Posts by devstaging
Odd Arts Annual Report 2023-2024
“This year has felt overwhelming for many, with world conflict & injustice impacting the way people experience the everyday. Odd Arts has tried to provide spaces that challenge, hold safety, and open up discussions that otherwise feel shut down. We have also worked in more prisons than ever, and are proud to have played a role in offering people who are locked up in increasingly challenging prison environments – with the space to connect, create, and hopefully re-build self-worth. Incredibly, in Jan 2024 we reached our 20th year!
Read MoreOdd Arts Annual Report 2022-2023
This year we have continued to build on the themes that matter so deeply to us: Overcoming hate, discrimination & racism; reducing violence (in its many forms); celebrating unheard stories; and mental health.
We have seen an increased demand for our work and the complexity that can come with it. In the ‘post covid’ era we see increased inequalities, a cost of living crisis and a huge strain on funding across the sector. Thanks to our most dedicated, talented and compassionate staff and freelance team, we have continued to find creative solutions to ensure we maintain the most meaningful and high quality experience for the people we serve.
Read MoreOdd Arts Annual Report 2021-2022
It’s once again hard to know where to start with summing up the last year for Odd Arts. Like everyone, we had to continue to be flexible & resilient to overcome the ongoing hurdles & unpredictability that the world kept throwing at us. The creative solutions we responded with have enabled us to deliver some of our most innovative & forward thinking practices & projects to date.
Read MoreHow Odd Arts unlocks creativity to empower young children
Odd Arts delivers issue-based creative programmes for vulnerable and excluded groups. The company uses specialist applied theatre and creative techniques to address and explore contentious and challenging issues. Our focus is on developing a learning environment which both enables young people’s creativity, critical thinking and empathy as well as helping them to develop understanding and resilience to negotiate complex life challenges.
Read MoreUsing creativity to address hateful extremism in the classroom
Odd Arts uses theatre to change the way people understand themselves and the world around them. The themes we explore are nuanced and complex: Hateful extremism; sexual assault; mental health; exploitation. All of them hold risk. None of them have ‘one answer’. For this reason, many people (including teachers) feel safer avoiding them.
Read MoreOdd Arts – Next in the community alliance spotlight series
Next in our community alliance spotlight series is Odd Arts. Part of the Manchester community alliance, Odd Arts is a Manchester charity delivering innovative and creative programmes, across all art forms, with vulnerable and excluded groups. Specialising in delivering theatre-based programmes that challenge and change attitudes and behaviours, Odd Arts work with participants to devise theatre, from their own experiences as well as touring professional interactive theatre performances on challenging topics.
Read MoreOdd Arts – Blame and Belonging
‘Blame and Belonging’ is an interactive theatre performance and workshop designed to encourage meaningful debate around issues of hate, identity, and vulnerability.
Read MoreKnife Crime Prevention Theatre Project
Odd Arts is a charity using theatre to reduce risk, increase opportunities, reduce disadvantage and increase wellbeing. We use theatre to challenge the way people see themselves and the world, working with over 25,000 people each year within the criminal justice, education and community networks.
Read MoreOdd Arts Annual Report 2020-2021
Well, what a year. One which has felt overwhelmingly sad for so many reasons and for so many people. We want to take this opportunity to look back on the hope, resilience and achievements attained by our Odd Arts beneficiaries, staff and volunteers amidst such adversity. To reflect on the impact achieved during this time feels fantastic, but this has only been possible with the support and trust of our communities, beneficiaries and donors. Please take a minute to share our pride by reading the stories and projects from the last year.
Read MoreBuilding resilience and overcoming adversity through dance & drama
This blog brings together Odd Arts and Company Chameleon to reflect on their own learning from one another, and on what Dance Drama can do to impact people experiencing incarceration, trauma and other barriers.
Read More