1 Step Beyond

2009 Summary

2009-12-22T07:01:00.000-08:00

2009 seen many changes for the organisation now in its 5th year with the development of new programs and many staff changes.

With a solid foundation of successful projects, especially by the multicultural group, The Motion Project and later in 2008 with Homely Planet radio, it was important in 2009 that Beyond Skin strengthened its position as a peacebuilding organisation whilst challenging concepts how the aims & objectives were reached.
Partnership and ownership had always been key values of Beyond Skin and with the growth of Homely Planet radio and networks locally and globally, 2009 was a year to really exercise and develop partnerships.
Sharing resources with SEEDS and the Foyle Language School in Derry enabled a long overdue Beyond Skin office presence in the Northwest. This was a very important move to develop opportunities in the Northwest primarily using music and radio.

Funding from Office First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM), EU Peace III Northeast, Belfast City Council Culture & Arts outreach & development and creative legacies programmes presented us with opportunities to really deliver our ideas.

We learnt to play to our strengths, having a strong influence in the world music sector and managing an internet broadcast service with the ability to link communities around the world. With new members of the Beyond Skin team bringing new visions and skills - radio initiatives and cultural education through world music concepts quickly grew launching Beyond Skin into new territory we had been sitting on the fringes of all along. A massive thank-you is due to the British Council for assisting the cost of getting a member of our staff to represent world music in Northern Ireland at the largest World Music Expo in Copenhagan. (womex)

Yes, we are primarily a peacebuilding organisation addressing racism & sectarianism, but how we do things is through the arts, music and media and those outputs achieve the outcomes. Beyond Skin are here to show world culture through another lens, one that gives opportunities for questions, exchange and relationships.
Our process of learning is not just to educate people, but to also empower them and develop their confidence.

2009 we welcomed in new artists, musicians and networks and reached out to those who shared our vision and passion. We never took for granted our respected position in Northern Ireland as a community arts organisation or the support others gave to us, and we offered as much back as we could manage.

Our marketing strategy and branding ethos was maximised in 2009 as we gave more freedom to our multimedia partner Sinful Design. There is no doubt that the artistic value of Sinful Design on websites, products, and marketing had a massive positive impact on the success of promotions and projects. We realized that if you are an arts influenced organisation, the artistic quality must be visible in all areas.

Cultural division in Northern Ireland 2009 still remained a challenge and although a vast amount of work was being done to counteract racism, it became evident that sectarian attitudes still needed to be addressed.
Beyond Skin welcomed new 2009 initiatives such as Unite Against Hate, and in 2010 we aim to continue to share our knowledge and resources to support other people working for peace.
We will of course on our journey produce great outcomes in Art, Music and Radio through the very talented and generous people we work with and have still yet to meet.

Darren Ferguson
(project manager)

Ok everyone online - looking good

2009-11-23T14:06:00.000-08:00

As Beyond Skin launches new projects, so comes new online presence.

'Creative Legacies' is a Belfast City Council initiative and Beyond Skin will be delivering a programme in East Belfast to compliment our Belfast East programme.
new website 1 www.belfasteast.net

Due to Beyond Skin's impact on the world music sector within Northern Ireland and Homely Planet radios global world music placement, worldmusicni is an initiative born from Beyond Skin's motion2music enterprise. WMNI aims to support N.I.s world music scene, cater for Workshops & Specific Cultural Education Projects, Performances and Advice, and festival development
new website 2 www.worldmusicni.com

Working closely with our friends at SEEDS (Derry) we are planning to rebrand and develop their One World festival. We've had a rep. at the womex conference and Homely Planet making a big splash in the world music sector. details will be on SEEDS new website, designed by our very own Rachy
new website 3 www.seeds.ie

so here we are and there we go
see you in your digital or physical appearance sometime soon

changes

2009-08-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

Nothing goes wrong, it just changes...

