Arts, Crafts, Culture

Posted Sun, 25/05/2008 - 23:50

 

 

Join in the discussion here. (Click this link to visit the Discussion Forum and post a message)

 

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. This group deals with all things to do with having fun and being creative in a low carbon community. This could include knitting new clothes for your loved ones or sewing new clothes, mending old clothes and being thrifty in a modern world.

 

If you are interested in developing this group please get in touch with us via this website and let us know your ideas. We have plans to hold a charity shop chic fashion show, a clothes customising workshop and a music event later in the year.

 

There are many routes this group could follow so let us know what you think. Arts, Crafts and Culture are important aspects of a resilient community as these skills can be applied to many different things.

There are many useful lifeskills that are often passed on through generations within a family, over time these skills appear to be decreasing. MASTT want to help revive these skills and apply them on a widescale to the community.

Art - When art is applied to developments within the community it can make it appear more attractive to those who live within the area and it can also attract people from other villages. Art can inspire a wide range of people and it can challenge the way people view different things.

Craft - There are many different types crafts including sewing, knitting and pottery. As every community needs access to such skills in order to be more resilient we need to encourage people to learn these skills. How many people would love to be able to make their own clothes, bedding or crockery? By taking full advantage of these skills the community can benefit as a whole. How would the community have access to these products if we could not afford to import them from China after peak oil?

Culture - In order to become a more resilient community we will need to think differently and approach things differently. How does the existing culture apply to negative impact we have on the environment? How can we encourage people to look differently at the current rates and trends of consumption?

How can Arts, Crafts and Culture positively change our community and help us within our transition?

 

Ethical Fashion Show Feedback

Posted Mon, 30/11/2009 - 13:03

It’s been a long 6 months in the making but it’s finally over!

 

On behalf of the three main organisers: Tiff (from MASTT), Jenni (from MYAC) and myself, Dawn Rodgers, I would like to thank the following people for all the help they gave us in organising the Ethical Fashion Show.

 

I would especially like to thank Alison for being a fantastic Wardrobe Mistress, Gemma also for wardrobe on the night, Marie Claire for doing the Choreography and backstage organisation and both Colleen and Holly for set dressing and the window display.

 

I would also like to thank the caretakers of Slaithwaite Civic Hall for being so understanding, the lighting crew (Joe and his friends), Russ for the spotlight, and Terry for music and the PA system.

 

Thanks also go to the two fantastic photographers; Chris Turner and Chris Taylor who will be showing off their work next weekend at Marsden.

 

A special thank you to Julie from 'The Salon' in Slaithwaite for styling all of our model's hair after we were let down by other people and Sam from Kirkwood Hospice for doing our model's make-up.

 

Thanks to all the Stewards who must have been wondering what the Heck was going on, and the Festive Market stall holders who enjoyed their part in the event.

 

Thanks to everyone who bought a ticket and I hope you enjoyed the show and the market!

 

We would also like to thank all of our fantastic models for volunteering and giving up their own time to attend fittings and rehearsals.

 

Lastly I would like to thank all the MASTT volunteers who helped out at the last minute to provide everyone with refreshments and generally mucked in to keep things going!

 

If I have missed anyone out, please tell me off and I will express my gratitude for your efforts.

 

 

........ also a special thank you to Santa!!!!

 

Please check out this link if you would like to see photographs from the start and end of the project -  http://gallery.me.com/chris.sharonturner#100024

 

 

 

 

Jargon Explained

Posted Mon, 28/09/2009 - 15:09

Here are a few terms to get you started - if you come across any terms on this website that you don't understand, just let us know and we will  be happy to add them on to this list. 

 

Transition Town/Initiative
A Transition Town roughly speaking, is a group of people within a geographical area that have come together to carry out projects, activities and events that attempt to build upon the skills of the community to build 'resilience'. By building a more resilient community it is hoped that the community will continue despite issues that might arise from the impacts of climate change and peak oil. This movement is not about 'doom and gloom', the approaches taken are about creating more vibrant communities where people feel involved and safe.

 

Peak Oil
Peak Oil refers to the point at which oil becomes harder and harder to extract. This causes the price of oil to increase and eventually reach the point when it becomes more expensive to extract than it is worth. For more information, please google 'hubbert's peak'

 

Energy Decent Action Plan (EDAP)
The aim of Transition Towns is to create an EDAP which will lay out how the town will reduce it's reliance on energy over a period of time (eg 5, 10. 25 years). This plan may change over time and the timeframes changed but it provides groups with an idea of how they will deliver their transition towards a more resilient community.

 

Re-skilling
The existing skills held by people within each community are crucial to the success of the community to be more independent. It is crucial that these skills are passed on to the next generation, and the one after that, to enable us to do more for ourselves. Most of these skills have already skipped generations and have been forgotten by everyone except a rare few. If you have a skill that you can pass on to others, please do so! If you would like to learn new skills, please support the workshops we are looking at organising.

 

Resilience
The ability of a community to absorb shocks in energy prices/fuel shortages whilst undergoing change but retaining the same function, identity and structure.