<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Geraldine Connor Foundation  </title><link>https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk</link><description></description><ttl>60</ttl><item><title><![CDATA[ The Geraldine Connor Foundation is changing ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/News/the-geraldine-connor-foundation-is-changing ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/News/the-geraldine-connor-foundation-is-changing ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ After twelve hugely successful years of operation the Geraldine Connor Foundation is changing! In 2024 the Geraldine Connor Foundation will no longer exist as a charity but will move forward in a different form as the &ldquo;Geraldine Connor Creatives&rdquo;. This change builds on our work with the GCF Creative Associates which has been a core element of all our work over the years. This is an exciting new phase and we look forward with great positivity to what the future holds as we move into the New Year! Watch this space! ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:42:24 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Sonia Boyce: Feeling Her Way  ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Events/sonia-boyce ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Events/sonia-boyce ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ As part of the ongoing exhibition Feeling Her Way by Sonia Boyce, GCF young artists will be taking over the gallery - with live performances and open mic.&nbsp; ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:46:56 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Cultural Exchange ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/cultural-exchange ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/cultural-exchange ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ We helped to coordinate the Grand Futures Cultural Exchange for two great years with students from Leeds City Academy. The Grand Futures network is a collaboration between major arts organisations in Leeds to deliver exciting and eye-opening work experience opportunities to young people across the city. Recognising that the arts can often seem inaccessible and that many opportunities within it are unknown, they hope to spotlight all the varied creative careers that make great art happen.
The focus of the programme was on non-performance based careers available in the arts and culture sector. Students were able to go around prominent cultural organisations in such as ITV, Leeds Museums and Galleries, Leeds City College, Leeds Heritage Theatres, The Thackray Medical Museum, Channel 4, Leeds Playhouse and Northern Ballet and explored a range of job roles including curating, programming, technical theatre and lighting design, script writing and costume design.
We are encouraging more sch... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 08 Aug 2023 11:26:06 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Cultural Exchange 2023! ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/cultural-exchange-2023 ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/cultural-exchange-2023 ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The Grand Futures Cultural Exchange returned for another year as we took a group of Year 10 Leeds City Academy students for three days of jam-packed work experience activities across Leeds&rsquo; cultural organisations.
Students took part in another varied and exciting programme including workshops with Leeds City College, Leeds Heritage Theatres, The Thackray Medical Museum, Channel 4, Leeds Playhouse and Northern Ballet. The focus of the programme is to demonstrate the variety of non-performance based careers available in the arts and culture sector, and students explored a variety of job roles including curating, programming, technical theatre and lighting design, script writing and costume design.
Tuesday started with a tour of Leeds City College where we talked about careers in which you can use skills learned in Art and Design, and then the group took part in a workshop designed to hone their drawing skills and introduce them to techniques that they can practice at home. That a... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 08 Aug 2023 06:52:53 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ New Generation's biggest show yet! ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/new-generation-july ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/new-generation-july ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ We are so proud of all of the young people who took part in our biggest show yet &ndash; New Generation at Leeds Playhouse on Saturday 15th July. Thanks as ever to our Creative Associates Christella Litras and Sheila Howarth for organising an amazing night of performances.
After our two sell-out shows at Seven Arts in April, we went even bigger this time with a concert as part of Leeds Playhouse&rsquo;s Open Season in the Quarry Theatre. The group of young people, aged 9 to 22, put on an incredible professional show with original and cover songs, raps, spoken word, and dance, accompanied by a live band. Comperes Andrea and Cameron kept the energy flowing throughout the sets as we went from heart-wrenching ballads to hip-shaking salsa.
Leeds City Academy also joined us for an energetic group dance &ndash; a big thank you to Afromoves and Ms Salazar. Special guest artists were neo-soul songstress Mica Sefia, soulful singer Kyrann Robinson and reggae artist Ruele Benjamin, who joined th... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 01 Aug 2023 09:45:43 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Reggae Roots @ the Coronation Concert ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/reggae-roots-the-coronation-concert ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/reggae-roots-the-coronation-concert ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The UK's first reggae youth choir,&nbsp;Reggae Roots, was selected to perform for King Charles as part of&nbsp;the recent Coronation Choir. The 300-strong Coronation Choir was a key part in the Coronation&nbsp;Concert, which performed on the second day of coronation celebrations (Sunday 7th May 2023).&nbsp;
The concert was staged on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle and featured the Coronation Choir and an array of stars including Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.
The Coronation Choir brought together singers from across the UK, including refugee choirs, NHS choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups and deaf signing choirs. Reggae Roots featured in the BBC&rsquo;s documentary Sing For The King: The Search for the Coronation Choir &ndash; telling&nbsp;the story of how the choir was assembled (find it available here).&nbsp;
We caught up with the Reggae Roots choir to hear first hand what it was like to perform for the King.

Andrea Minos Menlah:
"&ldquo;It was an amazing experience!! Tiri... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 24 May 2023 14:00:02 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Adventuring with DJ School & Sable ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/adventuring-with-dj-school-sable ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/adventuring-with-dj-school-sable ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ This April, we embarked on another Adventure In Culture as a group of young people took part in an activity packed afternoon with two workshops introducing them to DJing and content creation. 
Despite the rainstorm we reached DJ School where Lawrie and Lucinda led an informative Introduction to DJing workshop and the group got to test out the high tech equipment. They left inspired, we&rsquo;ve definitely got some budding DJs amongst us!
We then headed back to The Tetley, where Baile from Sable Radio was waiting for us with a content creation workshop. The group was told that The Tetley had lost their marketing team and needed an Instagram reel ASAP! The exhibition upstairs and food market downstairs provided plenty of content for the group to film, they then used capcut to edit and put it to music.
We got to test out Space 3, the new room at The Tetley created in collaboration with Sable Radio which is looking great. Complete with a kitchen, sofas, computers and massive table for c... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 10 May 2023 13:58:41 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Reggae Roots to perform at the Coronation ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/reggae-roots-to-perform-at-the-coronation ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/reggae-roots-to-perform-at-the-coronation ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The UK's first reggae youth choir, Reggae Roots, has been selected to perform for King Charles as part of&nbsp;the Coronation Choir. The 300-strong Coronation Choir will be a key part in the Coronation&nbsp;Concert, taking place on the second day of coronation celebrations on Sunday 7th May. 
The concert will be staged on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle and is set to feature the Coronation Choir and stars including Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.
The Coronation Choir is bringing together singers from across the UK, including refugee choirs, NHS choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups and deaf signing choirs. Reggae Roots will feature&nbsp;in the BBC&rsquo;s documentary Sing For The King: The Search for the Coronation Choir &ndash; telling&nbsp;the story of how the choir was assembled.
Reggae Roots provides young people with space outside of school to be creative, perform and improve their mental health and wellbeing through music. The Reggae Roots Choir&nbsp;recently performed live a... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 03 May 2023 14:28:51 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ GCF @ Black Women in Leadership Symposium ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/gcf-black-women-in-leadership-symposium ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/gcf-black-women-in-leadership-symposium ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ So Gina, what did you get up to at the Black Women in Leadership Symposium?&nbsp;
I was invited to take part in a panel discussion at the Black Women in Leadership Symposium, our panel focused on being "Young, Gifted and Black" - we explored what this meant to us as young people, and the conversation focused on how as young people we get lots of opportunities, lots of projects, however there isn't much longevity to them - with the key question being, how do we as young people obtain those senior positions, CEO positions, and how do we go about running businesses.&nbsp;How do we become our best self-employed selves, with the best skillsets.
Our aim was to prompt people in leadership to think about how they can pass on the baton to young people, so we too can be in those positions - and also to leave a legacy behind. Its not just about us [young people] doing more and more projects, its about us being empowered enough to pass on this knowledge to the next generation so that there is co... ]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 09 Apr 2023 12:16:12 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Jammin' this half term ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/jammin-this-half-term ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/jammin-this-half-term ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Jam Around The Table took place again this February half term and is going from strength to strength, with the largest group of young people to date!
Thursday's session was hosted by Music House, and Friday's at Leeds City College in a Quarry Hill Studio. We started off with a series of affirmation prompts and the group discussed how they were relevant to their own goals and aspirations.
They then divided into musicians and lyricists, with GCF Creative Associate Leah Francis helping the first group to work on lyrics inspired by mental health struggles and empowerment, and GCF Creative Associate&nbsp;Stella Litras assisting the musicians with jamming to create a soundtrack to the songs.&nbsp;
It's been brilliant to see familiar faces coming back to Jam Around The Table, strengthening their skills, meeting new friends and creating new opportunities for themselves and we are really excited for the project to become a holiday staple.
On Friday, we hosted a sharing - inviting parents an... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 06 Apr 2023 17:05:05 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Sponsorship - Adventures in Culture ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/sponsorship-adventures-in-culture ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/sponsorship-adventures-in-culture ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ We&rsquo;ve launched&nbsp;Adventures in Culture &ndash; an exciting new programme to support young people across Leeds.
We have one goal in mind - to create opportunities for local young people to experience arts and culture that interests, inspires and challenges them, that they would otherwise not be able to access. Adventures in Culture allows young people to see, experience and learn about the arts and culture they care about. Everything from visiting the theatre, viewing art exhibitions to taking part in masterclasses. Arts and culture have the power to level the playing field for young people, aid in developing transferable life and work skills, and improve mental health and wellbeing.
This is an opportunity for organisations and businesses to demonstrate corporate social responsibility, and support young people on our doorstep in Leeds.
Any financial support your organisation/business could provide to Adventures in Culture would be very welcome. Please find a sponsorship pack... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2023 23:25:14 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Adventures in Culture! ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Events/aic-signup ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Events/aic-signup ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Let&rsquo;s explore the world of arts and culture!
Aged between&nbsp;14 &ndash; 25&nbsp;years and live in Leeds? Join us on a journey of discovery. Adventures in Culture is access to culture on your own terms by participating in events, gaining mentors &amp; taking masterclasses.
You take the lead on the cultural adventures that you want to do &ndash; we offer suggestions, but your group of adventurers get the final say, and you&rsquo;ll continue to be asked for your own ideas of what you&rsquo;d like to attend and be a part of.
What will I get out of Adventures in Culture?

Have fun and gain in confidence
Improve mental health and wellbeing
Expand your idea of arts and culture
Explore the arts and culture as a professional option
Develop transferable, employable and life skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication
Connect to your local, national and international community
Meet new friends

Sound good?&nbsp;Sign up here!
What&rsquo;s next?
We are cu... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 20 Sep 2023 09:18:55 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ GCF @ The Awakening! ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/the-awakening ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/the-awakening ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Written by Natasha Cowie, GCF's Assistant Producer. 
The new year is off to a great start with a group of 12 young people and the GCF team attending Leeds 2023&rsquo;s opening ceremony &lsquo;The Awakening!&rsquo; 
This was the first of GCF&rsquo;s &lsquo;Adventures in Culture&rsquo; &ndash; a programme where we aim to take a group of young people on adventures, exposing them to brilliant culture in Leeds and beyond that they might not normally hear about or have access to.&nbsp;
And what a successful first trip it was &ndash; the group packed into Headingley Stadium, which was decked out with an enormous stage, brilliant lights and fireworks. The two hour event was a showcase of the amazing culture across the city, from carnival dancers to &lsquo;Leeds on Wheels&rsquo; to Corinne Bailey Rae!
Amongst the performances was a choir led by GCF trustee Stella Litras including Creative Associates Sheila Howarth and Lara Rose as well as participants Fredlin Morency, Love Onyeji and Godwin... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2023 19:39:37 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Back with a bang! Jam Around The Table 2022 ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/back-with-a-bang-jam-around-the-table-2022 ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/back-with-a-bang-jam-around-the-table-2022 ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ As Jam Around The Table wraps up for 2022, Natasha Cowie talks us through the creative process which led to another successful year of jamming!
Jam Around The Table&rsquo;s second year started off with a bang. With familiar faces and a fair few new ones, we had a great week of creation and collaboration. Jam Around The Table is a project about getting back to basics &ndash; good music, good company and a good chat around a table.

The week started with writing a group song, which was a great opportunity for the young people to&nbsp;&nbsp;get to know each other and start collaborating. The range of skills in the group was evident, with singers, musicians and rappers coming together to create a great piece called &lsquo;Crossfire&rsquo;.
The participants then used discussions about mental health as prompts for writing their own personal monologues, which they put to music and performed at the end of the week. It was so wonderful to see the natural collaboration that grew out of the s... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2022 09:12:14 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ About the Adventures ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/about-the-adventures ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/about-the-adventures ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ We don&rsquo;t want culture to be for the privileged few &ndash; great art should be accessible to everybody, with the benefits spread far and wide.
Arts are the engine of social mobility, they support the health and wellbeing of young people, and equal access ensures that all the talent can see a potential career in the arts.
As the school curriculum squeezes arts and culture out, and household budgets tighten as the cost of living worsens, equal access to high quality arts experiences becomes more essential and is our clear mission as we launch Adventures in Culture.
What is Adventures in Culture?

The opportunity to access a variety of arts and culture outings and see things &lsquo;up close&rsquo; that you might not usually see
Outings across a range of culture &ndash; theatre, dance, talks, workshops, films, museums, performances, spoken word, the list goes on
Prepare to be inspired and challenge yourself
Open up possibilities about your future prospects
Listening to what ... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 02 Nov 2022 15:25:57 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Annette Morris on Reggae Roots ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/annette-morris-on-reggae ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/annette-morris-on-reggae ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ 
As Reggae Roots continues rehearsals, Natasha Cowie caught up with Annette Morris for the inside story of how the UK's first Reggae Youth Choir is forging ahead.&nbsp;
Where did you start?
On week one, we went through the story of reggae and showed some of the history of how reggae music&nbsp;started, the genres and how the songs came about. First we learnt some chants, known as spirituals, and some songs that would've been sung in church. We selected the reggae songs that we know that have a really strong message of equality, diversity, peace and love. So&nbsp;they'll be five songs in total, and we hope to have the lyrics available for those watching to join in.&nbsp;

Who's involved?
We've had a number of young people get involved from the ages 8 to 19, a wide range of ages. The great thing is that everyone's working well together, so it's a really positive vibe and good energy in the room. The young people that are coming now and the musicians that are here, really want to be... ]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 28 Apr 2023 16:56:42 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Youth Advisory Group ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/youth-advisory-group ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/youth-advisory-group ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Aged between 14 &ndash; 25 years and live in Leeds? Join Geraldine Connor Foundation's Youth Advisory Group!
You will be the first point of call to help us formulate GCF's activites and decide what we do and when we do it. The first project you&rsquo;ll be consulted on is Adventures in Culture &ndash; an opportunity for young people to participate in events, gain mentors and take masterclasses across Leeds and beyond for free. Our Youth Advisory Group will take the lead on the cultural adventures that you want to do &ndash; we offer suggestions, but the advisory group will get the final say on what activities to attend.
And this is just the start &ndash; the Youth Advisory group will go on to be consulted on new exciting GCF projects in the future.
Why should I join the Youth Advisory Group?

