MAK Newsletter
Winter 2009
What's happened:
* Autumn Trip
* Peace One Day @ Yorkshire Sculpture Park
* Party for the Park @ Eden Project
* The Great Manchester Peace Park Run 2009
* Manchester Interactive Arts Exhibit
What's about to happen:
* MAK UK Getaway (6/7 February 2010, Peak District)
* Strictly Not Dancing 2010 (March 2010, Manchester)
* Spring Trip (April 2010, Kosovo)
* New MAK album
* BUPA Great Manchester Run 2010 (May 2010, Manchester)
* IT Project Trip (19th June - 3rd July 2010, Kosovo)
* Summer Trip (8th - 19th August, Kosovo)
* Autumn Trip (September/October 2010, Kosovo)
Volunteer:
*Vacancies
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>> Autumn Trip
MAK are pleased to report on another successful trip to develop the
Manchester Peace Park in Podujevo this October. Over 10 days, the team
of volunteers managed to complete all the main objectives in the Park,
which included the general maintenance of certain apparatus and also
the building of a new attraction for the older children. The ‘play
cube’ includes a fireman’s pole, climbing wall, scramble net balancing
beams rope ladders, climbing ropes and more!
Praise must be given to the team of volunteers, some visiting Kosovo
for the first time, for their much appreciated hard work, going beyond
the call of duty to ensure that everything was completed on time. The
team were undaunted by the elements, working under a hastily
constructed awning to thwart the rain, and working late into the
evening under the headlights of the truck.
A planned outing was unfortunately halted due to roadworks but the
group managed a trip around Lake Batlava and also to the artists
retreat in the mountains around Podujevo. Many thanks again to the
whole team for their much appreciated hard work.
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>> Peace One Day @ Yorkshire Sculpture Park
On the 20th September, MAK led a day of activities at the Yorkshire
Sculpture Park, Wakefield. MAK were honored to lead the ‘Peace One
Day’ activities, based upon the concept of global disarmament, peace
and unity. On a gloriously sunny day the team led staff and visitors
to explore how MAK's creative and construction projects can contribute
to recovery and peace. All four MAK artist directors of Art in the
Park led the day. Artists Agron and Fazli Blakçori (co-directors of
Art in the Park with Matthew Raw and Mike Anitt) also spent a full
week as 'artists in residence' at the Sculpture Park. Further
activities throughout the day were led by other MAK supporters, and
thanks must be given to Jane Knight, Peter Sandover, Stephen Raw,
James Walmsley and The Travelling Band.
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>> Party for the Park @ Eden Project
MAK celebrated its 6 year partnership with The Eden Project on Friday
2nd October with a night of music, art, film and dance. Central to the
day was the casting of Kosovar sculptor Agron Blakçori's 'Thinking
Man' by Castle Fine Arts Foundry of Oswestry. The sculpture will be
the first cast work to be installed on the Manchester Peace Park,
Podujevo, Kosovo in 2010. Several of Cornwall flag artist Lucy
Birbeck's huge 'Orfeo' art flags were brought back for this occasion
from the Manchester Peace Park, Kosovo and billowed beautifully on the
terrace of The Core. The Travelling Band, who helped lead the
dedication of the Manchester Peace Park in March 2009, performed a
superb set in the Mediterranean Biome. Thanks to everyone who
contributed to the running and organisation of this fantastic
occasion.
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>> The Great Manchester Peace Park Run 2009
MAK is proud to report on another successful running of the Great
Manchester Peace Park run, held in the Peace Park in Podujevo on 12th
November. Helped by local and national media coverage, the run
attracted athletes from athletics clubs from all over Kosovo. Hundreds
of spectators attended and helped create a great atmosphere, further
heightened by the traditional Albanian music and refreshments. We are
also pleased to report that all runners made it around safely and
without injury. Thanks and praise must go to Mandi Bajgora and the
Llapi Athletics Club for their efforts in ensuring the day went ahead
smoothly. Full results will be made available on our website shortly.
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>> Manchester Interactive Arts Exhibition
Artists from the UK travelled to the Expoart 40 Gallery in Prishtina
to participate in an exhibit titled Interactive Arts from Manchester
on the 18th November. The concept of the exhibition was to illustrate
to the British and Kosovar artists new cultural and creative
perspectives, and to promote cultural exchange between European
Nations, through the uniting language of art. The visiting artists
learned about art in Kosovo, and also about culture and everyday life
to see where South Eastern European artists find their inspiration
within their communities. Thanks must go to Fazli Blakçori and Saranda
Bogujevci who jointly curated the exhibition, and all the artists for
their work and effort.
