Explore resources and recordings from the event.
As different crises impact our lives, the ways we communicate have become increasingly challenging. For this year’s gathering we aimed to find new ways of relating and reimagining the world through:
Alternative communication methods with and beyond verbal English
Expression, constructive argument and holding space for difference
‘How to be together' and 'how to be' in the future
We invited artists, practitioners and arts, community and youth workers who value empathy, listening, and expression to join us for this day of workshops, discussions and performances led by practitioners of socially engaged arts, youth work, feminist organising, and climate justice including: Susanne Bosch, Áine Crowley, Taey Iohe, Sophie Mak-Schram, Danni Mc Kenna, Kate O’Shea, Ailbhe Smyth and Chrissie Tiller.
We were also joined by artists Uma Breakdown and Radha Patel who assumed reflective roles throughout the day. Uma and Radha produce two learning resources available elsewhere on our website.
With For About: When words fail was a one-day event concerned with themes including: collaboration, communication, language, silence, rupture, crisis, heartbreak, radical friendship, safe space, solidarity.
Workshops
When you make your booking, you'll be prompted on Eventbrite to choose which afternoon workshop you would like to be part of:
1) Transboundary Water: Mapping leaks, resistance and bodily nature with Taey Iohe
A gentle creative meditative workshop with artist Taey Iohe exploring the interconnectedness of human and ecological systems.Through a mix of guided listening, pair work, and artistic expression, we will investigate how environmental degradation, sociopolitical fractures, and personal crises intersect.
Using the idea of “leaks” as a sign of resistance, fragility, and hope, we will meditate on how the slow processes of ecological and social change can inform pathways to healing and transformation.
2) Confrontation and non-violent methods of communication: Power and Youth Work with Danni Mc Kenna
A practical workshop with youth worker and Dublin’s Rialto Youth Project Manager Danni Mc Kenna, exploring how our feelings, needs and behaviours impact on our listening and communication.
The first part of the workshop will examine how we can be reactive or responsive in our communication. The second part will equip us with tools for empathic listening andhow we listen to others in a way that meets their needs.
3) Vest of tools: Unfixing Tools with Sophie Mak-Schram
A creative workshop led by art historian, producer, educator Sophie Mak-Schram.
Inspired by her "Vest of Tools" - the strategies, instructions, objects and ideas gathered for community development and organising - we will imagine and create our own 'tools'. A set of ideas for bringing people together, enabling conversations and helping ensure our work is equitable and lasting.
4) reading the air, reading the space with Susanne Bosch
This workshop will explore the impact of direct and indirect communication through embodied artistic exercises and reflection, analysing space and the social body.
Often, the content of a social situation fades over time. What remains much longer is the atmosphere of the situation. Equipped with the understanding that humans communicate not only through words, but through gestures, mimicry, ways of breathing and body language, this workshop will sharpen our consciousness around how and what we give away to the people around us.
5) Peeling back our practices; Safe and brave spaces - what do they feel like? with Áine Crowley and Kate O' Shea
Speaking from the roots of why they do what they do and the overlaps in their practices, artists Áine and Kate will lead a conversational workshop on the potential of safe and brave spaces*. They will use the story of their own radical friendship and how this has led them to create spaces for peer-support and collective resistance to Socially Engaged Art Heartbreak**.
*Environments where we can comfortably voice ideas, questions and concerns, and everyone is respected and listened to.
**Kate will introduce the concept of Socially Engaged Art Heartbreak (SEA Heartbreak) at the beginning of the day.
Tickets and bursaries
We offered a tiered ticketing system, along with concessions and bursaries. Further details, including guest announcements and reading lists along with access information was shared with all ticket folders.
Access
We aim to create safe, welcoming and accessible spaces for all. Access information for Shakespeare North Playhouse:
- Wheelchair accessible, with flat access
- In a town centre location
- Nearest train station is Prescot (for trains to Liverpool Lime Street and Wigan North Western. Access to all platforms using station lifts, a stepped footbridge is available and the station is fully accessible)
- Nearest accessible parking is at Prescot train station
- Nearest taxi drop off is at Prescot train station
Full address: Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prospero Place, Prescot, L34 3AB
If you'd like to discuss your access needs, please get in touch with Emma: learning@heartofglass.org.uk
About With For About
With For About is an annual gathering Heart of Glass have been experimenting with since our inception. Through this model, we aim to create a space to discuss and reflect on the fierce and urgent questions facing collaborative and social art today, and more broadly reflect on the role of art and artists in civil society.
With For About is not a Heart of Glass showcase, but a moment of public critical reflection for colleagues, comrades and communities of interest. Different from a traditional conference, it invites speakers, practitioners and attendees to provoke and reflect critically with us. We call this process ‘researching in public’.
Resource
Thought
Short Read