It Started with a Kiss – An Exhibition by Inglefield Women’s Hostel

Media Release
For immediate use
14 May 2012

CITIZENS THEATRE presents
It Started With A Kiss - An Exhibition by Inglefield Women’s Hostel
18 May – 6 June 2012 (launch 17 May, 6pm – 8pm)
Tramway, Upper Foyer

Over the last three years the Citizens Theatre Learning Department in partnership with Glasgow Social Work Services and Glasgow Life has been working with the residents of Inglefield Women’s Hostel through a series of weekly creative workshops with the aim of providing those who are directly affected by homelessness with a voice. 

The workshops - which have involved residents participating in activities including drama, creative writing, film-making, visual art, song-writing and recording – have been a vehicle for the women to express themselves creatively and offer a moment of respite from their everyday lives.

Inglefield Hostel, or ‘Ingie Jingie’ as it is called by some of its residents, is located in the south side of Glasgow and has the capacity to house 67 women. The hostel, run by Glasgow City Council Social Work Services, provides shelter and safety for women in crisis as a result of many different circumstances and reasons. Residents participating in the workshops have worked alongside experienced theatre director Elly Goodman from the Citizens and a variety of professional artists*. Elly who has worked on various community arts projects including the ‘Inspiring Change’ project at HMP Barlinnie commented:

“I’m very excited by the level of creativity that can be achieved in challenging and difficult environments… the arts bind groups of people together and create a unity, a shared experience and a positive pathway through the creative process. A lot of the women don’t see themselves as creative beings at all and yet when they participate they then realise the process they have been through has been really therapeutic and they are delighted with their achievements.”

Showcasing in the Upper Foyer of international arts venue Tramway, the It Started with a Kiss Exhibition is the culmination of the creative workshops. The exhibition also looks to the future with the closure of Inglefield Hostel in June 2012 and opening of the Chara Centre, a new purpose-built facility in Possilpark. It is hoped that the work produced as part of the workshops will be featured in the new centre. Due to enormous success of this project there are also plans to continue this meaningful partnership at the Chara Centre if funding is successfully secured.

ENDS

For more information, interview/picture requests contact:
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EDITORS NOTES

1. *Artists Involved
These artists have had extensive experience of working in community projects and with marginalised groups.

Carol Laula – Singer Songwriter
Kate Black - Drama Practitioner, Citizens Theatre
Rachel Mimiec – Visual Artist
Jules McCahill – Film maker

More artist details available.

2. Partnership Working
Geraldine Lynch, the Director of the Hostel, and staff member Tricia Green have also been heavily involved in the delivery of the workshops and encouraging the participants with the work they produce. Janet Bain, Cultural Services Officer with Glasgow Life, has been instrumental to the project as she has been responsible for securing funds to enable the workshops to take place.

3. The New Chara Centre
The Chara Centre will open in June 2012 and consists of 25 self-contained studio flats. The name for the centre was chosen by the residents of the Inglefield Hostel and comes from the Greek meaning ‘joy’.

4. The Citizens in the Community
Firmly rooted in its local community and working with children, young people and socially excluded adults is a fundamental part of the Theatre’s ethos.

The Citizens believes theatre and drama have an essential role to play in bringing about positive social change. The Citizens Theatre

LISTING
Inglefield Women’s Hostel Exhibition - It Started with a Kiss
18 May - 6 June 2012
Opening night on Thu 17 May 6 - 8pm.
At The Tramway - upper foyer
25 Albert Drive, Glasgow, G41 2PE
Free

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