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>> Spring Trip
We are planning our Spring Trip to Kosovo. We will be going for a week
in April 2010 (exact dates to be confirmed).
It is likely the trip will provide the opportunity to get involved in
a range of our projects.
If you would like to join us please email projects@makonline.org. Feel
free to let us know of any particular dates/projects you are
interested in.
We look forward to hearing from you!
>> MAK UK Getaway
Following the success of the Wales trip a few years ago, we are
planning another MAK Weekend away in the UK. This time we are planning
a 2 night getaway weekend in the Peak District. The tentative dates
are 5/6/7 February 2010 (Price TBC)
Numbers are limited and are on a first come first served basis.
If you are interested, please email hannah@makonline.org ASAP.
The weekend will be a good chance to meet up with old friends and make new ones.
>> Strictly Not Dancing 2010
Earlier this year MAK put on the fabulous fundraiser Strictly Not
Dancing in Flixton, and due to its success it will be returning in the
New Year. Emily Guest put together a fantastic show last year, and has
passed on this message;
‘Hi everyone! Thanks to all those who participated in Strictly Not
Dancing 2009. Plans for Strictly 2010 are underway. Anyone interested
in participating in the dancing fundraiser next March please get in
contact with me ASAP by emailing me on emilyguest@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks!
Emily’
>> New MAK Album!
In 1999, Pam Dawes put together the MAK compilation album Cohesion,
showcasing Manchester’s emerging musical talent and including tracks
from Elbow and Doves. 10 years later, curated by The Travelling Band’s
Jo Dudderidge, 10 will be released in the New Year to once again
support MAK’s work in Kosovo. Elbow and Doves will again provide
tracks for the compilation alongside more of Manchester’s emerging
talent, including Cherry Ghost, Liam Frost, The Travelling Band, Nancy
Elizabeth and Gideon Conn.
>> BUPA Great Manchester Run 2010
After another successful Great Manchester Run in May, MAK are now
recruiting for the 2010 run. It will be held on Sunday 16th May, and
anyone interested should contact pam@makonline.org to register their
interest as soon as possible. It is always a great day and always a
big event in MAK fundraising calendar, raising over £5000 earlier this
year. So if you feel you may have over-indulged over Christmas, get
your running shoes on and raise some money for MAK whilst those excess
pounds drift away.
>> IT Project Trip
We hope to take our first batch of computing equipment out to Kosovo
early next year and make a start on IT training for teachers.
Tentative dates for this trip are Saturday 19th June - Saturday 3rd
July 2010.
We have had limited donations of second-hand hardware. This will
useful in the smaller village schools but we still need hardware for
the larger secondary schools.
If you can help please email itproject@makonline.org or make a
donation at http://www.justgiving.com/kosovoIT/
For more information see
http://www.makonline.org/projects/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=12
>> Summer Trip 2010
This will hopefully include the usual Summer school activities.
Tentative dates for this trip are Sunday 8th - Thursday 19th August.
If you want to be involved in this trip please email
volunteer@makonline.org
>>Autumn Trip 2010
We hope to have a working group on the Peace Park this autumn. Date
are yet to be confirmed but we anticipate sometime around
September/October 2010. If you want to be involved in this trip please
email volunteer@makonline.org
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>> Volunteer vacancies
MAK loves volunteers! Please donate your time to make a huge
difference and experience things you'll never want to forget...
We need some dedicated volunteers to help us with the day-to-day
operating of the charity:
- Donations Secretary
- Collection Box Secretary
- Publicity Support Secretary
- Travel Secretary
- Travel Guide Editor
Please email secretary@makonline.org if you would like to help or
would just like to know more.
We always need fantastic volunteers to help with all of our projects
and at our fundraising events. Please visit
http://www.makonline.org/projects to find out about our latest
projects.
> Contact us
If you want to volunteer on any of our projects or help at an upcoming
fundraising event please get in touch.
Even if you don't know exactly where you would like to get involved
just say hello anyway and we'll be sure to find you a role that you
love and that makes a real difference.
Email volunteer@makonline.org to say hello and make some cool new friends.
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>> THANKS
This issue was compiled by our new Newsletter Editor, Mike B.
We think he's done a great job! What do you think?
Please send your comments and stuff for the next issue to
newsletter@makonline.org