Sheffield Creative Action Network
Sheffield Creative Action Network | 11.11.2003 18:17 | Sheffield
“Creativity is human – it belongs to all women and men (and children). But many want to dispossess us of this creativity, something that is ours. They want to turn creativity into something elitist, saying the artists are the creative ones, the ones who inspire each other…In everything we do, we include this element which is important and fundamental to us: creativity. Then people say to us: “You’re artists.” But we are not artists, we are street activists. All we do is something which is totally human: creativity.”
Sheffield Creative Action Network
From an interview with ‘Mujeres Creando’ by the Notes from Nowhere collective–We are Everywhere’ 2003
This is an introduction to the ‘Creative Activism Network’: a Sheffield group that provides an alternative, independent space where artists, activists and communities can collaborate.
In the words of the Carnival of the Oppressed “Art has the ability to uplift, empower, motivate and educate. If we are to have a different social order than the one we are presently miserable under, if we are to become participants and not just observers, creators and not mere consumers, then culture must be allowed to come from the bottom up, not the other way around.”
The Creative Action Network met for the first time in September, in this year of intense activism and protest.
We respond to the notion that traditional forms of protest such as the public meeting, the A to B march, and the slogan are limited in their scope for change. We are more certain than ever that a creative, and original approach is necessary
The emergence of a world-wide movement, has been described by Subcommandante Marcos of the Zapatistas thus:
“The revolution, in general, is no longer imagined according to socialist patterns of realism, that is, as men and women stoically marching behind a red, waving flag towards a luminous future. Rather it has become a sort of carnival.”
The Notes from Nowhere collective, echo this point in the opening to their new book “We are Everywhere”:
“Rather than one dominant political voice, one dogma, one party line, we present you with a collision of subjectivities, a new, radical, transformative politics based on direct democracy; one that values our individual voices…”
In the past creative people were patronised by highly objective party political conceptions of “the role of the artist”.
The Creative Action Network’s function is to provide a space in which creative acts can blossom: not impose a single aesthetic or ideology on to the group.
“I’ve never been involved in political activity,” says Russian Clown, Slava Polunin, “but finally it happens so. Whenever we try to make a world that conforms to our inner world, it becomes protest.”
Carol Becker avows that the lefts historic lack of understanding in this regard may be a reason for many artists resistance to political movements: fear that it will deny them the pleasure of artmaking in itself, to be replaced by “issues”.
The Creative Action Network therefore encourages creativity for creativity’s sake, and autonomy when it is desired. That is precisely why we are a ‘network’, and not a party!
The Situationists were predicting in the 50’s that capitalism would transform society into a “commodity spectacle” where people would be transfixed and depoliticised by a never-ending barrage of manufactured events and enticing products.
Marcuse argued that art serves best as an imaginative space where we can regenerate the lost, hidden, creative, spiritual and intuitive capacities of human life. Art is subversive because it reminds people of what has been buried.
It is my personal opinion that we must be careful not to betray the medium we employ, but should strive to reclaim creativity itself.
The Creative Action Network meets in accordance with the above aims, in studios, rehearsal rooms, and kitchens, and community halls.
We value everybody who contributes to the meetings, which are informal and intimate. We have often interrupted meetings with a game.
As a result of larger meetings, held every three weeks or so, we split into more dynamic project groups, which hold workshops relating to specific actions.
So far there are two ongoing collaborations as a result of the group:
An Afternoon of Games, Theatre, and Surprises for ‘No Shop day’ (Saturday Nov 29th).
Come to the next workshop to find out more! All ages and abilities welcome: we’re sure that there’ll be something you can’t resist.
A Lantern Carnival on March the 21st 2004.
March the 21st is Mothering Sunday. It is also one day after the Vernal Equinox, and ‘United Nations’ international day against racism.
We are planning a Lantern Carnival in Sharrow, to celebrate March the 21st, which everyone is invited. It will feature huge mobile lanterns, and puppets, rolling, illuminated Ferris wheels and much music making.
We will hold a variety of workshops, for all, across Sharrow in the two weeks preceding the event, where you will have the opportunity to build lanterns, large and small.
The building of our first giant lanterns is underway: we hope to use these to inspire other groups and members of our community to build more.
We are trying to source recycled and found materials, and are seeking alternative funding for this event (your donations gratefully received to purchase basic materials for lanterns: wet strength tissue paper, candles, willow-withies, bamboo) Also wanted are old metal prams (as opposed to modern plastic pushchairs) unpainted lengths of steel and some reasonably un-warped bicycle wheels (26inch diameter, standard Mountain bike front wheels with tubes and tires preferably!). This is to aid in the construction of trolleys and barrows that will form the basis for some of the giant constructions we are building.
