The Saxon Arts & Crafts Project, supported by The National Lottery through the Arts Council of England, is a unique project aiming to benefit young people and their leaders.

Now well under way, the project, an initiative organised by The Birmingham Vikings (Dahrg de Belne) a Dark Age re-enactment, living history and educational group, in conjunction with The Viking Experience, will provide an outdoor craft area in the grounds of Bells Farm, a Grade II* Tudor listed building at Druids Heath, Birmingham, plus a series of six events to extend both the range and client base of existing craft work with adults and children.

Each event will provide one day for training youth leaders and teachers, plus a second day for young people assisted by their leaders and crafts people from re-enactment groups.

Using a unique combination of role play and practical tuition participants will experience a wide range of crafts including textiles, pottery, calligraphy, metal and woodwork, and gain an insight into the multi-cultural make up of England's roots during the Saxon/Viking and Norman period.

THE NATIONAL LOTTERY THROUGH THE ARTS COUNCIL OF ENGLAND

Also gratefully acknowledged for their assistance are our parent group, The Vikings, Britain's largest Dark Age re-enactment and living history society...

...and the Bells Farm Community Association.

Telephone or fax John or Roz Sheard on 0121 784 6408.       Email jhsheard@yahoo.com

The project will provide an outdoor craft area in the grounds of a Grade II* Tudor listed building and a series of six events, one per school term over two years.

Using a unique combination of role play and practical tuition participants will experience a wide range of crafts including textiles, pottery, calligraphy, metal and woodwork, and gain an insight into the multi-cultural make up of Englands roots during the Saxon/Viking and Norman period.

a) First day for training youth leaders and teachers (maximum 10 attendees per day), Participants will gain experience in craft skills, attend ideas workshop etc. Courses will be devised and lead by a professionally qualified leader trainer and assistant.

b) A second activity day where previously trained leaders bring a small group (four per leader) to use the facilities. The activity day will be staffed by the course leader from the first day and several specialist craft workers from the Birmingham Vikings.

Project Co-ordinator Responsible to the group and Arts Council for general running and administration of the project, Assistant Training Tutor Mr J Sheard, Electronics Technician and part time Adult Education Tutor, over twenty years experience in youth work and Chairman of Bells Farm Community Association.

Senior Tutor Responsible to the project co-ordinator for course content, documentation of teacher notes, selection and training of craft work demonstators, joint responsibility for finance control.. Mrs R B Sheard, further education and special needs teacher with over twenty years youth work experience.

Publicity Officer Responsible to the project co-ordinator for the public image of the project, joint responsibility for finance control. Mr Stuart Williams, Professional Photographer and Senior Archives Assistant.

Specialist Craft Workers Responsible to the Senior Tutor for setting up, demonstrating skills, ensuring safety of participants and maintenance of equipment in their charge.

All are members of The Birmingham Vikings (Dahrg de Belne) that have proven skills, reliability, and an aptitude for working with young people.

1. Encourage and develop their participation in arts activity.
2. Get young people actively involved in arts and cultural activities.
3. Build their creative potential through training.
4. Increase their cultural and historical knowledge in an exciting, involving cross-curricular setting.

1. Compound area improvements to the steel lock up shed, fencing and provision of lighting for evening activities.
2. Increased community and public awarenes of the facilities.
3. Increased rental income of site.
4. Attracting additional course income.

1. Increased public awarness of the society.
2. Provide a Midlands training facility.
3. Craft work research and documentation.

1. Provide a local training area.
2. Increased community and public awareness.
3. Capital for new tents and major craft props as needed for the Project.
4. Training and development oportunities.
5. Opportunity for group members to gain employment.

1. Increased credibility with local authority & education departments.
2. Source of income.
3. Opportunity to develop new areas of research and course design.

MORE...

Groups of about five youngsters rotated round the bases for Leather work, Woodwork, Blacksmithing, Pottery, Netmaking, Ringmaking, Calligraphy, Spinning and Weaving.

The whole event was recorded on video for future project promotion.

The sun shone until five minutes before the end, then the torrential rain ensured we had a prompt end to the workshops and soggy tents to go home with.

The school head teacher and the class teacher were well impressed, and the children obviously enjoyed the event and were reluctant to return to school.

The invited guests from West Midlands Arts, Birmingham City Education Department and Department of Leisure and Community Services all made favourable comments.

A news agency photographer was impressed sufficiently to stay all afternoon with the vowed intention of putting together an article for the Times Educational supplement.

The Birmingham Post newspaper published the following as part of their article on Lottery grants:

"A Birmingham group celebrated yesterday after being awarded a National Lottery grant to set up a "Viking Village" in the city.

The Birmingham Vikings, a "Dark Age re-enactment group", will receive £4,440 as part of the Arts 4 Everyone Express Scheme by the Arts Council of England.

It will go towards a project costing nearly £5000 to provide an outdoor Saxons and Vikings craft area at Bells Farm, a Grade II* listed Tudor building, in Druids Heath,Birmingham, and six two-day events over two years for training youth leaders and activity sessions for youngsters.

The sessions will include teaching youngsters Saxon, Viking and Norman arts and crafts, and feature a tented village in the grounds of Bells Farm."

Invited guests were:

Mr Paul Archer Advisor for Humanities and Environment, Birmingham Education.

Tel: 0121 472 3020 fax 0121 428 1196

Mr Gary Abraham, Area Manager, Birmingham Leisure and Community Services.

Tel: 0121 459 9919 fax 0121 459 9726

Mr Martin Turner, Executive Officer, West Midlands Arts.

Tel: 0121 631 3121 fax 0121 643 7239