Beyond Skin have been going through growth changes with new members to the team, new office in the Northwest and development and expansion of projects/programs.

so what big events are coming up?
5th September - concert with the Polish Association to mark the Northern Ireland vs Poland football match.
25th September -culture night Belfast when Beyond Skin take over the Premier Inn.
19th October - World Music interactive experience at central station Belfast and a series of radio events for anti-racism in the workplace week

We are very active on the net and info on our developments/events can be found across our sites.
main ones being...
www.beyondskin.net
www.worldmusicni.com
www.homelyplanet.org

if you wish to join our mailing list send email to
info@beyondskin.net

27/05/09 Elmgrove Community Group

2009-07-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

This was day one of what became a five week program. We met with the Elmgrove Community Group and discussed how we could explore the culture of East Belfast and in what way we could represent it visually. We brought along Emma-Louise Hutchinson (local artist) to facilitate the project. It was generally agreed that it was important to draw from the 'industrial history' of the area, whilst trying to find a way to show how the area is changing. The group wanted to find a way to show a link between the past, the present and the future. Quite a few concepts were discussed but the one that proved to be most popular was the idea of dressing/decorating an 'Elmgrove' tree within the grounds of the school. It was felt that the tree was a perfect platform from which to begin. The 'roots' could represent both the parents of the pupils and also the community, the trunk of the tree was the link to the leaves, which represented the children/future.

northwest

2009-05-17T16:53:00.000-07:00

Homely Planet is turning out to be one of those ideas that takes a life of its own. We at Beyond Skin always had faith in the idea but part of the joy of this work is seeing something flourish beyond your expectations.
Just over 1 yr on (time of writing - may 09), after the radios launch we have had to rewrite the strategy book just to keep up with the momentum.

As well as establishing exciting links globally, here in Northern Ireland Homely Planet is really digging itself in and getting its hands dirty.

We were thrilled when the idea of regional teams became reality...
With 'northwest', a team based in Derry in partnership with SEEDS and the Foyle Language School, producing programs within the area, and very soon Omagh and later more regional teams are set to follow.

Homely Planet radio is a great vehicle for cultural relations locally and globally. It may have a life of its own, but we still can't sit back as pressure is trying to keep up with it.

tune in www.homelyplanet.org

DF

what about me?

2009-04-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

27th April sees this years start of 'Community Relations Week 2009'. Always a busy week for beyond skin but this year we are particularly excited.
The guys who inspired the formation of Beyond Skin, '1 Giant Leap' have been busy promoting thier 2nd film 'what about me?' which was winter last year.
We have already hosted some sreenings around N.I. but for CR Week we are using are flagship project 'Homely Planet' radio.

Thanks to the 1GL team we will be broadcasting audio from the film and discussions held at screenings of the film throughout Northern Ireland.

It has been 5yrs since our first 1 Giant Leap campaign (hard to believe), and this latest 1GL campaign is a time for us to reflect and celebrate the last 5yrs.

1 Giant leap made the initial step and what followed through Beyond Skin has been amazing! A very positive example of cause & effect.

'what About Me?' is truly amazing, so if you don't get a chance to attend one of our screenings please make it a priority to see this film.

df

world music n.i.

2009-02-23T15:49:00.000-08:00

as Beyond Skin uses multicultural arts to assist cultural relations, we are finding that the world music sector is a growing underground movement that needs to be released.
Supporting the artists that help meet our aims was always an objective but now we aim to widen the net so see who is out there and can Northern ireland really raise the flag on the global world music industry.
www.worldmusicni.com is an extension of our social enterprise motion2music. Much more than an experiment, it is an initiative and free service to see what really can be acheived.
In turn a growth in the world music sector could really help cultural education and relations in Northern Ireland.

...and we get some great music along the way

DF

take it easy

2009-01-22T16:21:00.000-08:00

an interesting experimenton the back of a program campaign.
The Motion Project have recorded & composed alot of music but never released a single. A track re-recorded to promote a program in the east of Belfast City seemed the ideal chance to test those record buyers waters.

ok we havent the resources of a large record label pushing it onto every playlist but still good for the musicians and Jonny Nixon (his track) to get it out of community world into the N.I. mainstream.

Recorded it was great fun and the Motion team had a blast, more please I think we would all ask. Funding permitting hopefully more great tunes will come out in 2009

and really, 'take it easy' is a great song.

DF

oh 9 time

2009-01-08T04:55:00.000-08:00

2009 has arrived! so what are the plans for Beyond Skin this year?
where do i start?

The flagship projects, Motion & Homely Planet do have ambitious programs for 2009, but as with everything else, depends on funding. but whatever happens expect good things.
Plenty of CD releases from the Motion Project and Youth in Motion projects plus on the music theme Homely Planet sessions and programs.