Improve your confidence
Develop transferable, employable and life skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and leadership skills.
Get paid to contribute your opinio... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2022 14:38:49 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Sign up for Adventures in Culture ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/sign-up-aic ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/sign-up-aic ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Let&rsquo;s explore the world of arts and culture!
Aged between 14 &ndash; 25 years and live in Leeds? Join us on a journey of discovery. Adventures in Culture is access to culture on your own terms by participating in events, gaining mentors &amp; taking masterclasses.
You take the lead on the cultural adventures that you want to do &ndash; we offer suggestions, but your group of adventurers get the final say, and you&rsquo;ll continue to be asked for your own ideas of what you&rsquo;d like to attend and be a part of.
What will I get out of Adventures in Culture?

Have fun and gain in confidence
Improve mental health and wellbeing
Expand your idea of arts and culture
Explore the arts and culture as a professional option
Develop transferable, employable and life skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication
Connect to your local, national and international community
Meet new friends

Sound good? Sign up here!
What&rsquo;s next?
We are currently consult... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2023 22:05:22 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Become a Trustee ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/become-a-trustee ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/become-a-trustee ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ We&rsquo;re looking for new trustees to help us achieve our ambitions here at the Geraldine Connor Foundation.
The Geraldine Connor Foundation (GCF) is a registered charity, established in 2012 to continue the work and vision of Geraldine Connor by bringing people together through arts and culture.
We have a number of charitable aims. These are:

To continue&nbsp;the work and vision of Geraldine Connor in advancing the development and education of individuals in the arts and culture, and thereby developing professional and life skills, encouraging and nurturing new work and talent, and encouraging and promoting equality, diversity, empowerment and inclusion in society through the arts.
To provide&nbsp;opportunities in the arts that might not otherwise be available for talented individuals.
To advance&nbsp;the development of young people looking for guidance in the performing arts, in particular (but not exclusively) by giving them the opportunity to experience, participate and le... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2023 22:03:52 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Cultural Exchange - World of Work ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/cultural-exchange-world-of-work ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/cultural-exchange-world-of-work ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Written by Natasha Cowie, edited by Hannah Finnimore.
Between the 12th - 14th July, we delivered a jam-packed work experience programme of the Cultural Exchange - World of Work for Year 10 Leeds City Academy students in partnership with the Grand Futures Network.
Students took part in a varied and exciting programme including workshops with Leeds City College, Leeds Museums and Galleries, Leeds Heritage Theatres, ITV Studios, Northern Ballet, and Leeds Playhouse. The focus of the programme is to demonstrate the variety of non-performance careers available in arts and culture, and students explored a variety of job roles including curating, programming, technical theatre, script writing and costume design.

Tuesday started with a tour of Leeds City College and a brilliant gaming workshop ran by the Digital Art team. The afternoon then took us to The Discovery Centre which is part of Leeds Museums and Galleries, where we were lucky enough to tour the storage room and see a multitude ... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 17 Aug 2022 15:00:54 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ GCF turns 10 ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/gcf-turns-10 ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/gcf-turns-10 ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ On the sweltering 19th&nbsp;July, over 40 guests braved the heat to celebrate the Geraldine Connor Foundation's 10th birthday at Harewood House. This was a wonderful opportunity for the GCF community to reconnect, catch up and reflect on the memories, moments and progress of the last decade.

We were fortune enough to have food and drinks on the terrace at Harewood House with incredible views of the estate. GCF participant Cara-Mia Cruise-Brahm provided a DJ set for the night full of Carribbean classics, alongside stunning live performances by Fredlin Morency, Six Strings, and Carmen Howarth, who have all attended in GCF programmes.
Creative Associates Stella Litras, Lara Rose and Khadijah Ibrahiim also showed off their creative talents with combinations of musical performances and spoken word.
Speeches were given by Earl and Countess of Harewood David&nbsp;Lascelles and Diane Howze, GCF director Selina McGonagle and Creative Associate Nigel Wong about how GCF came about, and the a... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:48:21 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Sharon Watson joins GCF as a patron ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/sharon-watson-joins-gcf-as-a-patron ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/sharon-watson-joins-gcf-as-a-patron ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ As announced at our 10th birthday celebrations, Sharon Watson MBE DL&nbsp;is joining the Geraldine Connor Foundation (GCF) as a patron, alongside David Lascelles and Arthur France.&nbsp;
We are delighted to have Sharon join GCF at this exciting time for the organisation and the city of Leeds, as we reunite post-pandemic and celebrate the city with Leeds 2023.
Sharon Watson MBE, DL is currently CEO and Principal of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Prior to this, Sharon Watson was the 7th and longest-standing Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre, choreographing Fast Lane, Melt, Never 2 Still, Repetition of Change, TearFall and Windrush: Movement of the People.
During her tenure at Phoenix Dance Theatre, Sharon received a number of awards and accolades, including The Sue Ryder &lsquo;Yorkshire Women of Achievement in Business Award&rsquo; and &lsquo;Yorkshire Woman of the Year&rsquo;. In July of 2019 Sharon received an Honorary Doctorate from Leeds Beckett University fo... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2022 21:18:25 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Jam Around The Table ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/jam-around-the-table21 ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/jam-around-the-table21 ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Written in collaboration between Natasha Cowie and Hannah Finnimore
YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlIXsWnkgnQ
Jam Around The Table is a project about getting back to basics - good music, good company and a good chat around a table. We combine mental health training with artistic musical expertise to create a series of workshops that are fun, creative, and supportive of the wellbeing of our fantastic participants.&nbsp;
Since October 2021, we have run 3 sessions across 9 days for 17 for young people aged 14 - 19.
In a relaxed, open and friendly environment, it has been amazing to see the self-expression and harmony that each group has achieved through their music!

Stella in action!
Led by Creative Associate Stella Litras, the group really let their ideas flourish and confidence grow as they conceptualised and performed their own songs, poems and spoken word pieces. We began with warm up and vocal exercises, shared songs and the personal significance of them, wrot... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:49:31 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Africa Writes ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/africa-writes ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/africa-writes ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Words by Natasha Cowie, with contributions by Hannah Finnimore
We were delighted to help organise Africa Writes Leeds, curated by Khadijah Ibrahiim and supported by Africa Writes, the Geraldine Connor Foundation and the British Library. The day celebrated contemporary African writing, in particular the work of Nigerian author, playwright and University of Leeds graduate Wole Soyinka.

The day of activities started off with Leeds Black History Walk led by Joe Williams. Over the 2 hour walk around Leeds University campus, he kept the group captivated telling the story of the African presence in Leeds, from thousands of years ago until the present day. We learnt about key figures such as the Ivory Bangle Lady of York, Ira Aldridge and Olaudah Equiano, which allowed us to reflect on how this history has been hidden and the true contribution of Africa to modern day Britain.
Next a group of young people were invited to attend a Special Collections Workshop at the Treasures of the Brother... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 17 Aug 2022 13:02:47 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Monster Exhibition Response ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/monster ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/monster ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Words and images by Natasha Cowie
Since January, Grace and Lilian from our Locks to Legacies project have been working on a podcast in collaboration with Left Bank, IVE and Sable Radio.
This has initially been a response to the exhibition Monster by Giles Walker, which was installed at Left Bank for two weeks back in January. The massive animatronic sculpture was made up of various parts including three enormous wooden rats, talking mannequins in different outfits, books and shoes. There were different showings where the mannequins came to life with voice clips taken from a variety of recordings discussing domestic abuse, the monarchy and the refugee crisis &ndash; in short, it was a piece aiming to spark discussion about modern Britain. Set against the backdrop of Left Bank&rsquo;s old church interior, it made for spooky viewing.

Led by Asher Jael, the participants brainstormed different responses to the work, finally settling on a podcast which will be available via QR codes at ... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:49:45 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Locks to Legacies - Project update ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/locks-to-legacies-project-update ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/locks-to-legacies-project-update ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ 'Locks to Legacies' is a new interpretation of the waterways in Leeds. Over five months,&nbsp;a group of 10 incredibly talented young people met weekly at The Lock Keepers house in Leeds and with Canal Connections took a tour of Leeds canal by boat.
The group were presented with new research from Heritage Corner regarding the industrial history of Leeds and it's close ties to both transatlantic slavery and the movement for emancipation and abolishment. Using this often hidden history as a starting point, together the group&nbsp;researched, wrote and produced their own creative responses to the colonial connections of the Leeds canal.

&lsquo;Locks to Legacies&rsquo; has brought these stories to life for the public to see and hear through an audio tour and exhibition. On Saturday 30th October 2021, the public were invited to join us to celebrate their work. Three QR codes are now situated along the towpath by the Royal Armouries. You can also find links to the audio below:
Listen to... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:49:59 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Our Impact in 2022 ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/our-impact-in-2022 ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/our-impact-in-2022 ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ 2022 Infographic
The Geraldine Connor Foundation (GCF) believe that all young people deserve the opportunity to engage with arts and culture on their terms. 
We partner with talented Leeds-based artists and a variety of organisations to co-produce unique, engaging and empowering projects that centre young people. We focus on&nbsp;nurturing their artistic skills, their big ideas, and their aspirations for the future.
In 2022, we launched our brand new Adventures in Culture programme, set up Reggae Roots (the UK's first youth reggae choir) and delivered many more exciting, enriching and rewarding creative experiences to hundreds of young people.&nbsp;This is how we honour the legacy of Dr Geraldine Connor.
We&rsquo;ve created a useful infographic to show you all the exciting things we got up to, and you can view it&nbsp;below.
 
 ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2023 11:26:55 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Global Collective - Watch the sharing ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/global-collective-watch-the-sharing ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/global-collective-watch-the-sharing ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ We are delighted to present the first ever Global Collective performance!

Co created by the participants and artists across two intensive weeks this Summer in person and online, watch the 20 minute highlights of their artistic collaboration:
  
YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2anx97b-wk
  
We are incredibly proud of what the artists and participants have been able to create, despite time and COVID-19 restrictions. We are inspired by the resilience of our artists and young people, their creativity, how they have connected with the work and each other and the overall spirit of collaboration that exists in Global Collective.
We cannot offer projects like this free at access without your support. If you would like to support Global Collective directly, please donate here.
Image by Tony Bartholomew.
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 17 Aug 2021 14:23:36 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Jam Around The Table ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Events/jam-around-the-table ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Events/jam-around-the-table ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Register now
Jam Around The Table is back this October half-term, and we're celebrating a culmination of two years of Jam Around The Table!&nbsp;
Whether you're wanting to develop your talent or you've been involved in any previous Jam Around The Table sessions, you're invited to join in! Taking place Tuesday 31st October &amp; Wednesday 1st November. Sign up here.
YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlIXsWnkgnQ


Jam Around The Table is about getting back to basics - good music, good company and a good chat around a table. It is a project for young people aged 14 - 19.
In a relaxed, safe and friendly environment, you will be able to express yourself and find harmony through artistic expression and conversation.
The project will be led by&nbsp;Christella Litras and Leah Francis. We are so excited and lucky to have them onboard to bring their musical talents, passion and facilitation skills to the project.


Christella in action!
Activities will include:

music
... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:51:17 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Aire to There Project ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/aire-to-there-project ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/aire-to-there-project ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ This is your history; you be the guide.
Aire to There is an ongoing project where 10 selected participants, aged 16 - 24, explore the local and international history of the Leeds Waterfront, uncover hidden stories and use their voice to guide others by creating audio tracks for walking and boat tours.
Led by Asher Jael&nbsp;and supported by historical researchers and Aire Ambassadors, the young people are picking the route, selecting the stories and performing the audio for the tours. This will be launched to the public in the Autumn with an outdoor event and exhibition as well as the audio walk being downloadable online.
Aire to There is presented through the partnership of Ignite Yorkshire, IVE, Heritage Corner, Canal Connections and the Geraldine Connor Foundation.

