the outreach project
An essential driving force behind the project is the desire to involve the whole community in the creation of a high profile artwork. This includes the residents of the neighbourhood as well as people in the visual catchment area and beyond.
To this end the outreach project was developed to generate a dialogue between the artists and the community. There were five main groups involved:
Varndean College
Varndean College is a co-educational college in the further education sector with 1000+ 16-19 year old students and 1500+ full and part-time adult students.
Situated across the valley from Compton Road, the college shares an impressive 60 acre site with Varndean School, Dorothy Stringer School and Balfour Infant and Junior School.
Steve Geliot has been working with Varndean sixth form students making real and virtual models of Compton Road houses.
Playstation Nursey
The nursery is situated in a converted scout hall in the grounds of St Matthias Church, in the Fiveways area of Brighton. It caters for about 50 two to five year olds.
Steve Geliot created an enourmous jelly for the children to “deconstruct” using a vacuumed-formed mould developed with the help of Varndean students in the shape of Compton Road houses.
Dorothy Stringer High School
Dorothy Stringer High School shares a site with Varndean College. It is a popular comprehensive school for approximately 1500 students aged between 11 and 16.
Ros Barber has worked with pupils from the school writing haiku poems.
Preston Bowls Club
Preston Bowls Club nestles in the valley to the east of Compton Road by the main road to London.
Ros Barber has worked on haiku poems with members to produce text which will be animated for the final installation.
Compton Road residents
The project would not be possible without the enthusiasm of the residents of Compton Road.
They have had the opportunity to work with several of the artists on a range of projects including:
creating sculptures with Brian McClare, Gavin Peacock and David Smith- performing for the movie camera with Miriam King
- writing haiku poems with poet Ros Barber
- opening their homes to painter Eleanor Williams.