Banjo on the Banjo – Call Out for Banjo Players & Volunteers
A Banjo: A round ended pedestrian cul-de-sac native to the Becontree Estate.
Banjo on the Banjo is a musical performance event located on various banjos across Dagenham’s Becontree Estate culminating in Parsloes Park on Saturday 3rd August 2019, as part of Living Together. Would you like to be involved by learning to play a newly commissioned piece of music on the banjo or helping out on the day?
You can either:
1. Sign up to learn to play the Banjo and be involved in a group performance on Saturday 3rd August
OR
2. Volunteer on Saturday 3rd August, by being partnered with a banjo player, and helping signpost people from their specific Banjo to Parsloes Park
Artist Verity-Jane Keefe is carrying out a year-long residency with Create London & The White House, taking place across Dagenham’s Becontree Estate through 2019, as part of Living Together.
Verity’s residency will produce a series of new artworks and events in collaboration with residents that will lead into a larger scale programme for 2021 to celebrate the Becontree Centenary, marking 100 years since building began on what was once the largest social housing estate in the world.
1. LEARN TO PLAY THE BANJO
We have been gathering banjos for the event and have approximately 26. We will also be joined by another 25 people who can already play the banjo.
Lessons will be held on:
Wednesday 10th July
Wednesday 17th July
Wednesday 24th July
Wednesday 31st July
There are two time slots to choose from every Wednesday:
Slot 1: 5:00 –6:30pm
Slot 2: 7:00–8:30pm
Venue:
Valence House Local Studies Centre (Valence House Museum)
Please note you should be able to attend all 4 lessons.
You will each be loaned a banjo that you can take home and practice on. We will also be holding drop in practice sessions where you can come along and practice with others, or me. Dates of these to be distributed once players have confirmed their interest.
The lessons will be led by Ed Hicks, Ed teaches Banjo to beginners, is a musician and a composer. Ed has written a new simple piece of music we will be learning, in response to Becontree.
If you are interested in taking part in the lessons please email Verity-Jane Keefe on: hello@verityjanekeefe.co.uk. Please state which time slot you would like to attend.
2. VOLUNTEER AT BANJO ON THE BANJO
Each banjo player will be assigned a volunteer. We will hold a separate volunteer training session to share plans and instructions. The volunteers will be responsible for filming the performances on their smartphones (don’t worry if you’re unsure how to do this – we’ll cover it at the training session), giving leaflets to any passers by who ask what’s going on, and then accompany the banjo players to Parsloes Park for the group performance.
As mentioned above, Banjo Players might have a friend that will be coming who could be their volunteer – just let us know.
If you are interested in volunteering or would like more info, please email Verity-Jane Keefe on: hello@verityjanekeefe.co.uk
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Living Together is a new project by artist Verity-Jane Keefe in partnership with Create London and London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Living Together will develop over 2019, leading to a larger scale programme celebrating the centenary of Dagenham’s Becontree Estate in 2021. It will look at the past 100 years of social housing through the lens of Becontree, once the largest social housing estate in the world; looking at the past, the present and into the future.
Living Together is currently supported through a development grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and a project grant from Arts Council England.
For more info please click here