Sunday 22 July 2012

Please come to our Culture Jam on Saturday

You are invited to this event - this Saturday (28th July) @ 5:30pm
Meadow Orchard


We aim to aid our creative community in making Crouch End a stronger and happier place in these troubled times, and enjoy doing it. We support the annual Crouch End Festival ( it helps raise the profile of the creative community here) and want to go further by helping more local cultural events to happen throughout the year. Events worth your while attending - something you would want to go to again. Many of us who live in Crouch End are creative performers, and even more are supporters of cultural activities. We have enough people, places and skills to make our own cultural events, so what would you like to see happen? Join us at this one so your voice is heard.

So, we're holding a series of occasional free events - the idea is, as it's nearby, just turn up and be creative if you wish. This is intended to be a gathering of local culture-friendly people who enjoy supporting each other creatively - a 'safe' place to give and receive performance, shaped by the people who are there. A get-together outside on a summer evening in a natural setting.



Please 'join' this event on Facebook so we know you are going to be there.

5:30pm event starts - please bring some food and drink to share, cups and plates (nothing disposable please)

The Meadow Orchard is a natural, open community space. There are enough chairs and we can sit on the grass - there is no electricity or water, although there is a composting toilet. We can make a fire to heat water for some tea. Food is welcome, particularly if we can share it. There is a polytunnel in which we can shelter from any rain, but let's hope it doesn't.

There may only be a few people who show up, it's not a 'big' event. Some of us are professional performers and others remain unrecognised. At previous events, people gathered to talk and play, tell stories, listen, participate, support and perform. There have been songs sung a capella and accompanied by guitar. A battery-powered keyboard was provided. Poems have been read (and written) here. People have quoted and cited works by others they wanted to share. A choir sung. Instruments were played. Drawing and painting took place. We've had conversations about the sort of cultural events we can help create here from our own resources. We know from previous experience in holding local events that these conversations are what leads to action - people become the change they want to see.

8:30pm (approx) Battery-powered cinema - an eclectic program of short films,designed to facilitate discussion. The 55 inch screen is quite small, so consumes little - if the battery runs out, please take turns to pedal the bicycle that will be standing by. Several people have shown their own works. The screen is not exactly cinema quality, but it's still nice to see stuff out in the open air. If you do show some of your own work, please send it in advance (gots@TransitionCrouchEnd.org.uk) so that we can add it to the portable computer we stream from, and expect a Q&A.

Thursday 5 July 2012

Culture concert (with Tea) at the Meadow Orchard, Saturday 5pm


Come and visit your local community garden, orchard, wildlife meadow and eco-building.
The Meadow Orchard (behind the new health centre in Crouch End) has an open day this Saturday and we've organised a 'culture concert' with troubadour Michael Hart, starting at tea time.
This is a free event but please consider a 'pay what you want' donation on the day - we've tried not to spend any money but cannot avoid some costs.

Please go to our Facebook page and click the 'going' button on the top right.

Or email us at Sat7thJuly@TransitionCrouchEnd.org.uk and let us know you're coming, and if you intend to contribute.

This is an opportunity to help create a cultural event that is worth your while attending - something you would want to go to again. Many of us who live in Crouch End are creative performers, and even more are supporters of cultural activities. We have enough people, places and skills to make our own cultural events, so what would you like to see happen? Join us at this one so your voice can be heard.

Saturday July 7th 5pm onwards (all times are approximate):

5pm Arrive - please bring some food and drink to share, cups and plates (nothing disposable please)

5:30pm Michael Holt, troubadour, will entertain us in a 'salon' format with his music and conduct a talking circle about a change of culture in our community.

7:30pm Gather round as a group to continue the conversation, interspersed with contributions of reading, poetry, storytelling and singing - whatever the audience brings.

8:30pm Bicycle-powered cinema - the 55 inch screen is quite small, so should be easy to power - please take turns to pedal so we can see an eclectic program of short films.

Please bring:

Food and drink to share, and your own plates/cups etc - we don't do disposable and expect to leave the meadow as we found it, and create no waste.

Something warm if you stay after dark in case it gets cold.

Something to sit on - a blanket or something you can lay on the ground.

An except/paragraph/page from something you would like to share with us - maybe a passage from a written work, your own or from a published author. A poem, a speech, a reflection, a story, a song - anything you want.

This is a gentle chance to get involved - no spotlights, just a group of nice people gathering round and sharing what they wish to share.

A sense of humour and a willingness to smile at people.