Arts Council Supports GeoOpera for Torbay
Arts Council England has awarded £49,985 towards the creation of GeoOpera,bringing together exceptional talent including the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestrato perform at the opening ceremony of the 7th International UNESCO Conference onGlobal Geoparks, taking place in Torbay in September 2016.
Inspired by the history, unique geology and culture of the world’s one hundred andtwenty UNESCO Global Geoparks, The GeoOpera will engage local communitycomposers and performers of all ages through workshops and rehearsals. Localpeople will be invited to a special performance, and the GeoOpera will be made intoa film with educational resources translated into eight major languages, to inspireaudiences worldwide.
The 7th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks is expected to bringover eight hundred delegates from thirty plus countries to Torbay. Elected Mayor ofTorbay Gordon Oliver said “We’re looking forward to welcoming the world to Torbayin 2016, and now the GeoOpera will provide a world class welcome. A key aim of theCouncil and the English Riviera Global Geopark is to raise awareness of Torbay’sstatus as a UNESCO Global Geopark, and help communities to be inspired by ourunique natural heritage.”
Phil Gibby, Area Director, Arts Council England, South West, said: ‘Torbay is apriority area for us and we’re delighted that this grant will support the community inbeing a part of such an important global event.”
Councillor Nicole Amil, Executive lead for Tourism, Culture and Harbours at TorbayCouncil said, “ Torbay and the UNESCO English Riviera Global Geopark havealready gained an international reputation for our innovative approach to employingthe Geopark as a stimulus for high quality artistic practice. With the significantsupport we’ve secured from the Arts Council, GeoOpera will build on this reputation,providing a showcase for our local talent from across the community to a worldwideaudience.”
Research with GeoOpera Artistic Director Mark Laville, Plymouth UniversityGeosciences and geological experts will inform the piece. Mark said, “GeoOpera willincorporate voice, music, performance and multimedia, a multilayered response tothe incredible geological story of the planet. Twenty-five Community Composers,schoolchildren, youth and adult choirs will be engaged through outreach sessions.This community of voice, performance, and instrumental becomes the PerformanceCast of over one hundred and ninety people, through extended rehearsals with theartistic team and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra musicians.”
Hugh Nankivell – Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Devon Producer and leadcomposer of GeoOpera said “ GeoOpera won’t be possible without our communitieshelp! Any young people aged 16-25, who have an interest in composition and sound,can get involved to make new music together in the Bay. We want people we wantthose who can read and write music but we also want those who cannot read andwrite music. We need a group to come together to share ideas and begin thecompositional process to produce an epic new opera for the Bay. We will meetweekly from February 2016 to April 2016 as a group to initiate ideas and begin toarrange them together. If you would like more information please email: doorsteparts@gmail.com”.
The conference and GeoOpera performance will be held at the Riviera InternationalConference Centre, 27 – 30th September 2016. For more information or to registerinterest in attendance, sponsorship or volunteering opportunities please visit www.ggn2016.com and @GGN2016 on twitter.
Editor Notes:
The English Riviera Global Geopark successfully bid for the 7th InternationalConference on Global Geoparks with the support of Torbay Council, TorbayDevelopment Agency, Plymouth University, Exeter University, The GeologicalSociety, British Geological Survey, English Geodiversity Forum, Natural England,Arts Council England, Natural History Museum and Flybe. The conference isexpected to bring over £1.6million in visitor expenditure to Torbay.
The conference takes place every two years and has previously been staged inChina (2004) Northern Ireland (2006) Germany (2008) Malaysia (2010) Japan (2012)and Canada (2014.) 2016 will be the first occasion that the conference takes place inGreat Britain.
There are seven Global Geoparks in the UK, out of a total UNESCO network of onehundred and eleven in thirty two countries. A Geopark is concerned with conservation of natural heritage, sustainable economic development, promotion ofscience education and community engagement.
On its 70th anniversary year and 40 years after the creation of UNESCO WorldHeritage Sites, the Science Commission of UNESCO (United Nations Organisationfor Education, Science and Culture) at the UNESCO General Conference in Parisrecently has approved the statutes of the new “International Geosciences andGeoparks Programme” which will allow for the creation of the new site designation of“UNESCO Global Geoparks” and the re-designation of all 120 existing GlobalGeoparks, including Torbay, as new UNESCO Global Geoparks.
Previously operating with the informal support of UNESCO, the status of UNESCOGlobal Geoparks has been recognised under the new programme. The EnglishRiviera, which includes the three towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, andcovers the entire Torbay area, became a Global Geopark in 2007 and, againstcompetition from China and Europe, won the bid to host the next International Conference on Global Geoparks in September 2016 when delegates from around the world will attend what will now be the first UNESCO Global Geoparks conference.
About UNESCO and the UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC)
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)aims to enhance peace, security and sustainable development by fostering international collaboration through its work in education, science, culture,communication and information.
The UK National Commission (UKNC) works to support the UK’s contribution toUNESCO and bring the benefits of UNESCO to the UK.
The UKNC has three core priorities:
- To provide independent policy advice to devolved and central government onUNESCO related issues
- To support the UK government’s agenda in helping UNESCO to becomemore institutionally effective
- To help UK individuals and institutions to access UNESCO resources andaccreditations
In carrying out these roles, the UKNC relies on advice and support of its expert network, including specialists in the fields of education, culture, the sciences and communication and information from across the UK.
Relevant links:
www.englishrivierageopark.org.uk
For further information please contact: Angela Cappello, Communications Officer on 01803 208851.
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