Aire to There it has been a great opportunity for the participants to:

Develop skills in communication, research and audio technology
Gain paid experience in the cultural, creative heritage sector
Discover hidd... ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jul 2021 15:25:42 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Interview with Gina Tavares Manuel about Represent ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/interview-with-gina-about-represent ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/interview-with-gina-about-represent ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ 
Museums have a duty to represent societies in their true light and present the stories, told and untold pertaining to the diversity

Why did you apply for Represent?
I applied for Represent because I was interested in the work done behind the scenes in museums. I&rsquo;ve always loved to walk around museums and take in the history, artefacts and machinery and I wanted to know the entire process behind curating. This was a new opportunity and something I&rsquo;d never done before, in fact I&rsquo;d never even heard of the word curate and this attracted me to the project. I also applied because I was drawn into the idea of seeing how museums actually represent people of colour and if there was enough representation. Museums have a duty to represent societies in their true light and present the stories, told and untold pertaining to the diversity and not just the idea that Britain is white, male led.
What was a typical day like?
A typical day on the Represent project was us as the ... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 18 May 2021 11:55:04 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Yoruba culture & Carnival Messiah ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/carnival-messiah-yoruba-culture ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/carnival-messiah-yoruba-culture ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ "We are committing suicide by not speaking our language" &ndash; Prof Mama Sophie Bosede Oluwole (First Yoruba female professor of African philosophy in Nigeria and author of Socrates and Ọ̀r&uacute;nm&igrave;l&agrave;)
Dr (Mama) Geraldine Roxanne Connor said to me, &lsquo;Child you need to tell your story, your African Yoruba Story!!!&rsquo; Those words stay with me, and it is like Mama G or Geri as fondly known to many, is still here nurturing, instructing, and mentoring.
Dr (Mama) Geraldine Roxanne Connor engaged in extensive PhD research study alongside her kaleidoscopic theatre production Carnival Messiah. Carnival Masquerade served as a multi-dimensional metaphor in Carnival Messiah, to depict emergent hybrid Caribbean cultures and identities, bred from the African holocaust, European expansionism and Asian indentureship. Likewise, I am currently carrying out a PhD research project looking at Yoruba culture, how it has travelled, influenced art practices in Leeds and emergent A... ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 26 Apr 2021 08:31:22 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Our Impact in 2020 ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/our-impact-in-2020 ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/our-impact-in-2020 ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ 2020 was a really challenging year, but that has not stopped us delivering high-quality arts opportunities to children and young people across Leeds. We had to adapt to working from home and delivering workshops and events online. Despite this, we managed to deliver 12 projects, collaborated with 13 organisations, and reached an impressive 817 young people aged 8-25.
Take a look at this infographic to find out more:



Download the infographic
2020 started with Global Mash Up. We built dens, explored music, dance and poetry and created a short film with young people from Burmantofts &amp; Richmond Hill.
We held two online events for National Windrush Day &ndash; Generations Dreaming. Hosts Khadijah Ibrahiim and Dr. Emily Zobel Marshall were joined by artists from the UK and the Caribbean and they celebrated the Windrush Generation through music and literature.&nbsp;Catch up here.
We also produced two online learning resources on our website, one about the Windrush Generation an... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 25 Mar 2021 10:44:07 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ GCF Joins Heritage Compass ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/gcf-joins-heritage-compass-programme ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/gcf-joins-heritage-compass-programme ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ We&rsquo;re delighted to announce that the Geraldine Connor Foundation (GCF) has been offered a place on the two-year Heritage Compass programme. 
Heritage Compass is a business support programme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, that was launched by Cause4 in 2020. The programme is designed to grow resilience and invigorate the heritage sector in England by providing training, mentoring, peer learning and strategy development support. GCF is one of 150 small-to-medium organisations taking part in the programme. Being part of this nationwide network will allow us to create new partnerships and relationships with organisations that will lead to exciting collaborations.
With support from Heritage Compass we intend to create a business plan that reflects our ambition and resilience as an organisation. We will be able to explore new ways of income generation to secure the future of GCF for the next generation.
Thank you to Cause4 and Heritage Compass &ndash; we are looking ... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 11 Feb 2021 14:29:47 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Young People Reflect on Represent ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/young-people-reflect-on-represent ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/young-people-reflect-on-represent ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ This blog was written by three participants of Represent, as they reflected on what they learnt and the most important things they want to pass on from it.
 Iliham: It&rsquo;s not very often that I get a chance to attend programmes that educate me on the forgotten and hidden history of people of colour whist simultaneously giving me the space to explore my creativity. So when I first found out about Represent, I was sure I wanted to participate. I didn&rsquo;t know what to expect as I walked into Armley Mills Leeds Industrial Museum, a building I had subconsciously learnt to ignore prior to this day because truthfully, I was never interested in what it had to offer, nor did I ever think that it held so much significance. But in the four days I attended, we discovered so many forgotten narratives, asked relevant questions and shared the emotional burden of uncovering some painful yet nevertheless important truths.

On the first day, we had a tour of the museum and learnt about the di... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 18 May 2021 11:41:08 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Hannah's Story ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/hannahs-story ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/hannahs-story ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Hannah is a dancer, who specialises in afro beat dance. She has been involved with the Geraldine Connor Foundation (GCF) since 2018 and has taken part several projects. Hear how GCF has helped her develop her talents&hellip;
 &ldquo;I have been involved in two projects, Global Mash Up, which I contributed in two years consecutively, and Represent.
During the one-week Global Mash Up projects, I enjoyed spending time with other younger aspiring artists and being able to teach them and lead them through my field of expertise, which is afro beat dance. That was fun because I was able to inspire them and lead them to acquire a new passion for dance. However, I found it challenging to teach some of younger artists who wanted to try dancing for the first time because they wanted to try something new and different and expand their talent and abilities.
During the Represent project I enjoyed being able to meet with artists who were in my age range and to see ways in which we could use our ta... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 01 Dec 2020 09:59:27 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Represent ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/represent ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/represent ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Represent was part of Ignite Yorkshire, and was delivered by the Geraldine Connor Foundation and Heritage Corner.
15 young people aged 16-24 spent four days exploring neglected industrial narratives of people of colour at Leeds Industrial Museum. At the end of the week, the participants worked together to create proposals for public artworks that engage with these neglected stories, which were then presented to a range of industry professionals.&nbsp;
Participants were paid for their contribution to the project and developed skills such as leadership, communication, critical thinking and teamwork. They were joined throughout the week by guest speakers including Khadijah Ibrahiim, Pauline Mayers and Jordan Keighley.
We were able to deliver the project in person with appropriate COVID-secure measures but most of the guest speakers and some participants joined us virtually.&nbsp;
Read this blog, written by three of the participants to find out more.&nbsp;
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
I... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 11 Feb 2021 14:43:59 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Leeds Black History Walk: Understanding History Through Art ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/leeds-black-history-walk-understanding-history-through-art ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/leeds-black-history-walk-understanding-history-through-art ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ On Saturday 10th October 2020, four guest artists &ndash; Leah Francis, Rheima Robinson, Asher Jael and Jamal Gerald - &nbsp;joined the Leeds Black History Walk team, Joe and Ness, for the New Responses special.
They developed powerful creative responses to the stories Joe told, captivating the audience with their insightful performances, whilst showcasing how valuable the arts can be for understanding and curating history. 
We asked them why the arts are such an important tool for presenting historical stories, and what they would like to see in the future. Here&rsquo;s what they had to say&hellip; 
Leah Francis
The arts are an important tool for unpacking history because they bring basic information like dates and timelines to life in fun and accessible ways. One way in particular could be through narratives. The arts keep stories alive across generations, creating meaning in our lives. 
They are important for making history relevant; we can fuse modern day contexts into histori... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 18 May 2021 14:53:25 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Leeds Black History Walk New Responses: Meet the Artists ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/leeds-black-history-walk-new-responses-meet-the-artists ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/leeds-black-history-walk-new-responses-meet-the-artists ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ For one day only, these four performance artists will be joining Joe Williams on the Leeds Black History Walk. They will be providing a creative response to a section of the walk that inspires them.Find out more about who they are:&nbsp;





Jamal Gerald
Jamal Gerald is an artist based in Leeds. His work is conversational, socially conscious, a celebration of individuality and focuses on identity and lived experiences. Jamal makes the type of work that he wants to see, with the aim of taking up space as a Black queer person. He has made work for poetry slams, films, parties, cafes and theatres. He was also a co-deviser and performer for Scottee's critically acclaimed Putting Words in Your Mouth, which premiered at the Roundhouse in November 2016. In 2018, he was awarded Arts Council England's Artists' International Development Fund to do research in Trinidad and Tobago. Jamal's work has also been shown at zKampnagel (Hamburg), SPILL Festival of Performance, Leeds Playhouse, Bat... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:54:13 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Carnival Messiah: De' Legacy ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/carnival-messiah-de-legacy ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/carnival-messiah-de-legacy ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Black British cultures have been created from diverse and contradictory elements, apprehended through discontinuous histories. The outcomes of the resulting cultural and political interactions re-construct and re-work tradition, as they pursue their particular utopias. The effects of these relationships and the penetration of these black cultural retentions into the dominant western cultures mean that it is almost impossible to theorise black culture as such, especially where it is linked inextricably to the social relations of Britain, without being allowed to develop a new perspective on British culture as a whole.
We believe that the notion of a shared national identity depends on the cultural meanings which bind each member of that society individually into a larger national narrative. It follows then, that any national heritage should be a powerful source and reflection of such meanings. Thus, it is understandable that those who cannot see themselves reflected in its mirror, cann... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2020 08:00:15 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Carnival Messiah: The Creative Strategy ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/carnival-messiah-creative-strategy ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/carnival-messiah-creative-strategy ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ In Carnival Messiah, I use the aesthetic modes of the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Europe to explore and evoke cultural parallels, transformations and abrogations through various and often converse genres of artistic practice and expression. I do this by investigating, employing, playing with and shifting perspectives of historic, environmental and sociological worldviews to suit the needs and location of my discourse. I am recovering and exhaulting in the history of my people, using my own language, and presenting these on my own terms. By superimposing traditional Western-European musical and theatrical devices on those of traditional Trinidad Carnival practice, Carnival Messiah combines the visual, live and performing arts in new, unique and exciting ways.
As a result of the interlaced patterns of migration, mission activity and the resilience of the African, Islam and Hindu religious practices, 21st-century Trinidad and Tobago exhibits a constellation of religions as well as a kale... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2020 09:56:18 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Rowan's Story ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/rowans-story ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/rowans-story ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Rowan Lewis is a hugely talented self-taught classical pianist based in Leeds. He was introduced to the Geraldine Connor Foundation (GCF) by Creative Associate Artist Lladel Bryant. Since then he has been supported by GCF to help him become a self-employed musician.
In 2018, Rowan was one of nine young people who took part in Portrait of a Young Creative. We created a short film that allowed him to explore his story in his own voice and to promote his music. Rowan performs an original composition in the short film, which can be seen below.
The film raised Rowan's profile significantly and the promotion from it meant that Rowan was asked to perform at high profile events in the city. He has performed professionally at venues such as Harewood House and Brudenell Social Club. Highlights have included playing to at the Brudenell Piano Sessions with international recording artists and playing at World Piano Day events at venues across the city.
Since then, GCF has fundraised for Rowan to... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2020 11:11:09 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Carnival as the Theatre of the Caribbean ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/carnival-as-the-theatre-of-the-caribbean ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/carnival-as-the-theatre-of-the-caribbean ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ To my mind, Carnival is the theatre of the Caribbean!
Carnival and the Masquerade are about experiencing and participating in total theatre, out front, on the streets - music and dance, costume and masquerade. Carnival is a ritual of performance within which rites of purification, rites of conflict, rites of passage and rites of participation are all celebrated and enacted within the confines of an unprecedented and unique historical reality. Cy Grant also offers an insightful reading of Carnival as: &ldquo;a mass celebration of collective identity that exhibits an explicit desire to affirm that life and art are not separate.&nbsp; Merely to be a passive recipient of artistic activity is alien to the life and the innate creativity of Caribbean communities. Joyous participation of all creeds and races is not only essential, but symbolic in the extreme&rdquo;. Rawle Gibbon further develops my perception of Carnival practice when he observes that &ldquo;Carnival is not a commemorative ev... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2020 08:42:59 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Our Patrons ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/our-patrons ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/our-patrons ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ 






David Lascelles
David Lascelles is a BAFTA winning producer of drama for television and the cinema, including Inspector Morse, Moll Flanders, and Shakespeare&rsquo;s Richard III. In 2007 he was Executive Producer of Geraldine Connor&rsquo;s legendary theatre show Carnival Messiah which ran for two weeks in a big top in the grounds of Harewood House, as part of the celebration of the bi-centenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade. He was one of the founders of GCF and is a regular contributor to our creative projects. On the death of his father in July 2011, he became the 8th Earl of Harewood.







Arthur France
Arthur France was born in Nevis in 1935. He arrived in Leeds in 1957 to join his sister, Elaine, who had emigrated some years earlier. He has been very active in Leeds community and political life and one of his most lasting achievements has been founding the Leeds West Indian Carnival in 1967. Arthur has received numerous awards in recognition of his... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2023 12:03:38 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Caribbean Migration and Carnival ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/caribbean-migration-and-carnival ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/caribbean-migration-and-carnival ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ &ldquo;A people&rsquo;s art is the genesis of their freedom&rdquo; reads the banner of a Carnival inspired party/festival organised by Claudia Jones and Edric Connor at the St. Pancras Town Hall in the Borough of Camden, London.&nbsp;This took place after the 1958 race riots in Notting Hill Gate, in order to bring some semblance of peace and stability in the face of the rampant racism experienced by many Caribbean migrants who, at the invitation of the British government, came to England from the Caribbean in the late 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s.
On 22nd June 1948, Britain saw the arrival at the Tilbury docks, of the SS Empire Windrush, carrying 492 Caribbean pioneers who had travelled across the seas to begin a new journey in their lives. This date has now come to symbolise the first wave of post-war Caribbean migration to Britain. It should be noted however that many West Indians had lived in Britain before this date, hundreds of thousands of them enlisting in the British armed ser... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2020 12:41:18 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Creating Music in Lockdown: Sarah Sarhandi ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/creating-music-in-lockdown-sarah-sarhandi ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/creating-music-in-lockdown-sarah-sarhandi ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Sarah Sarhandi is a is a composer and virtuoso violist with joint British and Pakistani heritage based in London. She studied viola as a performer at the Royal Academy of Music. Her music weaves together fluid sometimes fragmented melody, viola, voices including her own, sound and electronica. 
Her latest piece of music, Heart, was written during the lockdown. Hear about the process in her own words. 
Heart is a piece of music that arrived a few weeks into lockdown. I'd created a soundscape in my studio. And as I listened to it over and over, quite obsessively, a piece began to emerge. I was also writing words at the time, attempting to make sense of the extreme emotions the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown were generating in me and others and it seemed natural to embed these words into the music. As I listened, the viola melody came to me. I felt suddenly completely released from lone captivity in my flat as I worked. It almost seemed like a download. I was transported across time and... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2020 08:59:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Adeline's Story ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/adelines-story ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/adelines-story ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ ADELINE PITU
 Adeline is a performing artist and GCF Young Ambassador and has been involved with the Foundation since 2015. She has recently returned from Japan, working on a project with Leeds Playhouse. Read on to find out how GCF has helped her develop as an artist&hellip;.

