Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company – A story of the plight of migrants and refugees: 2-4 September.
Brussels, 2 September 2010 – As part of the activities supported under the EU’s “European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion” (EY2010), the world famous Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company will be performing at the September Edinburgh International Festival.
The Andalusian flamenco master Paco Peña for the 2010 Edinburgh event will present a world première of his new work Quimeras (chimera) which tells a story about the plight of a group of migrants travelling to Europe from Africa.
Directed by Jude Kelly, artistic director of London’s prestigious Southbank Centre, Paco Peña’s Quimeras asks the question: Is there a better world out there, waiting to be discovered? A place of wonder and promise in which a better life is possible? Or are our dreams merely a chimera, an imagined reality that turns out to be a disappointment or – worse – false?
Quimeras brings to life the challenging journey of migrants, reflecting both good and bad aspects of their dreams, the reality of their lives and their connection with the people on the other side of the frontiers they cross. The theme is of considerable relevance for Spain which in the past has sent its people across the world in search of a new life and now, as a modern prosperous country, is itself the aspirational home for many immigrants from poorer countries and circumstances.
For the world première in Edinburgh Paco Peña will bring his full company to the Festival for this special work which combines powerful story telling with flamenco music and dance
Using art to promote social inclusion – the ‘Portents’ canvas city project
As part of its strategy to raise awareness of poverty and social exclusion, the programme of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion involves a number of projects which partner with the arts.
In the UK, EY2010 is supporting the ‘Portents’ project in Bristol where, in September, the College Green area in the heart of the city is being turned into an art ‘campsite’. The Portents project, will see artist John Easterby fill the green area with a canvas city of more than 50 tents. Each tent will bear a print designed by different communities from the city. The exhibition runs from 18 to 27 September 2010 and the tents will be illuminated during the hours of darkness.
« We are reaching out to all the diverse communities, different ethnic communities from all over Bristol and asking them to contribute a design,”
said John Easterby. John, who spent his childhood years in Bristol, is a fan of bringing art into public spaces and has worked with the city’s Pierian Centre to develop the Portents project.
The Pierian Centre is the Lead Project Partner for « Working Together for Positive Change » which is the city of Bristol’s response to EY2010. The social purpose of this Company is to serve the wider community of Bristol especially the marginalised, disadvantaged and excluded and those living in the locality. The Founder-Director of The Pierian Centre Community Interest Company in the St Pauls district of Bristol is June Burrough who is the EY2010 National Ambassador for the UK.
“Art Partner” project
In May the European Commission launched the “Art Partner” project as part of the EY2010 programme. The project will create “duos” made up of art / design students and individuals experiencing poverty.
The project’s central “(IN)VISIBLE” theme sets out to use art to make the individuals behind poverty visible and provide those living below the poverty line with a creative means of expression through photographic art. While art cannot eradicate poverty, it can nevertheless give dignity and confidence back to people. It can also help to recreate social links.
NGO’s working in the poverty sector will play a key role as facilitators, helping to create the “duos” and build a bridge between the two. The duo of the student and the person experiencing poverty will then conceptualise their ideas in tandem, get behind the camera, be creative, and co-produce their photographs. An artistic committee will select some fifty photographs which will be displayed at an exhibition in Brussels at the end of November 2010.
http://www.2010againstpoverty.eu/artpartnerproject/index.html?langid=en
Editors Note: ** PACO PEÑA PRESS CONFERENCE 1 SEPTEMBER **
A press conference will be given September 1st, Edinburgh Playhouse (10am – 10.30am) by:
- Paco Peña
- Jonathan Mills, Festival Director
- June Burrough, UK national ambassador for EY 2010
- Neil Mitchison, Head of the European Commission’s Office in Scotland.
Paco Peña is a guitarist, composer, dramatist, producer and artistic mentor who embodies both authenticity and innovation in flamenco. Born in the Andalusian city of Córdoba, Paco Peña made his first professional appearance at the age of 12 and in the late 1960s he left Spain for London, where his recitals of flamenco music have captured the public imagination for many years. http://www.pacopena.com/
For media enquiries kindly contact:
Pamela Woolley +32 2 550 0055 (Brussels)
Email: Pamela.woolley@ketchumpleon.com
Background: the need to combat poverty and social inclusion
The social protection systems in the European Union are among the most highly-developed in the world and yet, today, too many Europeans still live in poverty. The forms this takes are complex, but certain figures speak for themselves:
- More than 80 million people live below the poverty line (set at 60% of their country’s median income). That represents 16% of Europe’s population.
- One European in ten lives in a household where nobody works.
- For 8% of Europeans, having a job is not enough to avoid poverty.
- Some 19 million children live under the threat of poverty and are disproportionately affected.
Objectives of the European Year:
- To recognise the fundamental right of persons affected by poverty and social exclusion to live in dignity and to take an active part in society;
- To promote public support for social inclusion policies and foster commitment by all public and private actors;
- To promote a more cohesive society, where it is recognised that society as a whole benefits from the eradication of poverty;
- To renew the pledge of the EU and its Member States to combat poverty and social exclusion, and involve all levels of authority in the pursuit of that aim.
Actions:
Throughout 2010 a variety of activities have been organised including awareness campaigns, innovative initiatives, creative solidarity schemes, meetings, discussions and conferences, and competitions which highlight achievements and successful experiments of related to poverty and social exclusions.
These events involve a wide range of actors, including civil society organisations and those defending the interests of persons living in poverty, as well as the social partners, local and regional authorities.
At national level, programmes have been developed for adapting the policy guidelines defined at European level to the issues and specific characteristics of each country. The
Individual activities are identified and carried out by local bodies.
For further information: www.2010againstpoverty.eu