Meetings etc e mail
actfourpeace@yahoo.com We have a new-ish Mobile and a list and web site are being worked upon..
Posted for CAN by Mozaz
web site / e list admin person
Donation locations of Skips with good stuff
then phone Mozaz 0781 462 5286
one love
From an interview with ‘Mujeres Creando’ by the Notes from Nowhere collective–We are Everywhere’ 2003
This is an introduction to the ‘Creative Activism Network’: a Sheffield group that provides an alternative, independent space where artists, activists and communities can collaborate.
In the words of the Carnival of the Oppressed “Art has the ability to uplift, empower, motivate and educate. If we are to have a different social order than the one we are presently miserable under, if we are to become participants and not just observers, creators and not mere consumers, then culture must be allowed to come from the bottom up, not the other way around.”
The Creative Action Network met for the first time in September, in this year of intense activism and protest.
We respond to the notion that traditional forms of protest such as the public meeting, the A to B march, and the slogan are limited in their scope for change. We are more certain than ever that a creative, and original approach is necessary
The emergence of a world-wide movement, has been described by Subcommandante Marcos of the Zapatistas thus:
“The revolution, in general, is no longer imagined according to socialist patterns of realism, that is, as men and women stoically marching behind a red, waving flag towards a luminous future. Rather it has become a sort of carnival.”
The Notes from Nowhere collective, echo this point in the opening to their new book “We are Everywhere”:
“Rather than one dominant political voice, one dogma, one party line, we present you with a collision of subjectivities, a new, radical, transformative politics based on direct democracy; one that values our individual voices…”
In the past creative people were patronised by highly objective party political conceptions of “the role of the artist”.
The Creative Action Network’s function is to provide a space in which creative acts can blossom: not impose a single aesthetic or ideology on to the group.
“I’ve never been involved in political activity,” says Russian Clown, Slava Polunin, “but finally it happens so. Whenever we try to make a world that conforms to our inner world, it becomes protest.”
Carol Becker avows that the lefts historic lack of understanding in this regard may be a reason for many artists resistance to political movements: fear that it will deny them the pleasure of artmaking in itself, to be replaced by “issues”.
The Creative Action Network therefore encourages creativity for creativity’s sake, and autonomy when it is desired. That is precisely why we are a ‘network’, and not a party!
The Situationists were predicting in the 50’s that capitalism would transform society into a “commodity spectacle” where people would be transfixed and depoliticised by a never-ending barrage of manufactured events and enticing products.
Marcuse argued that art serves best as an imaginative space where we can regenerate the lost, hidden, creative, spiritual and intuitive capacities of human life. Art is subversive because it reminds people of what has been buried.
It is my personal opinion that we must be careful not to betray the medium we employ, but should strive to reclaim creativity itself.
The Creative Action Network meets in accordance with the above aims, in studios, rehearsal rooms, and kitchens, and community halls.
We value everybody who contributes to the meetings, which are informal and intimate. We have often interrupted meetings with a game.
As a result of larger meetings, held every three weeks or so, we split into more dynamic project groups, which hold workshops relating to specific actions.
So far there are two ongoing collaborations as a result of the group:
An Afternoon of Games, Theatre, and Surprises for ‘No Shop day’ (Saturday Nov 29th).
Come to the next workshop to find out more! All ages and abilities welcome: we’re sure that there’ll be something you can’t resist.
A Lantern Carnival on March the 21st 2004.
March the 21st is Mothering Sunday. It is also one day after the Vernal Equinox, and ‘United Nations’ international day against racism.
We are planning a Lantern Carnival in Sharrow, to celebrate March the 21st, which everyone is invited. It will feature huge mobile lanterns, and puppets, rolling, illuminated Ferris wheels and much music making.
We will hold a variety of workshops, for all, across Sharrow in the two weeks preceding the event, where you will have the opportunity to build lanterns, large and small.
The building of our first giant lanterns is underway: we hope to use these to inspire other groups and members of our community to build more.
We are trying to source recycled and found materials, and are seeking alternative funding for this event (your donations gratefully received to purchase basic materials for lanterns: wet strength tissue paper, candles, willow-withies, bamboo) Also wanted are old metal prams (as opposed to modern plastic pushchairs) unpainted lengths of steel and some reasonably un-warped bicycle wheels (26inch diameter, standard Mountain bike front wheels with tubes and tires preferably!). This is to aid in the construction of trolleys and barrows that will form the basis for some of the giant constructions we are building.
Meetings etc e mail
actfourpeace@yahoo.com We have a new-ish Mobile and a list and web site are being worked upon.. Posted for CAN by Mozaz
web site / e list admin person
Donation locations of Skips with good stuff
then phone Mozaz 0781 462 5286
one love
Sheffield Creative Action Network