&ldquo;The Geraldine Connor Foundation has helped me in certain areas that I struggled with and gave me perspective for my other interests. It has done this by trying to help and shape me as an artist, but also helping me to see what is needed, e.g. by volunteering (Global Mash Up). I&rsquo;ve had practice of building my certainty and confidence by delivering a workshop out of my expertise. Also, I hope to do workshops in my own expertise and see what I can give to those who might have a similar or different journey as a performer / artist, or who just want to learn.
The other interests, that I have mentioned above, are music, writing, dance/movement that were part of the six week Creative Caf&eacute; worksh... ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2022 08:39:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Sophia's Story ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/sophias-story ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/sophias-story ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Sophia is a talented singer and was a participant in Global Mash Up&nbsp;during October half term 2019. Hear what she has to say about how it helped build her confidence&hellip;
&ldquo;I first heard about the Geraldine Connor Foundation when I went to see&nbsp;Caution Collective&nbsp;perform as the performers were talking about how Geraldine was an inspiration and helped them form their careers in music. I have singing lessons with Christella Litras who told me about Global Mash Up. Christella spoke to me about it during a lesson and said it would be a great opportunity to learn, gain more confidence and meet others with the same interests.
During Global Mash Up, I chose the music project as I wanted to learn more about performing, singing and song-writing. The best thing about the project was that I could learn about song-writing and performing and meet new friends. It gave me the chance to perform by singing and playing the piano for the first time in from of a live audience, which... ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2020 08:55:43 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Connection and Empowerment: The Arts in Today’s Society ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/connection-and-empowerment-the-arts-in-todays-society ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/connection-and-empowerment-the-arts-in-todays-society ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ To some of us, the importance of art and creativity might seem obvious. But how and why arts experiences enrich our lives can sometimes be less clear. What actually is it about the creative space that is so needed in society today? This is one of the questions I&rsquo;ve been asking since I first worked with the Geraldine Connor Foundation in 2017. In my university dissertation, I explored the role that creativity plays in our culture that often prioritises economic growth above meaningful human experiences. I looked specifically at the theory of alienation and used Geraldine Connor&rsquo;s production of Carnival Messiah as a case study. After months of research and several interviews with some of the participants of Carnival Messiah, I am confident that the arts can be a powerful instrument of connection and empowerment. I&rsquo;d love to share some of what I learnt:
The Context: Alienation in 21st Century Britain
Alienation is the experience of being disconnected &ndash; from other... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2020 08:04:31 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Carnival Learning Resource ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/carnival-learning-resource ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/carnival-learning-resource ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Visit the Carnival Learning Resource ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:19:14 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Carnival Teaching Resources ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/carnival-teaching-resources ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/carnival-teaching-resources ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ We have 13 ready-made lesson plans to help you teach a lesson about Carnival. They are aimed at KS2 pupils but could be adapted to suit your needs.&nbsp;
Download the Lesson Plans
Lesson Overviews



Lesson
Year Group
Curriculum Links
Key Points
Resources from the Carnival Learning Resource and websites


1. A Caribbean Cruise
Y5/6
ICT 1b. how to prepare information for development using ICT, including selecting suitable sources, finding information, classifying it and checking it for accuracy (for example, finding information from books or newspapers)

What are the riches of Carnival?&nbsp;



Islands of the Caribbean



2. It's Carnival time!
Y5/6
"
What is Carnival?
Islands of the Caribbean


3. A Recipe for Carnival
Y3/4
Primary Framework for Literacy Year 3 Non-fiction Unit 2 &ndash; Instructions 9. Creating and shaping texts: Make decisions about form and purpose, identify success criteria and use them to evaluate their writing

How do we write... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2020 11:16:21 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Quiz Answers ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/quiz-answers ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/quiz-answers ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ If you have been answering the quiz questions as you go along, you can check our answers here!&nbsp;
Q.1: What are the Caribbean's most widely spoken languages?&nbsp;
A: The most widely spoken languages in the Caribbean are English, Spanish and French.&nbsp;
Q.2: What is a creole language?
A: A creole language is a mixture of languages. For example, Jamaican Creole is a mixture of English words with West African grammar.&nbsp;
Q.3: What do hummingbirds feed on?&nbsp;
A: Hummingbirds feed on nectar and insects.&nbsp;
Q.4: If you had one day off a year to have fun, what would you do?&nbsp;
A: If you had one day off a year to have fun maybe you would choose to go to the beach, have a party, play football, meet up with your friends, ride a horse, go-kart, snowboard, ice-skate, visit a museum or go to the cinema.&nbsp;
Q.5: What is Lent?
A: Lent is a Christian tradition. It is the 40 day period before Easter. It begins with Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday.&nbsp;
Q.6: How ... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2020 11:13:58 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Generations Dreaming - Watch It Again! ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/generations-dreaming-watch-it-again ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/generations-dreaming-watch-it-again ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Honouring the Windrush Generation and the generations that follow.&nbsp;
Generations Dreaming took place on Monday 22nd June to celebrate National Windrush Day. Hosts Khadijah Ibrahiim and Emily Zobel Marshall were joined by four special guests throughout the evening -&nbsp; Colin Grant, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Christella Litras and Camille Quamina - who discussed literature and music relating to the Windrush.&nbsp;
A full recording of Generations Dreaming is available on our YouTube Channel.
You can also view the pre-recorded sections of the event individually.&nbsp;
Extracts of Windrush literature read by creatives from across Leeds:&nbsp;
  
YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlebUcxlPPE

If you would like to learn more about the experiences of the Windrush generation, take a look at our Windrush Learning Resource Reading List for some suggestions of where to start.

 ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2020 09:43:27 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Generations Dreaming: Guest Speakers Announcement ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/generations-dreaming-guest-speakers-announcement ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/generations-dreaming-guest-speakers-announcement ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Generations Dreaming is an online celebration of National Windrush Day.&nbsp; Through a combination of literature and music, Emily Zobel Marshall and Khadijah Ibrahiim will celebrate the Windrush Generation and their legacy. 
Emily and Khadijah will be joined by special guests throughout the night - find out who below!&nbsp;
Colin Grant
Colin Grant is an author, historian, and Associate Fellow in the Centre for Caribbean Studies. His five books include the memoir, Bageye at the Wheel, which was shortlisted for the Pen/Ackerley Prize, 2013. Grant&rsquo;s history of epilepsy, A Smell of Burning, was a Sunday Times Book of the Year 2016
As a&nbsp;producer for the BBC, Grant directed several radio drama documentaries including A Fountain of Tears: The Murder of Federico Garcia Lorca.
He&nbsp;also writes for several publications including the Guardian, TLS and New York Review of Books.&nbsp; Grant's latest book is Homecoming: Voices of the Windrush Generation.
&nbsp;
Linton Kwesi Joh... ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2020 08:49:50 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Carnival Day! ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/carnival-day ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/carnival-day ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Jouvert
The Jouvert parade happens at night in the early hours of the morning until the sun rises.&nbsp;People bathe themselves in chocolate, mud, oil and paint and pretend to be devils, demons, monsters and imps. The blue devils are very scary. They shriek, chant and jab their pitch forks at the crowd. The people watching give the blue devils some money.
Imagine coverng yourself with mud and dancing through the streets Wouldn't that be fun?
Mas Bands
A mas band is an organised group of people who wear carnival costumes designed by a costume designer. On Carnival day there can be between 50 to 100 mas bands performing through the streets.
Did you know a mas band can have up to 5000 people performing in their group on Carnival day?
The flag dancers do exciting dance steps and trick to show their skill.


It&rsquo;s really exciting getting ready on Carnival day, putting on your costume, make-up and face paint. My favourite part of the day is dancing through the streets in the ma... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2020 10:55:49 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Pieces of the Puzzle ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/pieces-of-the-puzzle ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/pieces-of-the-puzzle ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ There are many elements that make up Carnival. Read more about them here and find out how they began.
Mud Madness
Camboulay moved from the daytime to midnight on Sunday at the beginning of the two-day carnival. This became known as &lsquo;Jouvert&rsquo; &ndash; French for &lsquo;the opening of the day&rsquo;. During this celebration folk characters were acted out, but were eventually replaced by old mas characters. At present day Jouvert, people bathe themselves in chocolate, mud, oil and paint and pretend to be devils, demons, monsters and imps.
Pretty Mas
Mardi Gras continued to be celebrated on Monday and Tuesday under the hot sun of the streets. The Parade became known as &lsquo;Pretty Mas&rsquo; as the people wore their finest costumes. The more beads, the more sequins, the more feathers, all the better!

Beat Bamboo
The British government banned drum beating in 1884, but that didn&rsquo;t mean there wasn&rsquo;t any music! During the carnival, groups known as &lsquo;Tamboo... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2020 10:52:06 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Our Partners ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/our-partners ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/our-partners ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The Geraldine Connor Foundation are pleased to work closely with other organisations in Leeds. Read about some of our partnerships below.&nbsp;





Harewood House
The Earl and Countess of Harewood were instrumental in the creation of the Geraldine Connor Foundation (GCF). They were close friends of Geraldine and in 2007, to celebrate the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, Harewood House staged a production of Carnival Messiah, Geraldine&rsquo;s most notable work. GCF remains closely connected with Harewood House Trust: Diane Howse, Countess of Harewood, is the Chair of GCF and David Lascelles, Earl of Harewood, is a patron of GCF and a Creative Associate Artist. The two organisations continue to work together on new projects supporting diverse artists and young people.





Leeds Conservatoire
The Geraldine Connor Foundation (GCF) will be collaborating with Leeds Conservatoire in its outreach activities, as part of a shared commitment to reaching young people in... ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jul 2021 11:00:51 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ National Windrush Day 2020: What's Happening? ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/national-windrush-day-whats-happening ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/national-windrush-day-whats-happening ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ National Windrush Day celebrates&nbsp;the arrival of the Empire Windrush to Britain and the monumental contribution that the Windrush Generation has made to the political, economic and cultural fabric of Britain. Every year on 22nd June it is marked by events, exhibitions, performances and publications across the country.
Things look a little different this year as social distancing measures are still in place and events in-person cannot take place. However, there are still plenty of events happening online and we have created a list of some from all over the country for you to look into.
Generations Dreaming &ndash; Geraldine Connor Foundation (Leeds)
Monday 22nd June, 7pm
Generations Dreaming, hosted by Khadijah Ibrahiim and Emily Zobel Marshall, is an evening of literature and music based on the themes of Windrush and passing on stories and culture to the next generation. The event will take place on Zoom.
Book Here
Online Readings &ndash; Alive &amp; Kicking (Leeds)
Monday 2... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2020 09:52:11 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Old Time Characters ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/old-time-characters ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/old-time-characters ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Here are some poems about traditional mas characters. Read through the poems and decide which character you would like to dress up as for Carnival!




Bat 
In my carnival troupe
I glide, I swoop
Rise on my tip toes
Wings open and close
Show the crowd
How my bat dance goes


Midnight Robber 
Stand in my way if you dare
You mocking pretender
Stop! 
Bow your head
Ben your knees
And Listen to my Robber talk! 




Fancy Indian
I brandish my weapon
Yell a blood-curdling whoop
My warrior dance
I perform with my troupe
I shuffle, I hop, turn around
On my sacred land
I stamp the ground


Pierrot Grande
Scholar and master of jest
I can spell any word
So put me to the test
I can tell of Kings good and cruel
And how African Queens did rule
Political and military leaders I can name
Quoting Shakespeare and Keats my game 




Moko Jumbie
Moko Jumbie is my name
From Africa to the Caribbean 
I came
Striding with my long legs across the ocean
Rhythmic... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2020 11:10:11 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ From Sketch to Spectacle ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/from-sketch-to-spectacle ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/from-sketch-to-spectacle ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Carnival costumes are designed by the costume designer. This is the person who decides on the theme of the carnival band for that year. A theme can be anything a designer chooses: maybe underwater creatures, butterflies, Africa, India, the Romans, or mythical beasts.
Designing a Costume
The designer creates sketches so people can see what the costumes will look like. They can then decide which one they would like to wear in the carnival. The designer&rsquo;s team will then buy all of the materials they need to make the costumes.

I always loved dressing up when I was little. I would make costumes from old boxes and Christmas decorations.

These costumes can be huge butterflies, skeletons, dragons and masks. You can be as creative as possible when designing a large costume &ndash; but you have to be careful it isn&rsquo;t too heavy for someone to wear, as they have a long way to dance on Carnival day!

Materials
In Carnival you can use anything you like to make costumes &ndash;... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2020 11:07:14 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Camboulay & Mardi Gras ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/camboulay-mardi-gras ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/camboulay-mardi-gras ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ In 1807, the British government made a law to end slavery. In 1834, African slaves in Trinidad became free. Here is what happened next&hellip;
Camboulay &ndash; 1834
At Camboulay (Cannes Brulees), free African slaves would act out the Cannes Brulees celebrations through the streets. They would parade in masks, carrying burning torches and to the rhythmic sounds of the African drums. They would act our their time as slaves and mimic the slave masters. Bands of freed slaves would carry sticks called &lsquo;Bois&rsquo; in the streets.
Mardi Gras Carnival 
&lsquo;Mardi Gras&rsquo; is French for &lsquo;Fat Tuesday&rsquo;. French plantation owners would celebrate the beginning of Lent with dancing and great feasts. For two days the wealthy Europeans would take to the streets in their finest clothes to celebrate.
By the 1840s the Camboulay celebrations joined in the French Mardi Gras Carnival transforming it with African drumming and dancing.
Did you know: the word Carnival comes from t... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2020 10:56:41 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Plantation Life ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/plantation-life ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/plantation-life ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ When European people moved to the Caribbean they built large plantations to grow food like sugar that you could not grow in Europe. They enslaved Amerindian and African people to work on the plantations, often in awful conditions. Hear from plantation workers to learn more about their experiences.
 Plantation Life - 1715
&ldquo;My name is Evaline. I am 10 years old and I was born on a sugar plantation. I live in a hut that is very cramped. Through my window I can see the huge plantation house up on the hill. It has 10 bedrooms! 
I have to be in the fields by 6am and work for 14 hours. There are many jobs to do to make sugar &ndash; plant, chop, carry and process it. I work very hard in the hot sun. 
My back aches, my fingers bleed but I must not stop or I will get whipped.&rdquo;

