Visit to Beat Dis Trust, The Tabernacle, Powis Square, on 28 th October 2003 . 11.00am, Victoria Borwick Staff present: Anthony Thomas - Manager, David Setchell Administrator, and Richard Dight – tutor Beat Dis Trust is an Arts organisation, which has been going for 14 years. Started initially by musicians committed to developing and promoting Jazz. Their popularity has grown dramatically, particularly their Saturday workshops. They work with North Kensington arts organisations, Kensington and Chelsea College and organised the recent Notting Hill jazz festival. They now have good studios in the Tabernacle and work very closely with the Tabernacle. Tabernacle is their landlord. They have a digital arts room, run music technology classes and band classes at different levels. There is huge demand for music technology courses, and they receive money from what was Funk, Campden Charities and £10K from RBKC. Using state-of-the art media technology combined with excellent community and professional contacts acquired over the years, the overall vision of Beat Dis is to be at the forefront of creative multi-media/music making, education and broadcasting. They run 4 courses a term, 4 terms a year for 10 weeks each, and are able to take 25-30 each term. Over 50 students apply for the courses mainly from the local area. They also ran an Internet radio project in conjunction with NIAS (National Insit, for adult learning) and the BBC. They do outreach work with Harrow Club/ Ebony / Pimento and also help them set up music technology courses/ events/ help them chose and buy appropriate equipment and give them advice. Originally they had their courses accredited by K & C College, but now are accredited to run their own LOCN courses (LOCN is a recognised awarding body that provides flexible learning programmes designed to meet the needs and aspirations of adult learners throughout London. LOCN is a membership organisation that draws its members from across the range of adult education providers, including FE and AE colleges, Universities), LOCN is a licensed member of the National Open College Network, which is a nation-wide organisation that provides accreditation and nationally recognised qualifications for the largest number of adult learners in the United Kingdom). 1 What activities were taking place ? I watched students on week 7 of a 10 week music technology course – This is not for the recalcitrant or those who do not wish to succeed. This is a busy, fast paced course for those that want to go into the music business, need skills, particularly technology skills for many roles. Many people use this course as a foundation course to go on to further education or employment using multimedia skills (films/ music/ journalism). They can take up to 10 people on each class. There are 3 tutors, and courses run 10 – 1am, 2-5pm and 6 – 9pm, for 40 weeks a year. There are four studios and students can learn and then work in their state of the art studios, learning recording techniques and all the various stages of music production (pre- production, editing, post production and duplication on to DAT/CD etc. The courses are supported by an excellent web site which summaries the course, and you can also get support by emailing your tutor. There is also an on-going support group for previous students. Students were appreciative of the facilities and opportunities on offer to them. Many people also use the organisation to provide on-going mentoring and support. What are the issues? There are two main parts to beat Dis Trust: there are the musicians and performers who use the facilities to play and perform (very successfully) as an arts and music and entertainment organisation, this also includes the Saturday afternoon Jazz band workshops. Secondly there is the Education side of the organisation. These courses are extremely popular – more people apply than they can fit in, and the funding for the courses only covers 25 students. Their funding from RBKC has been capped, so they will need to continue to seek funding elsewhere if they want to try and meet the demand for the courses. The courses also need to have the latest versions of the software and hardware in order to be valuable, and this is a significant expense each year. They also offer e-learning in order to be able to help people who cannot get on the courses. Excerpt from Beat Dis Mission Statement : Beat Dis has been based at the Tabernacle Centre since the mid 1980’s and currently runs music development programmes consisting of band workshops, music technology courses and previously an Internet radio. The projects undertaken have 2 aimed to provide opportunities that encourage and support local people to seek employment and develop careers in the music and multi-media industry. The object of the Beat Dis Arts is to advance the education of the inhabitants of North Kensington (particularly those who are unemployed, in conditions of financial hardship or who are other wise disadvantaged due to their social and economic circumstances) in music (its performance and creation), the music industry and related subjects. Beat Dis programme of arts, education and social activities aims to fulfil the following objectives Social Objectives: To promote social cohesion, community development and neighbourhood renewal To challenge social and economic exclusion To promote an understanding and appreciation of community diversity To challenge racism and discrimination in all its forms To enhance local, regional and national policies and strategies for the arts and education; social and economic development Educational Objectives: To promote lifelong learning To increase users capacity for self-determination and promote individual and collective achievement To extend possibilities for discovery and learning through appropriate, consistent and progressive opportunities from a variety of ‘levels/starting points’ To engage people in the creative process of making art and support people who wish to pursue a career in the arts To offer : Learning opportunities that provide an alternative to formal education techniques and strategies Affordable opportunities for personal development Inclusive access to all activities supported by clear information and ‘signing’ of activities Nurturing, formative and life-changing experiences, ‘First time’ chances and opportunities for career development To provide opportunities for users to Acquire new skills, develop existing skills and explore their creativity Develop communication and teamwork skills Explore new media processes and the digital arts Explore the relationship between artists, audiences and society 3 Work with practising artists and develop their critical understanding of the arts Artistic Objectives To broaden the audience for the arts and engage people in the ideas, practices and issues affecting artists and their work To promote diversity and equally of opportunity in the arts To enhance understanding of artists’ processes and preoccupations To explore : Diversity in terms of media, aesthetic issues, process and relationship to audience Work which lends itself to innovative learning processes and inspires creativity Work which combines, through its origins or associations, broad contemporary relevance with Local appeal Work which offers opportunity to explore the relationship between a variety of art disciplines Work which presents the relationship between or counterpoints traditional practices and contemporary expressions of art and culture Work which challenges the hierarchies that exist between popular culture and the ‘classical’ or ‘fine’ arts Work which examines notions of identity and community To offer artists: Opportunities to develop skills as trainers and interactive educators; facilitators and animators Challenging and stimulating environments that encourage new and experimental work and innovative forms of presentation Opportunities to explore the relationship between their work, audiences and society 4 .