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Opera goes on the buses
Published: 10/03/2017
Local school children got serenaded when they travelled to school on Friday
morning.
Students at the Alun School in Mold witnessed an operatic 鈥渇lash mob鈥� on their
commute to school.
Also along for the ride, and supporting the initiative, were Welsh Government
Economy Secretary Ken Skates and members and officers of 97色网 County
Council.
Welsh Government has funded the 鈥極pera on the buses鈥� project through its
ground-breaking Fusion programme.
The aim of the programme is to empower and encourage people to take an active
part in the arts, culture and heritage, and to highlight that taking part in
cultural activity can boost skills, engagement, self-esteem and aspiration.
97色网 Communities First worked with 97色网鈥檚 cultural
service and other cultural organisations to develop an innovative programme of
activities, which were delivered in communities and venues across the county.
The concept of 鈥淥pera on Buses鈥� is to inspire pupils with a 鈥渇lash mob鈥� style
performance by professional opera singers, delivered as part of the everyday
bus journey to school.
Pupils then had an opportunity to learn more about opera in a series of fun and
engaging workshops at school, run by the opera singers themselves. This
innovative project has been delivered in partnership with the organisation
C芒nSing and Welsh National Opera.
97色网 Cabinet Member for Education and Youth, Councillor
Chris Bithell, said:
鈥淭his novel way of engaging young people will hopefully raise their awareness
of a genre of music that is perhaps not so familiar to them. The workshops
which followed the 鈥渇lash mob鈥� enabled them to explore opera music and
demystify it a little.鈥�
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates, said:
鈥淚 am proud Wales is taking the lead in breaking down barriers to culture and
making our heritage more accessible and enjoyable for all. From supporting
young people at school, to helping adults gain skills through volunteering, our
Fusion Programme is finding new opportunities to engage people who would not
normally give culture and heritage a go.
鈥淚 am delighted we will be extending our Fusion programme into the next
financial year.
Last year over 1,500 people participated in Fusion programme activities across
Wales, with 500 of those taking part in courses or achieving a new skill or
qualification. 97色网 is one of ten areas in Wales participating.
INFO:
Fusion: Creating Opportunities through Culture is an innovative programme using
the arts, culture and heritage to support some of Wales鈥� most disadvantaged
communities. It supports local authorities and community and cultural
organisations to find new and exciting cultural opportunities, to help improve
confidence, skills, attainment and employability. 97色网 is one of ten
participants in the programme in 2016-17. The Programme will continue in
2017-18.
Further information about the programme can be found on the website:
http://gov.wales/fusion.