Making sugar - 1735
&ldquo;My name is Samuel. I am 17 years old. I work in the boiler house. 
The sugar cane is crushed in giant rollers. I have to be careful not to trap my fingers. The cane juice is... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2020 10:48:22 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ A Mixture of Cultures ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/a-mixture-of-cultures ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/a-mixture-of-cultures ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Over hundreds of years people went to the Caribbean from different parts of the world. they brought with them their cultures, traditions and religions. 
Amerindian
The Amerindian people were the first people on the Caribbean islands. Their clothes were made from feathers, beads and seeds.
They would use dyes made from plants and vegetables to paint their faces and bodies for ceremonies. A bit like having your face painted at a party.
Did you know: Trinidad was first called &lsquo;Land of the Hummingbird&rsquo; by the Amerindians?
European 
In 1492 the explorer Christopher Columbus sailed his huge galleon ship from Spain to India but took a wrong turn and arrived in the Caribbean. Columbus found a land full of amazing plants, fruits and crops. These grew to enormous sizes under the hot sun and tropical rain.
Everything grew much faster in the Caribbean than in Europe. With this discovery, European people went to live there. They built large plantations (like really big farms) to ... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2020 10:45:51 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Islands of the Caribbean ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/islands-of-the-caribbean ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/islands-of-the-caribbean ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Carnival began on the islands of the Caribbean.&nbsp;The Caribbean is a region of the Americas that includes the Caribbean Sea, its islands (more than 700!) and the coasts of north South America and east Central America.
In the 18th century, many countries tried to colonise the Caribbean islands which is why many islanders speak languages such a French and English. Creole languages are also widely used.
A creole language is a mixture of languages. For example, Jamaican Creole is a mixture of English words with West African grammar.
Many Caribbean island celebrate Carnival but it is also celebrated in other parts of the world. For example Rio Carnival in Brazil is the biggest carnival in the world and Notting Hill Carnival in London, which is England's biggest carnival. The first carnival to take place in England was the Leeds West Indian Carnival&nbsp;in 1967 - this still takes place every year!&nbsp;
Take a look at this map that shows you some of the islands and the languages spok... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2020 10:34:24 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Introduction to the Carnival Learning Resource ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/introduction-carnival-learning-resource ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/introduction-carnival-learning-resource ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ This teaching pack presents an accurate, accessible and comprehensive pictorial description of what Caribbean Carnival is all about; the use of aesthetics as the prevailing agent of non-confrontational resistance for a people to achieve their freedom. Carnival is about liberation and emancipation.&nbsp;
The pack's wonderful illustrations and riveting true stories provide a factual depiction of the heritage and culture of Carnival; reflecting its joy, the people who participate in it, its history, the dance, its music, the drama, its kinesis and its vibrant colour.&nbsp;
Indeed, contrary to popular belief, this resource clearly demonstrates that the act of participating in and playing Carnival is all about forgiveness, re-construction, self-affirmation, empowerment, healing, generosity, sharing, unification, community and celebration.&nbsp;
As a child's first introduction to the concept and understanding of what Carnival is all about, one can do no better than this.&nbsp;
-&nbsp;Dr.... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2020 10:42:29 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Windrush Learning Resource ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-learning-resource ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-learning-resource ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ You can find the Windrush Learning Resource here.&nbsp; ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:50:19 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ The Journey of the Den - Global Mash Up February 2020 ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/the-journey-of-the-den ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/the-journey-of-the-den ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The Geraldine Connor Foundation presents... 
The Journey of the Den, a film created by the participants of Global Mash Up 2020. 
Over three days in February, young people aged 8-16 from Leeds came together to explore global artforms including music, dance and visual art. They built dens which inspired the content of the film, wrote poetry that would become the story line and developed musical ideas for the soundtrack. Take a look at the finished film to see what they managed to achieve!
&nbsp;  
YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EgOmOARdI0
 &nbsp;
You can read the poem, written by the young people, that narrates the film here.
GCF would like to thank to Luke Shoesmith, Christella Litras, Khadijah Ibrahiim and Sandra Whyles for facilitating the Global Mash Up workshops and helping us to put this film together. For more information about Global Mash Up please click here.&nbsp;
Global Mash Up was organised and delivered by The Geraldine Connor Foundation. Global Mash ... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2020 08:31:11 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Windrush Learning Resource Reading List ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-learning-resource-reading-list ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-learning-resource-reading-list ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Below is a further reading list about Windrush. In it, you will find an eclectic mix of novels, poetry, plays and non-fiction publications, compiled with the help of Peepal Tree Press, who publish Caribbean and Black British fiction, poetry, literary criticism, memoirs and historical studies.
NOVELS, POETRY &amp; PLAYS
 Small Island&nbsp;-&nbsp;Andrea Levy (Hachette UK)
A delicately wrought and profoundly moving novel about empire, prejudice, war and love,&nbsp;Small Island&nbsp;was the unique winner of both the Orange Prize for Fiction and the Whitbread book of the Year, in addition to the Commonwealth Writer&rsquo;s Prize and the Orange Prize &lsquo;Best of the Best&rsquo;.
Andrea Levy was born in England to Jamaican parents who came to Britain in 1948. After attending writing workshops when she was in her mid-thirties, Levy began to write the novels that she, as a young woman, had always wanted to read &ndash; entertaining novels that reflect the experiences of black Britons, wh... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:51:06 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Windrush: The Front Room ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-the-front-room ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-the-front-room ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Watch the video to find out about the significance of the Front Room in the houses of African Caribbean communities in Britain after World War Two. It features people descended from the Windrush Generation talking about their experiences of the Front Room and what it meant to them and their family.
RESPECTABILITY
For African Caribbean families living in Britain, the Front Room was a focal point for respectability.&nbsp; It would always be clean, ready for whoever in the community should visit.&nbsp; It was a place used for formal entertaining, rather than casual use, and was filled with objects and ornaments, many of which would only be used on special occasions.
Over time, as generations of a family lived in the same house, the Front Room became a repository for a multitude of objects collected over time, each holding precious memories and cultural meanings.



CHILDREN AND THE FRONT ROOM
Mostly, the Front Room was a purely adult space, and in some families it would even&nbsp;... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:51:20 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Windrush: Racism ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-racism ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-racism ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Watch the video above to hear about the racism that the Windrush Generation faced every day. This ranged from snide looks and verbal abuse to violent behaviour. You will also hear from subsequent generations about their experience of racism.&nbsp;
WARNING:&nbsp;This video contains the use of a racist term at 3:51. It has not been edited out for reasons of authenticity, and as an opportunity to introduce conversations about language, and the power of words to both harm and to heal.
Racism and the Windrush Generation
Racism&nbsp;means discriminating against someone because of their race.&nbsp;
In the 1940s, many Caribbean islands were under British rule as part of the British Empire. Britain was called the 'mother country' and children grew up learning about it in schools. Because of this, many Caribbean people that came to Britain had a strong sense of their Britishness and had high expectations that they would be welcomed and supported by the 'mother country'.&nbsp;
However, as we... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:51:31 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Windrush: Education ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-education ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-education ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Watch the short video to learn about the experiences of the British-born children and grandchildren of the Windrush Generation. They discuss what it was like to live and go to school as a black child in Leeds and the racism they were subjected to in their every day lives. They also talk about the importance of education that was instilled in them by their parents.&nbsp;
Task:&nbsp;Think about your experience at school. Is it similar to the ones described in the video or different? If there are differences, why do you think this is?&nbsp;

Return to Windrush Learning Resource
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:51:42 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Windrush: Food and Drink ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-food-and-drink ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-food-and-drink ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Watch the video to hear first, second and third Windrush generation Leeds residents discussing the role of food in their culture and the of culinary traditions in their lives.
The Windrush Generation and Food
The Windrush Generation did not only contribute to the economy and culture&nbsp;of Britain, but also to British food. They brought recipes from the Caribbean with them and created spaces to celebrate their culture with food. Caribbean food uses ingredients such as rice, plantain, beans, coconut, cassava, meat and a wide range of spices. Recipes will vary from family to family and food is an important part of life. The Windrush Generation were highly influential in increasing the popularity of Caribbean food in the UK.
Recipes
Sorrel&nbsp;and&nbsp;black cake&nbsp;are popular throughout the Caribbean as well Black British communities across the UK.
Sorrel is a traditional Christmas beverage. Dried hibiscus flowers &mdash; known as sorrel in Jamaica and other parts of the Caribb... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:51:59 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Windrush: Contribution to Culture ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-contribution-to-culture ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-contribution-to-culture ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ When the Windrush Generation arrived in Britain from the Caribbean, they brought with them a huge amount of art, music and writing that would transform British culture forever. However, the work of Caribbean people and their contribution to British art and culture is often not recognised.&nbsp;
Music
Watch the video above to hear interviews with first and second generation migrants talking about the importance of music in their lives, on a personal, social and cultural level. They discuss Saturday night parties, masquerade, carnival, musical culture in school and who their influences were.&nbsp;
When the Windrush Generation arrived in Britain, the music scene was primarily made up of swing music and dance bands. Musicians coming from the Caribbean brought styles such as ska, reggae, jazz and Latin American music that fused with British music to revolutionise the music scene. Many of the genres that are popular today, such as drum and bass and dubstep, have their roots in Caribbean c... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:52:08 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Windrush: Contribution to Economy ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-contribution-to-economy ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-contribution-to-economy ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Watch the video to hear first Windrush Generation citizens talk about working and trying to get work on arrival in Britain. You will also hear their children providing insights into the legacy of the experiences of their parents in forging a career in a new country.
Finding Employment
The Windrush Generation were invited to Britain to help rebuild the economy that had been weakened by World War Two. Some found employment easily, whereas others came up against racism and bigotry. Many immigrants who came to Britain from skilled jobs in the Caribbean could not find the kind of work they specialised in for a variety of reasons.
The most common areas that men from the Caribbean found work were manufacturing, construction and public transport. Many women found jobs in the NHS as nurses. Almost all the men who came from the Caribbean to the UK had previously worked in skilled positions and possessed excellent qualifications. However, many found it difficult to find work and initially acce... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:52:18 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Windrush: Arriving in England ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-arriving-in-england ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-arriving-in-england ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Watch the video above to learn about the reasons why the British government invited British Citizens from the wider empire to come to Britain, and the people who made the journey.&nbsp;
THE WINDRUSH GENERATION
When we talk about the&nbsp;'Windrush Generation'&nbsp;we are talking about the people who left the Caribbean countries and arrived to settle in the UK between 1948 and 1971.&nbsp;
In 1948, Britain was starting to recover from&nbsp;World War Two.&nbsp;Many men and women from the Caribbean had served in the British armed forces because many Caribbean countries were still under British rule and were not yet independent.&nbsp;
After the war, some Caribbean people answered an invitation from the British government to come to Britain and help rebuild the country.&nbsp;
The first wave of people from the Caribbean travelled on the&nbsp;SS Empire Windrush, which arrived at Tilbury Dock in Essex on 22nd June, 1948. Aboard this aging merchant ship were 500 passengers who have just com... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:52:28 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ An Introduction to the Windrush Learning Resource ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/an-introduction-to-the-windrush-learning-resource ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/an-introduction-to-the-windrush-learning-resource ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Welcome to the Geraldine Connor Foundation's Windrush Learning Resource!&nbsp;
We have created this comprehensive resource to help you learn about the mass migration of people from the Caribbean to the UK between 1948 - 1971, commonly called&nbsp;'Windrush'.&nbsp;
About the Learning Resource
The Windrush Learning Resource is split into seven sections, each exploring a different topic relating to Windrush and the&nbsp;experiences of the Windrush Generation:&nbsp;
Arriving in England
Contribution to Economy
Contribution to Culture
Education
Racism
Food and Drink
The Front Room
You can work through these sections in order or dip in and out as you like. Each one has a video that features interviews with first generation Windrush migrants and their families. Hear them discuss their experiences of arriving in post-war Britain and how they have settled as residents of Leeds.&nbsp;
We have also included some information that contextualises each section to help you learn more about ... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:52:18 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Support for Self-Employed Artists ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/support-for-self-employed-artists ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/support-for-self-employed-artists ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Last updated: 2nd April&nbsp;2020
We are going through very difficult and uncertain times right now, with things changing daily. Although this is a challenging time for everyone, we are aware that it will be particularly stressful for the self-employed and freelance workers that make up a third of the creative sector.1 At the Geraldine Connor Foundation, our priority at this time is the health and wellbeing of the artists and practitioners we work with. We are available for questions, advice and support so please do not hesitate to get in touch.
We have pulled together a list of places to find information about financial support over the coming months.
Government Website 
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
For reliable advice and guidance please look at the government&rsquo;s website. They have outlined all the new support they are offering and you can check whether you are eligible for certain benefits such as Universal Credit and Statutory Sick Pay. This will be the most accurate an... ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2020 08:53:38 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Remembering Geraldine ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/remembering-geraldine-2020 ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/remembering-geraldine-2020 ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Last Sunday, 22nd March, would have been Geraldine Connor&rsquo;s 68th birthday. We asked you for memories of Geraldine and as always, it was amazing to see the influence she continues to have in the lives of those who knew her.
Geraldine Connor (1952-2011) was a theatre director, educationalist, and inspiration to many. She worked widely as a teacher, both in Trinidad and Tobago and the UK. Over three decades, she created a truly mind-boggling number of theatrical and musical productions, including her best-known work: Carnival Messiah. A radical reinvention of Handel&rsquo;s Messiah performed Caribbean Carnival style, she described the production as &lsquo;the pinnacle of my creative and artistic career&rsquo;. &nbsp;In 2009, she was presented with Trinidad and Tobago&rsquo;s second-highest honour, the Chaconia medal (gold).
Geraldine inspired everyone that she worked with, whether a student or cast member of one of her theatre productions. Here&rsquo;s what you had to say about he... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2020 09:16:54 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ World Book Day 2020: GCF Recommends ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/world-book-day-2020 ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/world-book-day-2020 ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Thursday 5th March is World Book Day &ndash; a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and most importantly: reading. Thousands of schools across the country will be taking part in World Book Day activities such as dressing up as book characters to get more young people engaged in reading books.
In the GCF office we love to read; the books we&rsquo;re reading are often a topic of conversation and we&rsquo;ve even started a book swap so we can share our favourite stories with each other. To celebrate World Book Day, we decided to ask around our Creative Associate Artists to find out their recommendations for books to read this year&hellip;
 Selina McGonagle, Director of the Geraldine Connor Foundation recommends&hellip;
Girl, Woman, Other &ndash; Bernadine Evaristo
Girl, Woman, Other follows the life of 12 characters, mostly black women, as they navigate the world. Each character has their own chapter but their lives overlap and intertwine in various ways. Evaristo won the Booke... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2020 10:00:09 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Global Mash Up: Meet The Artists ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/global-mash-up-meet-the-artists ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/global-mash-up-meet-the-artists ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ There&rsquo;s one week to go until Global Mash Up and plans are coming together nicely! The space is booked, risk-assessments done, and the artists are busy preparing their sessions. We thought you might like to know a bit more about what to expect during the week.
WHAT IS GLOBAL MASH UP?
Global Mash Up is an action-packed project that will explore artforms from all over the world with professional artists. Over three days, young people aged 8-16 will get the chance to get stuck into workshops in music, spoken-word and visual art, exploring the theme of &lsquo;Safe Spaces&rsquo;. We&rsquo;ll also be making a short film of the process!
MEET THE ARTISTS
During Global Mash Up the young people will be working with professional artists to create works of art. There will be a wide range of activities to try and we hope that everyone involved will discover something new that they enjoy. Take a look at some of the artists that we will be working with&hellip;
Christella Litras
Christella ... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2020 10:01:11 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Introducing: The Creative Associate Artists ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/introducing-the-creative-associate-artists ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/introducing-the-creative-associate-artists ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The Creative Associate Artists are a key part of the Geraldine Connor Foundation. &nbsp;Not only do they help guide the direction that GCF takes, they are often the core of artistic delivery for our projects. They are a hugely talented and skilled group of people so we thought we&rsquo;d tell you a bit more about who they are and what they do.
Who are they?
The Creative Associates are the artistic heart of the Geraldine Connor Foundation. Most of them knew or worked with Geraldine Connor&nbsp;and are passionate about continuing her legacy. There is a huge mixture of specialisms within the group, ranging from spoken word to musical theatre to visual art; if you can think of an artform then we&rsquo;ll almost certainly have a specialist within our ranks. The Creative Associates are all highly skilled and experienced artists who have worked across the world. We believe in the power of collaboration and mixing of talent and having a group such as the Creative Associates within GCF is a h... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2020 10:00:55 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Work Experience ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/work-experience ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/work-experience ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ &nbsp;Due to COVID-19, the Geraldine Connor Foundation staff are currently working from home and are unable to accommodate work experience placements right now.
If you are looking for further resources of exploring a career in the creative industries take a look at some of these&nbsp;websites:

Creative and Cultural Skills is a resource for anyone that wants to work in a creative career. They promote jobs, advice articles and blogs from practitioners in the creative sector.
Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership
Future Goals for careers inspiration and support for all ages in Leeds City Region.

Work Experience Enquiry ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2020 09:59:29 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ GCF's 2019 ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/gcfs-2019 ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/gcfs-2019 ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ 2019 is nearly over and what a year the Geraldine Connor Foundation has had! We&rsquo;ve run loads of projects across Leeds as well as supporting many of our Creative Associate Artists in their own projects. We have worked with nearly 1,500 young people in Leeds through workshops in schools and projects such as Global Mash Up. Bringing art and culture into peoples&rsquo; lives has never been more important and we are so glad to be able to introduce new artforms into the lives of young people and watch them explore new interests and develop their talents.
Take a look at this infographic to see what we have been up to:

As you can see it&rsquo;s been an action-packed year! Here are some of our highlights:
The Journey of Things at the Hepworth Wakefield marked a new programme and partnership. Khadijah Ibrahiim and Rheima Robinson worked with ESOL students from Wakefield College interpreted the work of Magdalene Odundo through spoken word.
It was fantastic to watch Adeline and Lulia b... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Feb 2020 09:41:17 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ "That's A Wrap": Global Mash Up 2019 Roundup ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/global-mash-up-2019-roundup ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/global-mash-up-2019-roundup ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Last week, during October half term, 30 young people from across Leeds came together to&nbsp; spend a week exploring performing arts from across the world. This was part of a week-long course called Global Mash Up for young people aged 8-18. They had the opportunity to work with artists Christella Litras, Rob Green and Ella Mesma to explore music, dance and drama. Throughout the week they created their own performance by writing original music and drama and choreographing dances.
Global Mash Up began early on Monday morning at Leeds City Academy. The young people arrived and split into groups that &nbsp;rotated throughout the day so everyone got to try out the different strands of performance. At the end of the first day they decided which strand they wanted to focus on and split into three groups: music, dance and drama. Over the rest of the week, the young people began to develop ideas based on &lsquo;The Power of Green&rsquo; that would lead towards a final performance on the Frida... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2020 10:01:24 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Global Mash Up ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/global-mash-up ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/global-mash-up ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Global Mash Up is a&nbsp;an action-packed week of creative fun with professional artists from across the globe. Discover new activities such as music, dance, poetry, and storytelling in short workshops led by the very best international artists.
Young people aged 8-16 spend a week working on artforms from across the world and creating their own performance that is shown to friends and family on the final afternoon. In previous years, participants have performed songs and dances that they have written and choreographed themselves, with guidance from lead artists.&nbsp;
In 2019, we worked with the musician&nbsp;Christella Litras,&nbsp;who was supported by&nbsp;Rob Green&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ella Mesma.&nbsp;
Here is some feedback from parents whose children attended Global Mash Up in October 2019:&nbsp;

My daughter thoroughly enjoyed the week and has given her so much confidence to enjoy what she loves doing... all the staff are amazing. She has learnt a lot from coming here.

We are pl... ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 22 Mar 2021 11:25:43 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Geraldine Connor Wins Legacy Award! ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/geraldine-connor-legacy-award-nomination ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/geraldine-connor-legacy-award-nomination ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ This blog was initially published on 14th October with the news of the nomination but has been updated on 24th October after Geraldine won the award.&nbsp;We are delighted to announce that Geraldine Connor has a Legacy Award for 'Lifetime Achievement'
The Legacy Awards&nbsp;celebrate excellence by those that are not usually recognised for their achievements. Awards are given to individuals and organisations that go above and beyond to reach their goals and impact on their community, city and further afield.  We are thrilled that Geraldine has been recognised for her work; her impact on arts and culture in Leeds and across the world &nbsp;truly was outstanding, and her legacy continues to inspire people today.
Geraldine is possibly best known for having written, composed and directed Carnival Messiah, a spectacular work that reimagines Handel&rsquo;s Messiah and mixes it with the music and eclecticism of Caribbean Carnival. Carnival Messiah was performed several times in the UK and al... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2020 10:03:15 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Contact Us ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/contact-us ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/contact-us ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ We would love to hear from you! If you have an inquiry about one of our upcoming events, a question about the Foundation or would like to work with us, please contact us using one of the channels below:
For general enquiries: info@gcfoundation.co.uk&nbsp;
Project phone: 07483 359018
Selina McGonagle, Director: selina@gcfoundation.co.uk.&nbsp;
Umi Mistry, Finance Officer and Company Administrator: umi@gcfoundation.co.uk
Hannah Finnimore, Communications Officer:&nbsp;hannah@gcfoundation.co.uk&nbsp;
Natasha Cowie, Assistant Producer: natasha@gcfoundation.co.uk
Please contact us via email or via the project phone number in the first instance, but if urgent, you can call Selina on: 07903 939207
Please note: our working hours are 9am &ndash; 5pm, Monday &ndash; Friday but due to the nature of our work we may not always be able to respond immediately. We will however get back to you as soon as possible!
Complaints policy
If you would like to issue a complaint, concern or enquiry con... ]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jan 2024 12:14:15 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ What's On In Leeds: Black History Month 2019 ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/black-history-month-leeds-whats-on ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/black-history-month-leeds-whats-on ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Throughout October the world is celebrating Black History Month. Although we believe that the achievements of black people should be celebrated all year round, this is an opportunity to emphasise the achievements and contributions of black people in Leeds and throughout the world.
There are many events occurring in Leeds for Black History Month and we have pulled together a list of our top picks. Take a look below and get along to an event!
5th October: Leeds Black History Walk&nbsp;
11:00 - 13:00. Parkinson Steps, University of Leeds.
Join Joe Williams on the Leeds Black History Walk to explore Africa&rsquo;s immense connections and invaluable contribution to local British history and social development. The walk is free of charge and begins at the Parkinson Steps of the University of Leeds at 11am.
5th October: Children of the Windrush &ndash; Through the Lens of Reggae
12:00 &ndash; 14:00. Leeds City Museum. 
A reggae event in partnership with the BME Hub. There will be perfo... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 07 Nov 2019 14:14:49 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ The Benefits of Musical Theatre ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/the-benefits-of-musical-theatre ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/the-benefits-of-musical-theatre ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ It&rsquo;s a well-known fact that creativity is a hugely important part of life. LinkedIn even claims it is the &lsquo;most important skill in the world&rsquo; and that even if you do not work in a creative industry, being able to think creatively could really benefit your career. It also has the benefit of being a really human attribute. It may feel like computers are about to take over the world but apparently they still aren&rsquo;t as creative as we are: take a look at these knitting patterns generated by a computer &ndash; they&rsquo;re definitely not wearable! At GCF we are huge advocates of tapping into your creativity, be it through visual or performing arts. Whether you do it for a career or for fun it&rsquo;s hard to deny the benefits that doing something creative can have. As we have our next musical theatre workshop coming up in a couple of weeks we thought we&rsquo;d do a bit of research into some of the benefits of doing musical theatre can bring.
Self-Confidence&nbsp;
... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 01 Oct 2019 13:43:53 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ GCF's New Website ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/gcfs-new-website ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/gcfs-new-website ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Welcome to GCF&rsquo;s new website!
Over the past few months we have been working on developing this new website. As you can see, it is much smoother and easier to navigate than our old website, as well as having several added features. You can now donate straight to GCF. You can buy tickets for our events straight from the website, for example for our upcoming musical theatre workshop &lsquo;The Age of Aquarius&rsquo;. It is also possible for us to host fundraising pages on the website so if you would like to run an event to fundraise for us you will be able to do that.
Our website address is still the same (www.gcfoundation.co.uk) so don&rsquo;t worry about being able to find us.
We&rsquo;re really excited to share our new look with you &ndash; we hope you like it as much as we do. Please feel free to use the comment section below to let us know your thoughts!

 ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 18 Sep 2019 15:41:10 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Artistic Enterprise Course ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/artistic-enterprise-course ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/artistic-enterprise-course ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The Geraldine Connor Foundation (GCF) supports the development of talent from different artforms and cultures. It is important for artists to develop their business and communication skills alongside their own creative development.
This is why we&rsquo;ve teamed up with The Prince&rsquo;s Trust who deliver their three-day Enterprise programme alongside two days of creative workshops led by GCF. This fill week of activity provides emerging artists with practical and helpful advice that helps develop professional and practical skills crucial for working in the creative sector.
&nbsp;&nbsp;
The staff and volunteers from The Trust have specialist knowledge on setting up a business and managing being self-employed. Participants Learn how to improve their CV, fund creative projects and budget responsibly. There is also room in the week to gain feedback on new work, as well as space to explore potential to gain start-up funds if participants have a good creative business idea!

&ldquo;Th... ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 22 Mar 2021 11:23:33 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Carnival Messiah: The Film & Documentary ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/carnival-messiah-the-film-documentary ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/carnival-messiah-the-film-documentary ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Nobody who attended the performances of Geraldine Connor&rsquo;s epic masterpiece&nbsp;Carnival Messiah&nbsp;at Harewood House will ever forget it. Leeds-based director Ashley Karrell&rsquo;s film takes you closer to the action than ever before &ndash; huge cast, loud music, spectacular carnival costumes. Also featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from both then and now.
This remarkable reimagining of Handel&rsquo;s&nbsp;Messiah&nbsp;was a cultural landmark in the Leeds arts scene and&nbsp;was widely praised for its&nbsp;community engagement, bringing professionals, semi-professionals locals and international artists on to one stage. To this day, the Geraldine Connor Foundation is inundated with stories of the effect&nbsp;Carnival Messiah&nbsp;had on individuals and we are proud to say that we still work with many artists who played pivotal roles in the production.
PAST SCREENINGS:

Saturday 16th September 2017, 7pm @ West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds (UK Premiere)
Tues... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 13 Aug 2019 15:33:29 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Our Ethos and Work ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/our-ethos-and-work ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/our-ethos-and-work ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ We recognise that the creative needs of communities and individuals change all the time, and so our projects come in all shapes and sizes. Whether we are working on a theatre performance, weekly skills workshops, or one-to-one mentoring schemes, Geraldine&rsquo;s ethos remains at the heart of everything we do:

Involve people from all walks of life
Build respectful and supportive relationships
Embrace challenges with optimism
Maintain high artistic quality.

As a registered charity (charity no. 1156982), we have a number of charitable aims. These are:

To continue&nbsp;the work and vision of Geraldine Connor in advancing the development and education of individuals in the arts and culture, and thereby developing professional and life skills, encouraging and nurturing new work and talent, and encouraging and promoting equality, diversity, empowerment and inclusion in society through the arts.
To provide&nbsp;opportunities in the arts that might not otherwise be available for t... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 11 Feb 2021 14:35:56 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ What's On ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/whats-on ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/whats-on ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Find out what's coming up at the Geraldine Connor Foundation here. ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 22 Aug 2019 15:09:54 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Global Mash Up: Full Details ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/global-mash-up-full-details ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/global-mash-up-full-details ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ 
Register here.

