A new project by Waveney and Blyth Arts has been given an arts grant to help people who are visually-impaired, to make music and connect with nature. ‘Sensing Nature’ is the initiative being launched, with a series of 4 free taster sessions, to be held across Norfolk and Suffolk. The first of the workshops is on 6th February(2017), to run from 10am to 3pm, at the Eye Community Centre (Suffolk).
Muscicians and singers who are sight-impaired are being encouraged to join in the sessions which are being funded with the help of a grant of £15,000 from the Arts Council. The initiative has been created with the goal of exploring ‘nature of sound and sound in nature’ in association with a group of professional musicians and the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind.
The project will culminate inJuly with a bespoke public performance outdoors in Eye, at the Thornham Walks woodland, plus a new ‘sound trail’. The scheme will be led by Jackie Walduck, a composer and vibraphone player and by composer Adrian Lee, also one of the visually-impaired musicians. Jackie set up Tactile of London, with half of its members visually-impaired.
The Sensing Nature initiative’s project manager, Jan Dungey, said they hoped the musicians and singers will have a good time in the workshops and carry on to perform this new music outdoors, to make Tornham Walks come alive with the sound of music and nature.
A Waveney & Blyth Arts spokesperson said they were working for keen singers and musicians with some experience but did not expect standards of professionals or semi-professionsls. Enthusiasm for playing with top-class musicians and exploring new ways to make music is more important, the spokesperson added. For more information and details on the free taster sessions, call up Waveney & Blyth Arts by phone to 01379 852501.
