Documentation of the R&D process for The Common Line project March-September 2018. A partnership project between Blind Ditch, Controlled Frenzy, and Geography at University of Exeter with support from Rural Recreation. Funded by AHRC-EPSRC this R&D was kindly supported by University of Cumbria.

The Common Line - AHRC-EPSRC R&D

The Common Line

The Common Line R&D process

A participatory arts project developed from crowd-sourced creative writings by bus passengers about their journies on the D bus in Exeter. Commissioned by University of Exeter, Arts and Culture 2018 in partnership with Stagecoach.

D-tour: thoughts looking sidewards

D-Tour: thoughts looking sidewards

D-Tour: thoughts looking sidewards – single channel video

ICOD_Icographic_05_full

Colourful interactive map of Buckland estate in Newton Abbot

HappeningHere!Map

Happening Here!

An interactive map of Buckland

Culture & Review On Phonic Fm: August 2015: Culture Hour – O-B-A-F-G Special

O-B-A-F-G

Collaborative audio work and radio documentary

A short edit of This City's Centre, 3. Here Now, a performance incorporating live video streaming, staged between a third-floor office space in Princesshay, Exeter and the streets and homes of the city. This City's Centre was a digital triptych for Exeter. Developed by Blind Ditch in 2013 in partnership with Exeter Phoenix, RAMM, Exeter College and funded by Arts Council England, Exeter City Council and Arts and Culture at University of Exeter.

Performers in order of appearance: Phil Smith, Katy Villa, Jonny Rowden, Students from Exeter College, Jane Mason, Lizzy Humber. Music is from Consort of Fower Parts composed by Matthew Locke in Exeter 1660 ca. played by Cat Radford on accordian outside Exeter Cathedral. Camera by Philibert Patricot. Edit Volkhardt Müller.

This City's Centre 3. Here,Now

This City’s Centre

This City’s Centre 3. Here, Now – video trailer

Volkhardt Müller (Blind Ditch) and John Wylie (Cultural Geography, University of Exeter) discuss This City's Centre 1. Window

Private Views and Public Art

A long journey through the city centre shopping centre livens up the morning (August, 2008).

Global Player - the long play

Global Player

Global Player – the long play

A 24 minute documentary on the process and impact of the project including interviews with partners and collaborators. Filmed in 2007 in PAL!

VANLAND Documentary

VANLAND

VANLAND documentary about our working process 2004-07

Short video work using 'home movie' footage created to be used in the performance and installation 'Who Wants to be a Hero Now' in 2006. Edit Volkhardt Mueller, sound John Levack Drever, words Natalie Mcgrath performed by Cat Radford. Child Lena Mueller.

Divine

Who Wants to be a Hero Now?

Divine – video used in the 2006 installation

Young graffiti artist Spike gives our caravan a face-lift. Too many people on country fairs have been suspecting we're selling caravans. No more of that from now on!

VANLAND Trailer 2006

VANLAND trailer 2006

A collection of documents and media produced over the course of 20+ years.

A neighbourhood-led social art project for people in Buckland &amp; Broadlands housing estates in Newton Abbot, Devon

Social practice

Beginning work on Happening Here! with residents in Buckland, Newton Abbot. Photography by Jennie Hayes.

A group of adults and children wearing jackets saying 'artist at work' walking across a playing field

Happening Here! interview workshop

Happening Here! got people together in Buckland and Broadlands estates in Newton Abbot to explore ideas of neighbourhood. To map what was happening in their streets and public places… to talk about what they enjoyed about and wanted for their neighbourhood without the pressure of &#8216;consultation&#8217;&#8230; and to make something new happen together.

Between February and May 2015 we ran free activities for young people aged 9-16 involving the wider community. On-street drop-ins and explorations, animation and audio workshops, community interview sessions, map making and planning events, screenings, drawing and crafting sessions. The end result was an interactive, rich media map that shares the stories of everyone involved.

DSC_0012

DSC_0084

DSC_0005 2

DSC_0043

In Broadlands we built a pizza oven on Bushell Rd together. We built it on Friday, fired it up and cooked more than 100 pizzas with residents on Saturday, then we removed it on Sunday. Result? Making your own pizzas tastes better than buying them… and building the oven to bake them in gives you an appetite… whilst meeting neighbours you’ve never spoken to before.

DSC_0320

DSC_0413

DSC_0485

DSC_0420

DSC_0519

DSC_0250

A partnership project instigated by DAISI (Devon’s arts education organisation) and Teign Housing, supported through the South West Bridge Challenge Fund.
Blind Ditch were commissioned by the project partners to develop an artist-led project that focuses on values and perceptions of neighbourhood and social life, in order to promote positive relationships between people and the places they live in.
Conceived and produced by Paula Crutchlow &amp; Volkhardt Müller. Project facilitated by Volkhardt Müller &amp; Lizzy Humber. Evaluation by Jenny Hayes. DAISI project manager Rae Hoole. Design by Lee Hodges.
Many thanks to the staff of Teign Housing for their support.