The theme this year will be focused on dialogue, asking the questions, learning from each other, and seeing our community on a global scale.
There is a world out there, so much to explore. Hopefully we will see you on our adventure in 2009.

DF

that was 2008

2008-12-22T15:45:00.000-08:00

hard to believe another year gone...
2008 was the year of the launches for Beyond Skin with our first Youth in Motion CD in January, the first broadcast of Homely Planet radio in April, the release of the Journey of Equals DVD & Media program in August and launch of the Belfast East program in September.
Also 2008 seen the start of the ‘exploring diversity through music’ global education program in association with the Department for International Development, screenings of the new 1 Giant Leap film, ‘what about me?’ and further growth of the Motion Project collective.
Also on top of the programs Beyond Skin moved office, had several board member changes and core staff changes.

Regarding marketing Beyond Skin has continued to direct focus at participants and outcomes instead of self-promotion, but we have still managed to attract media interest with features in many publications, press items and radio & TV programs. Word of mouth still is our biggest marking tool with the quality of programs we run and the good practice of our facilitators and artists.

Prior 2008 the arts where not taken that seriously regarding a medium for addressing cultural relations problems, but many changes through research and policies in 2008 resulted in the arts seen as a very affective tool regarding addressing social problems. The outcomes from Beyond Skin programs undoubtedly helped prove the point of how powerful the arts are when it comes to dealing with difficult issues.
Through the radio greater evidence was also revealed how more simple communication issues need to be addressed. The mystery surrounding cultures still remains due to political correctness barriers and the lack of opportunities for people from different backgrounds to share beliefs, traditions and values. This is an area where Homely Planet provided a forum to assist cultural education and also helped quench fears that surround different communities due to lack of understanding or misleading information from other sources.

2008 Beyond Skin took part in many research projects and consultations local & international which gave us a respected place within the global peace building sector. This gave another dimension to Beyond Skin aside from just being recognised for delivering innovative local cultural education arts programs. Also a new strategy was to focus on global issues such as fair-trade, migration & poverty; this helped people see themselves as part of a world picture which in turn assisted a better understanding of cultural diversity.

To summarise 2008 was the year Beyond Skin strengthened its foundation and celebrated results developed in 2007. A year when we as a team we realised our potential and possibilities the people of Northern Ireland could have if we focused on the positive of a shared society. One of our artists once said “it would be a sad thing if we stopped hating one thing and started hating another”. Northern Ireland has come so far, that most have forgotten what an amazing nation we are. Yes our history still is a part of who we are but our future will be a part of what we become. Beyond Skin along with many other groups is part of the hidden mechanism ensuring that where possible all citizens feel welcome and at home in Northern Ireland, a place that can set an example to the rest of the world how inter-culturalism can really work.

DF

lost artform

2008-11-19T04:04:00.000-08:00

Have been working with a poets group who have many identities, (Diverse, Scream Blue Murmur, Love Poetry, Hate Racism), and the experience has been amazing. Helping people with confidence, language skills, self-expression, cultural education and also developing a lost written artform.
Greatness is ahead for this group, and Beyond Skin are really excited about future projects.

As a verbal artform,
Homely Planet radio in time
will be involved somewhere down the line.
(see what i done there)

DF

jigsaw

2008-11-13T13:29:00.000-08:00

A colleague of mine at a art workshop recently came out with 'one of those' inspiring phrases. So have to share with you all....
"Our lives are a mix of different cultures whether it is the food we eat, the traditions we follow or the people we are friends with. These cultural aspects slot together like pieces of a jigsaw to make up the larger picture of who we are".

You know frustrating it is when a piece is missing from a jigsaw.

DF

the journey

2008-11-10T02:13:00.000-08:00

First post on the beyond skin blog, so what can i say.
January 2004 I set up the organisation to use the arts to help bridge an understanding between people from different cultures, with the main aim to address racism & sectarianism in Northern Ireland

Four years later as i write this, myself and those involved have been on an amazing journey that stills continues as always slighty out of our control.

Far to much to tell, but visit our websites, listen to our CDs, watch our videos and read our publications. This is not a unique magical tale of unity within the diversity, this is Northern Ireland.

DF