Please complete the Registration and Monitoring form before Wednesday 12th February to secure your place on Global Mash Up. 
If you cannot complete the forms online, a downloadable version of the Registration form is available here.
Full information about Global Mash Up for parents/guardians is available to download here.
What is Global Mash Up?
Global Mash Up is a free, fun-filled week of creative activities from across the globe. Young people aged 8-16 will get the chance to work with the very best international artists to explore artforms from all over the world, including music, dance, storytelling and den-building.
When and Where is Global Mash Up?
Wednesday 19th February- Friday 21st February 2019, 9am-3pm.&nbsp;
Global Mash Up will take place at:
Ebor Gardens Community Centre

Haslewood Drive
Leeds
LS9 7PL
&nbsp;

Please be on time to ensure your child gains the most out of their experience. We expect your child to attend all sessions unless ot... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jan 2020 17:15:44 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Forest Dreaming ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/forest-dreaming ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/forest-dreaming ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Forest Dreaming, a newly commissioned musical theatre production based on Shakespeare&rsquo;s&nbsp;A Midsummer Night&rsquo;s Dream, is being developed through our Creative Caf&eacute; workshops and Creative Labs.
The original concept for&nbsp;Forest Dreaming&nbsp;came from Geraldine Connor and her vision has been brought to life by writer Pat Cumper and composer Dominique Le Gendre.&nbsp;Forest Dreaming&nbsp;takes Shakespeare&rsquo;s most popular comedy and combines it with Afro-Caribbean arts, inspired by a contemporary multi-cultural society. The production is set in two worlds: Theseus and Hippolyta&rsquo;s world of order, commercial business and technology which contrasts with the enchanted forest and organic natural world of the market.
The development of this new musical began in August 2016 at our Creative Lab, an intensive week of exploration in music, theatre and dance. Professional artists, semi-professional creatives, students and young people with a passion for performing... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2020 08:30:17 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Portrait of a Young Creative ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/portrait-of-a-young-creative ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/portrait-of-a-young-creative ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ GCF&nbsp;has been working with young creatives to produce films exploring how the arts have shaped and will continue to shape their lives.
Our nine participants have worked with film-maker, Ashley Karrell, to explore their stories in their own voice, and in a way that suits them best. Each of our young creatives have considered how their experiences in the arts can inspire and influence others to participate and progress in the creative sector as well.
Now these films have been created, GCF&nbsp;and the participants&nbsp;are looking at&nbsp;how their films can be shared both digitally and through live presentations. Our young creatives will&nbsp;share their films and experiences of participating in the arts with other young people from across the Leeds and Bradford area.
These short films are available to view on our YouTube channel.
If you would like to find out more about this project, please email us at&nbsp;info@gcfoundation.co.uk.
This project was generously supported by the ... ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 22 Mar 2021 11:11:56 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Musical Theatre Workshops ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/musical-theatre-workshops ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/musical-theatre-workshops ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The Geraldine Connor Foundation has partnered up with The Dance Studio Leeds to offer a series of top-quality musical theatre workshops. All workshops are led by professional musical theatre artists to ensure that participants receive the very best instruction and have the opportunity to work with industry specialists. 
In line with GCF&rsquo;s ethos, these workshops are open to everyone (16+yrs); there is no need to have previous experience of musical theatre. However, these workshops are not just for beginners! Workshop leaders Nigel and Leonora are experienced facilitators and always get the most out of everyone&rsquo;s talent. They are excellent at tailoring each workshop to the individual needs of each group.
A typical workshop lasts three hours and will include:

Introduction to musical theatre technique through warm-up exercises.
Learn one or two songs from a musical and set them to music
Perform the finished product to the class at the end of the workshop


I enjoyed f... ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 22 Mar 2021 11:21:06 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Windrush Lesson Ideas: Windrush Learning Resource ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-lesson-ideas ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-lesson-ideas ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ CURRICULUM LINKS

KS3 History:&nbsp;Social, cultural and technological change in post-war British society
KS3 History:&nbsp;The study of an aspect of theme in British history: A study of an aspect of social history, such as the impact through time of the migration of people to, from and within the British Isles.
KS3 PSHE: The similarities, differences and diversity among people of different race, culture, ability, disability, sex, gender identity, age and sexual orientation and the impact of stereotyping, prejudice, bigotry, bullying, and discrimination on individuals and communities
KS4 History:&nbsp;Britain: Migration
KS4 Citizenship:&nbsp;Diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United Kingdom and the need for mutual respect and understanding
KS4 PSHE:&nbsp;About the unacceptability of all forms of discrimination, and how to challenge it, prejudice and bigotry in the wider community including the workplace.

DISCUSSION IDEAS
POETRY
Create a writt... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2020 16:15:17 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Racism: Windrush Learning Resource ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/racism-windrush-learning-resource ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/racism-windrush-learning-resource ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The video above explores the breadth of racism that the Windrush Generation faced as everyday experiences, from overtly violent or discriminatory behaviour, to snide looks and verbal abuse. The experiences of subsequent generations is also discussed.
WARNING: This video contains the use of a racist term at 3:51. It has not been edited out for reasons of authenticity, and as an opportunity to introduce conversations about language, and the power of words to both harm and to heal.
Despite holding British citizenship and&nbsp;being encouraged to immigrate to England by the British government to help solve a labour shortage, the Windrush generation and their children were often the victims of racist abuse and negative attitudes derived from ignorance.
THE POLITICS OF WINDRUSH
In 2018, Windrush was front and centre news in the UK, as the British government&rsquo;s Home Office was exposed for wrongfully removing members of the Windrush generation from the UK, stating that they had no rig... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2020 16:01:54 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Music: Windrush Learning Resource ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/music-windrush-learning-resource ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/music-windrush-learning-resource ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The video above contains interviews with first and second generation Windrush migrants talking about the importance of music in their lives, on a personal, social and cultural level.&nbsp; The interviewees discuss Saturday night parties, masquerade, carnival, musical culture in school, and who their influences were.
Below is a curated playlist of music from the production&nbsp;Sorrel &amp; Black Cake, featuring Bob Marley, Delroy Wilson, The Heptones, Jimmy Cliff and Miss Lou, among others.  
YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGt21q1AjuI


Return to Windrush Learning Resource ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 08 Aug 2019 15:15:09 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ The Front Room: Windrush Learning Resource ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/the-front-room ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/the-front-room ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The video&nbsp;above explores the importance of the Front Room in the houses of African Caribbean communities in Britain after WWII. It features people descended from the Windrush Generation talking about their experiences of the Front Room and what it meant to them and their family.
RESPECTABILITY
For African Caribbean families living in Britain, the Front Room was a focal point for respectability.&nbsp; It would be fastidiously clean, ready for whoever in the community should visit.&nbsp; It was a place used for formal entertaining, rather than casual use, and was filled with objects and ornaments, many of which would only be used on special occasions.
Over time, as generations of a family lived in the same house, the Front Room became a repository for a multitude of objects collected over time, each holding precious memories and cultural meanings.



CHILDREN AND THE FRONT ROOM
Mostly, the Front Room was a purely adult space, and in some families it would even&nbsp;be locked... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:55:13 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Food & Drink: Windrush Learning Resource ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/food-drink-windrush-learning-resource ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/food-drink-windrush-learning-resource ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The video above contains interviews of first, second and third generation Windrush Leeds residents discussing the role of food in their culture and about growing up away from home and the importance of culinary traditions in their lives. The video is 4:00 minutes long and includes more information on sorrel and black cake.
SORREL AND BLACK CAKE
Sorrel&nbsp;and&nbsp;Black Cake&nbsp;are popular throughout the Caribbean as well Black British communities across the UK.
Sorrel is a traditional Christmas beverage. Dried hibiscus flowers &mdash; known as sorrel in Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean &ndash; are steeped in boiling water along with ginger and other whole spices such as allspice, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. It is traditionally sweetened with sugar, and rum can be added.
Black cake is a dense, richly spiced fruit cake popular across the Caribbean. Dried fruit is soaked in rum before being mixed into a dark, sweet fruit cake batter. As with all Caribbean cooking, everyon... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:53:53 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Education: Windrush Learning Resource ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/education-windrush-learning-resource ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/education-windrush-learning-resource ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The video above explores the experiences of the British-born children of the Windrush Generation. The interviewees discus what it was like to live and go to school as a black child in Leeds and the racism they were subjected to in their everyday lives. They also touch upon the importance of education that was instilled in them by their parents.
Return to Windrush Learning Resource ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:51:45 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Contribution: Windrush Learning Resource ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/contribution-windrush-learning-resource ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/contribution-windrush-learning-resource ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ CONTRIBUTION TO ECONOMY: WORK
Watch first Windrush Generation citizens talk about working and trying to get work on arrival in Britain in the video above. Some found employment easily, whereas others came up against racism and bigotry. Many immigrants who came from skilled jobs in the Caribbean could not find the kind of work they specialised in in Britain, for a variety of reasons.
Interviews with second Windrush Generation citizens provide insights into the legacy of the experiences of their parents in forging a career in a new country.
CONTRIBUTION TO LITERATURE: POETRY
Explore the writing of the children of the Windrush Generation, born in the UK to Caribbean parentage.&nbsp;Download the three poems here.&nbsp;The information below provides an introduction to the poets and the poems they have written.
GENERATION DREAMING 1. &ndash; BY DOROTHEA SMARTT
Dorothea is of Barbadian descent and was born and grew up in London.&nbsp; She has lectured on creative arts at Leeds Universit... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:45:20 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Windrush: An Introduction ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-an-introduction ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-an-introduction ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The short video above provides an introduction to Windrush, the history behind the decision to invite British Citizens from the wider empire to come to Britain, and the people who made the journey.
THE WINDRUSH GENERATION
The 22nd June 2018 marked the 70th anniversary of the arrival of the SS Empire Windrush at Tilbury Dock, Essex. Aboard this ageing merchant ship were some 500 passengers, making the 8,000 mile voyage from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and other islands, full of hope about a new life that awaited them in the &lsquo;Mother Country&rsquo;.
Trinidadian calypso singer Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts), emerging on the deck upon arrival, was prompted by Path&eacute; News to perform a few lines of his newly composed song, &lsquo;London is the Place For Me&rsquo;:
London is the place for me, London this lovely city You can go to France or America, India, Asia or Australia But you must come back to London city Well believe me I am speaking broadmindedly I am glad to know my M... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:25:06 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Windrush: An Influential Force on British Culture ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-an-influential-force-on-british-culture ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/windrush-an-influential-force-on-british-culture ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ June 2018 marked&nbsp;the 70th anniversary of&nbsp;Windrush,&nbsp; a mass migration that resulted in an estimated 172,000 West-Indian-born people living in the UK by 1961: the &lsquo;Windrush Generation&rsquo;. 
The arrival of Windrush was instrumental in initiating multi-cultural Britain. GCF and partner organisations explored the significant contribution the Windrush Generation made to the UK culturally and economically, how society has changed with the influences of immigration, and how it continues to change today by the people who live and work here.
From November 2017 until June 2019, GCF worked with young people through weekly sessions to understand the story of Windrush. Work that was developed during the first half of this project culminated in a&nbsp;production,&nbsp;Sorrel &amp; Black Cake,&nbsp;which was performed on 22nd and 23rd June 2018 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Windrush.
Digital teaching resources exploring Windrush were also created, and were presented b... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2020 11:15:16 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Melissa Bennett ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/melissa-bennett ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/melissa-bennett ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ ACTOR, POET, PERFORMER, SINGER AND DANCER
Artistic from an early age, Melissa was often complimented for her natural comedic qualities growing up. Following in her family&rsquo;s footsteps, began writing at&nbsp;14. Around this age, she began studying drama and attended Act4Tv classes, and joined RJC Dance where she performed in several shows such as well as being part of the team that won the Best Carnival Troupe at Leeds West Indian Carnival in 2007.
Melissa first became involved with the Geraldine Connor Foundation when&nbsp;Khadijah Ibrahiim, a GCF Creative Associate, encouraged her to attend the GCF Youth Group. Since her first experience with the Foundation, she can often be seen at our workshops, including&nbsp;The Chicken Shop Shakespeare Creative Caf&eacute;,&nbsp;Who Am I project&nbsp;and&nbsp;Caution Collective Creative Caf&eacute;. She is currently involved in GCF&rsquo;s&nbsp;Portrait of a Young Creative film project&nbsp;and is a member of the&nbsp;Carnival Choir.
Meli... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 29 Aug 2019 10:24:02 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Denmarc Creary ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/denmarc-creary ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/denmarc-creary ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ MUSIC ARTIST, SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER
Twitter:&nbsp;@DENMARCCREARY


When did you first start/start wanting to write and produce music?


In high school, I had a friend that introduced me to some production software. Writing came later on (in college) when I couldn&rsquo;t find any artists locally to collab with.


What are you currently doing?


I&rsquo;m writing and producing music full-time; releasing songs and other content consistently, doing bits of writing for a few local artists/producers and have a site where I sell beats online (AWCCBEATS).


How did you get involved with GCF?


I had the pleasure of being a part of&nbsp;Carnival Messiah&nbsp;and worked with Geraldine, and then I found out about GCF shortly after she passed after going to watch a show with a few of the&nbsp;Carnival Messiah&nbsp;alumni.


Which GCF projects have you been involved with?


To be honest, I don&rsquo;t have a clue! I&rsquo;ve done so much with people involved and associat... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2020 09:36:09 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Adeline Pitu ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/adeline-pitu ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/adeline-pitu ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ PERFORMING ARTIST (ACT, DANCE &amp; MUSIC) 
Twitter:&nbsp;@MadameDynomite&nbsp;Instagram:&nbsp;@ADELINEPITU
1. When did you first start performing?
My interest in performing arts began during high school when I was considering what subjects I most enjoyed and therefore wanted to study. After studying performing arts at high school, I continued my studies and completed a BTEC in Performing Arts: Acting, my Foundation degree and BA in Performance Practice at Leeds City College. Recently I completed my MA in Performance at Leeds Beckett University.
2. What are you currently doing?
Currently, I would like to craft and work on my skills, while I still work with the GCF and taking part in a course at the Leeds Playhouse, and keeping an eye out for new opportunities.
3. How did you get involved with GCF?
I first became involved in the Foundation through Leeds City College whilst I was still studying, through GCF Creative Associate, Christella Litras. I attended singing classes by Chris... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2020 16:12:25 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ The Creative Associate Artists ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/the-creative-associate-artists ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/the-creative-associate-artists ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Our Creative Associate Artists span a wide range of disciplines. These multi-talented individuals maintain the ethos of the Foundation and ensure the principles which Geraldine held are present in all our work.&nbsp;




Khadijah Ibrahiim
Khadijah Ibrahiim was born in Leeds and is of Jamaican parentage. She is a literary activist, live artist, theatre maker, producer, and Artistic Director of Leeds Young Authors. Educated at the University of Leeds, she has a BA (Hons) in Arabic and Middle Eastern studies and an MA in Theatre Studies. Hailed as one of Yorkshire&rsquo;s most prolific poets by BBC Radio, she has appeared on many international stages. Her poetry collection, Another Crossing, was published by Peepal Tree Press and premiered at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2014.







