A look back at 2019
We couldn’t enter a new decade without taking a look back at the final year of the ‘twenty tens’ or ‘teenies’ as we like to say. 2019 was a very busy and exciting year for all of us! Let’s see what went on…
New Website
Right from the start we entered 2019 with a bang, revealing our brand new, stylish website! Created by the wonderful John Ossoway at Raging Trifle we think this site speaks volumes about our past achievements and our plans for the future (plus it houses all our blog posts like this one you’re reading now!)
In addition we were grateful to Michael Pollard for his exceptional work creating professional new headshots for our artists.
New Styles of Performance
April saw the highly successful R&D performance of ASSESSMENT II – a groundbreaking look at the public’s perceptions of disability. This work proved really popular with audiences so keep you’re eyes peeled in 2020 as we develop the next phase!
A Royal Surprise
We were over-the-moon to be awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS). It’s the equivalent to an MBE and is testament to all our volunteers; their tireless work keeps this organisation running. Plus, we got to go to Her Majesty’s Garden for a tea party.
Growing Shadows
Without a doubt, this project kept us very busy this year! Artist and member Chrissy Carol Jones created Shadow Girl for Cells – A Body Of Work and has continued its development. In 2019 Chrissy and the team created Shadow Girl – Origins – a unique children’s storytelling show told through live action & shadow puppetry. Chrissy worked with Director, Caroline Kennedy from M6 Theatre as well as Illustrator & Story Consultant, Lizzie Finlay. Performances of Shadow Girl & Shadow Girl – Origins took place across the North inc. Haphazard 2019, Big Imaginations Festival and Mind The Gap in Bradford.
United for Rights – Article 19
In 2019 Proud and Loud Arts were awarded National Lottery funding to support our continued work with the United Nations Convention on Right for Persons living with Disabilities (UNCRPD). This funding has supported many of our artists including Janet Charlesworth. Janet’s work, Article 19, began to bloom with an R&D sharing at Emergency 2019 and continues to be developed for the 2020, so watch this space.
Funds from our friends
Towards the end of the year we were overwhelmed as we began to collect funds from all our volunteer fundraisers. This group of individuals ran, swam, partied and sang, taking part in and creating events that worked to support our artists.
In addition we were thrilled to receive funding from the Co-op Local Charities Fund and were selected for the Salford Ceremonial Mayor’s Charity Appeal. We’re now one of 4 local charities benefitting from Councillor Charlie McIntyre and Salford Council, who continue to create events which raise vital funds. We’re pleased to join Mind Salford, Hershel Weiss Family Centre and The Red Box Project.
Awards Galore
As well as being selected for new fund-raising opportunities we were also nominated for the prestigious Manchester Cultural Awards. We were delighted to join our fellow nominees selected for our work in the Promotion of Equality and Diversity inc. Rethink Rebuild Society, The Proud Trust, Amber Okpa-Stother and the Emmeline Pankhurst Statue Campaign.
Artist and Member Chrissy Carol Jones was ecstatic in 2019 after being nominated for the Sprit of Manchester Awards – Equalities Award (Supported by the University of Manchester) for her work with the Shadow Girl Project.
A Christmas Cracker!
Finally we ended the year with a bang! Artist, Writer and Member, Danielle Maycox launched her new project Christmas With The Cratchits – A modern reimagining of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The feedback for this new work (performed by the Proud and Loud Arts company) has been phenomenal and we’re on track to make this bigger and better for 2020!
Thank you to all who supported us in 2019 and let’s make 2020 even more stupendous!