Claudio Kron Do Brazil
Bahia born musician Claudio Kron plays a variety of percussion instruments and has travelled the world extensively promoting his native Brazilian culture through his w... ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 11 Oct 2021 15:54:43 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ The Board of Trustees ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/the-board-of-trustees ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/the-board-of-trustees ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ 




Diane Howse (Chair)
Diane Howse is an artist, curator and producer with extensive experience of developing a wide range of projects across the cultural spectrum. She has worked with many different organisations throughout her career but has had a specific involvement with Harewood House Trust in Yorkshire; she has been instrumental in developing the trust&rsquo;s cultural policy and has overseen a continuously changing programme of exhibitions and projects across Harewood by a wide range of practitioners. Her work there includes founding the Terrace Gallery in 1989.&nbsp;She was centrally involved in the development and presentation of a year-long programme of exhibitions and events at Harewood in 2007 commemorating the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade which culminated in a series of performances of Geraldine Connor&rsquo;s theatrical spectacular&nbsp;Carnival Messiah. She was a friend and professional associate of Geraldine Connor and played a key role in est... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2023 12:03:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ The Staff ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/the-staff ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/the-staff ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Natasha Cowie - Producer
After studying at the University of Leeds, Natasha was drawn in by the local arts and culture scene. As
&nbsp;well as being an Assistant Producer for the Geraldine Connor Foundation, she is a Projects and Admin Assistant for Transform Theatre Projects and Rep for SuperFriendz.
She has been actively involved in the radio community of Leeds, having produced shows for Leeds Student Radio, Alto and NARR and worked with FUN Kids radio. She has also been the Events Coordinator for the Leeds University Union Music Library and organised multiple fundraising concerts for Student Action for Refugees.&nbsp;
She is passionate about the power of the arts to foster a sense of community and about improving access to them for all regardless of background or experience
Contact Natasha



Umi Mistry - Finance Officer &amp; Company Administrator
Umi joined the Geraldine Connor Foundation as Company Administrator is 2015 and is responsible for all the financial and admin... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Oct 2023 13:42:49 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ 10 Unusual Facts About Les Misérables ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/10-unusual-facts-about-les-miserables ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/10-unusual-facts-about-les-miserables ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ It&rsquo;s just under a week until our musical theatre workshop At The End of the Day so we have been investigating the award-winning musical Les Mis&eacute;rables. Written by Claude-Michel Sch&ouml;nberg and Alan Boublil, Les Mis&eacute;rables is based on the 1862 novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. It follows the story of ex-convict Jean Valjean through France as he tries to find redemption and escape the clutches of police officer Javert. The story culminates in a student revolution (based on the Paris uprising of 1832) and has become incredibly popular since its premi&egrave;re in 1985. Les Mis&eacute;rables is one of the most successful musicals ever &ndash; it has been performed across the world and is the longest-running show in the West End. A show with this much history is bound to have some interesting stories to tell, so we have done some digging to come up with ten interesting facts that you may not have known about Les Mis&eacute;rables.

When it opened in the West En... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2020 09:12:16 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Young Ambassadors Bring Windrush Into Schools ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/young-ambassadors-bring-windrush-into-schools ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/young-ambassadors-bring-windrush-into-schools ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ 
Over the past two years, GCF have been working on a Windrush project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The first half of this project culminated in the production Sorrel &amp; Black Cake: A Windrush Story that was performed at the Mandela Centre in Chapeltown, The Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds Central Library and at the Ilkley Literature Festival. We also developed a Windrush Learning Resource that contains everything you need to plan and teach a lesson on Windrush or simply educate yourself.
As the project draws to a close two of our Young Ambassadors, Adeline Pitu and Lulia Togara have been developing a workshop to deliver in schools throughout June. To find out a bit about how they have found the experience of putting together a workshop and presenting in schools I asked them a few questions.
What have you learnt from creating the workshop?
Lulia: The importance of the bigger picture! Not just focusing on the interesting bits of information I want to share, but really thinki... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 27 Aug 2019 14:04:43 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Jobs ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/jobs ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/jobs ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Jobs: organising your content  You can list current vacancies on this page, separated by headers. Alternatively, if you want to provide a lot of information (or have a lot of vacancies), you could create a listing page to display individual posts for each role.    It&rsquo;s easy to link to files such as PDFs to the page if you want to make a job pack available for users to download. If you want to encourage general job enquiries, you could create a form to enable people to send you the details you want.  Content tips  Don&rsquo;t forget to include a friendly note for times when there are no vacancies available: nobody wants to see a blank page! You might even want to encourage people to look at a volunteering page as an alternative.    As with all your content, the user journey is really important. You should think about how potential candidates will apply for vacant roles, and make it clear what the next steps will be.   To access the links above you will need to be registered on our... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 25 Jun 2019 15:51:34 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Our projects ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/our-projects ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/our-projects ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Services: organising your content  Add page posts for each service you offer. If you run a few services under several different areas, use a listing page to gather each group of services together.    Create and link to a referral or inquiry form if you want to provide an easy way for site visitors to get in touch about your services &ndash; or even to sign up.  Content tips  Use short descriptive titles so that services can be universally understood, especially by new website users, rather than project names that won&rsquo;t mean much to them. You can always talk about branded services or project areas in the content on the page.    Although you&rsquo;ll probably need to provide some practical information, focus on the benefits (what people get from the service) instead of a dry description of what you offer. A simple quote (it&rsquo;s easy to add the blockquote style) from someone who has benefited might be the key to convincing a visitor to sign up.   To access the links above you wi... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 30 May 2019 11:24:32 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Our History ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/our-history-1 ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/our-history-1 ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Geraldine Connor
Geraldine Connor (1952-2011) was a theatre director, educationalist, and inspiration to many.
Geraldine was born in London on 22nd March 1952. Her parents, Edric and Pearl Connor, were important cultural figures both in Trinidad and in London: Edric as an actor, writer and collector of Caribbean folk songs; Pearl as the first theatrical agent to represent black and other ethnic minority actors, writers and film-makers in Britain. Geraldine spent her early childhood in Trinidad and Tobago with her grandparents and an extended family that included Beryl McBurnie of the Little Carib Theatre, an early artistic inspiration. Later she trained at the Royal College of Music in London, obtained a Diploma in Education in Trinidad, and was awarded a Master of Music degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London before completing her doctoral research at the University of Leeds in 2006 with a thesis entitled:&nbsp;!Halleluliah! Excursions into a third space &nd... ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 22 Mar 2021 10:48:35 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Meet the Team ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/meet-the-team ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/meet-the-team ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ 
Staff
The Board of Trustees
Creative Associate Artists
Young Ambassadors ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 29 Aug 2019 10:15:41 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Fundraise for Us ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/fundraise-for-us ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/fundraise-for-us ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Fundraising events are a fantastic way for people of all ages and abilities to support the Geraldine Connor Foundation.

Whether you want to hold a bake sale, do a sponsored silence or even run a marathon we can help support your fundraising activity.
Your support will enable young people from diverse and challenging backgrounds to create, participate and perform in a wide variety of arts activities.
You can fundraise for a specific GCF event or just to raise money to support the running of the organisation.
Click 'Start a Fundraiser' below to set up your fundraiser page.

Start a Fundraiser Current Fundraisers
 ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2020 08:48:51 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ About Us ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/about-us ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/about-us ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The Geraldine Connor Foundation (GCF) is a registered charity, established in 2012 to continue the work and vision of Geraldine Connor by bringing people together through arts and culture.
We provide global perspectives across many artforms including music, theatre, dance, spoken word poetry and visual arts. We reach around 800 young people every year through projects that include workshops, performances and mentoring programmes.
GCF plays a crucial role in mentoring young people with serious artistic hopes, helping them crystallise their ambitions and then supporting them to access further professional support or artistic development with appropriate organisations. Many former participants are now practising professionals, performing or working nationally and internationally.


GCF plays a crucial role in mentoring young people with serious artistic hopes.


OUR ARTISTIC POLICY

GCF is an ambitious arts organisation that nurtures new work and talent and celebrates cultural f... ]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 15 Dec 2023 11:11:41 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ How We Help ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/how-we-help ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/how-we-help ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The Geraldine Connor Foundation provides global perspectives across many artforms including music, theatre, dance, spoken word poetry and visual arts.
We reach around 800 young people every year through projects that include workshops, performances and mentoring programmes.
We know that engaging with the arts as a participant or audience member has a positive influence on wellbeing and confidence as well as contributing to removing perceived barriers between communities.
Take a look at how we have helped communities in Leeds:
Past Projects
Case Studies
Our Impact in 2018 ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:55:26 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Support us ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/support-us-1 ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/support-us-1 ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ To enable the Foundation to continue the legacy of Geraldine Connor by creating professional art and engaging young people in the process, we need your support.
The Geraldine Connor Foundation is a registered charity (no.1156982). By supporting us, you will be investing in the future of the next generation of extraordinary artists. You will be enabling young people from diverse and challenging backgrounds to create, participate and perform.

We believe that creativity enriches people&rsquo;s lives, has a positive influence on people&rsquo;s wellbeing and confidence, and contributes to removing perceived barriers between communities.
There are many ways you can support us. You could&nbsp;donate&nbsp;to one of our current projects. We welcome donations of any size, no matter how small. Or you could become a GCF Supporter&nbsp;and support the long-term running of the organisation.
Feeling adventurous? Why not hold your own fundraising event? You can create a fundraising page&nbsp;on ... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2020 11:37:18 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Who We Are ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/who-we-are ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/who-we-are ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ The Geraldine Connor Foundation was established in 2012 to continue the work and vision of Geraldine COnnor by bringing people together through arts and culture.&nbsp; ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jul 2019 13:38:03 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Introducing Our Windrush Learning Resource ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/introducing-our-windrush-learning-resource ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/Blog/introducing-our-windrush-learning-resource ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ In just over a month's time on Saturday 22nd June, we'll be celebrating Windrush Day 2019. It is a wonderful opportunity to come together to celebrate and commemorate the remarkable contribution of the Windrush Generation to British economic, social and cultural life.
In the meantime, we'd like to take the opportunity to do a big shout out about our Windrush Learning Resource, where you can find out all about the Windrush Generation. Our resources combine a mixture of short films, interviews, recipes, reading lists and playlists. View the full resource here.
If you would like a free workshop in school or the community about the Windrush Generation, please contact GCF: selina@gcfoundation.co.uk.
  
YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_vzhDPFHlY
   ]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jul 2019 09:20:12 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Remembering Geraldine ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/remembering-geraldine ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/remembering-geraldine ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ 
Geraldine Connor, our namesake, was a friend to many, an inspiration to all and a force to be reckoned with on many occasions.
In 2021 we celebrated the&nbsp;69th&nbsp;birthday of Geraldine&nbsp;(22nd March 1952),&nbsp;the 14-year anniversary of Carnival Messiah at Harewood House&nbsp;(14th-30th&nbsp;September 2007) and the&nbsp;9th&nbsp;year of the Geraldine Connor Foundation&nbsp;(18th&nbsp;December 2012).
Creative Associate Artist Lara Rose shared her in-depth blog about Yoruba culture's influence on the arts in Leeds, using Carnival Messiah as a case study.
We shared special memories and moments on social media with the #RememberingGeraldine, so check our pages for ongoing celebrations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;
 ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Apr 2021 09:40:12 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Privacy Policy ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/privacy-policy ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/privacy-policy ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ This privacy policy is designed to advise you about how the Geraldine Connor Foundation collect, use, and protect your personal data that you provide to us through our website or by attending our events or projects. By visiting the Geraldine Connor Foundation website (https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/), you are accepting the practices described in this Privacy Policy. We take all necessary steps to ensure that your data is treated securely in accordance with this privacy policy.
INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We ask you for certain personal data to provide you with the products and services requested by you from the Geraldine Connor Foundation. This information is collected when you participate in our events or projects, make a transaction online, request to receive our newsletter, apply for a job, contact us, or visit our website.
This personal data includes your:

Contact details, including name, address, email, telephone number
Emergency contact details
Personal files on staff members,... ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Feb 2020 10:17:49 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Volunteer for Us ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/volunteer-for-us ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/volunteer-for-us ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ We are always extremely grateful for additional hands to help, wherever your skills lie and however much time you have to spare.




Why volunteer for GCF?
As well as helping us out, volunteering for the Geraldine Connor Foundation helps you to:

contribute to the community
gain experience
meet new people
and most importantly have fun!

What could you be doing?
There is a huge range of things you could do if you volunteer with us. Perhaps you&rsquo;d enjoy helping at our participatory workshops or spending time in our office organising our archive. We also welcome young people who would like to complete work experience placements with us.
How to apply:
Please fill in this form&nbsp;to register your interest. We will be in touch with you to let you know about volunteering opportunities that we have coming up. We would love to hear from anyone that has an interest in the arts and would like to give up their time to help us out!&nbsp;
Volunteer for Us!


We have both l... ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2020 08:09:09 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Cookie Policy ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/cookie-policy ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/cookie-policy ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[  ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2018 14:58:20 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Accessibility ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/accessibility ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/accessibility ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ We&nbsp;are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability.   We are actively working to increase the accessibility and usability of our website and in doing so adhere to many of the available standards and guidelines.   This website endeavours to conform to level Double-A of the World Wide Web Consortium W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0.   These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible for people with disabilities. Conformance with these guidelines will help make the web more user friendly for all people.   This site has been built using code compliant with W3C standards for HTML and CSS. The site displays correctly in current browsers and using standards compliant HTML/CSS code means any future browsers will also display it correctly.   Whilst we strive to adhere to the accepted guidelines and standards for accessibility and usability, it is not always possible to do so in all area... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:19:13 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Terms and Conditions ]]></title><link><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/terms-and-conditions ]]></link><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[ https://www.gcfoundation.co.uk/terms-and-conditions ]]></guid><description><![CDATA[ Acceptance of terms
This Agreement, which incorporates by reference other provisions applicable to use of www.gcfoundation.co.uk, including, but not limited to, supplemental terms and conditions set forth hereof ("Supplemental Terms") governing the use of certain specific material contained in www.gcfoundation.co.uk, sets forth the terms and conditions that apply to use of www.gcfoundation.co.uk by the user. By using www.gcfoundation.co.uk (other than to read this Agreement for the first time), the user agrees to comply with all of the terms and conditions hereof. The right to use www.gcfoundation.co.uk is personal to the user and is not transferable to any other person or entity. The user is responsible for all use of the user's Account (under any screen name or password) and for ensuring that all use of the user's Account complies fully with the provisions of this Agreement. The user shall be responsible for protecting the confidentiality of their password(s), if any.
The Geraldine... ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 06 Aug 2019 12:47:26 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>