Saturday 15 October 2011, 11.30am at Maudsley Hospital

No Health Without Mental Health!

Arthur Smith is new Largactyl Shuffle Sponsored Walk Patron 2011

CoolTan Arts is delighted to announce the very talented Arthur Smith as the Largactyl Shuffle Sponsored Walk patron 2011 – The internationally renowned comedian, playwright, author and broadcaster will join us on 15 October to walk, promote World Mental Health Day and raise money for CoolTan Arts.

Want to meet him? – then walk with us to help raise money and promote World Mental Health Day.

He says: “Supporting CoolTan’s Sponsored Walk and Promoting World Mental Health Day this year, is something I am pleased to do especially as I have had friends and family who have suffered clinical depression.

You are invited to join our AGM on 19 September 2011 starting at 6pm and finishing at 9pm. All are welcome.

CoolTan Arts will present their annual report and discuss current and future activities. Your chance to get involved, join us for a social and informative evening! We hope many volunteers and participants will be there.

Refreshments will be available.

Please RSVP along with any dietary requirements, tell Clara at CoolTan, call 02077012696 or email clara@cooltanarts.org.uk.

17 September 2011, 12noon at Maudsley Hospital

Did you know that the first documented interracial marriage took place in Southwark in 1770?
And that the great Black violin virtuoso George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower died in Southwark in 1860?
And that Beethoven dedicated a sonata to him in 1803 which they performed together in Vienna?

CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle Group invites you to participate in our Black History Walk, a free guided cultural walk around Southwark, promoting mental health and physical wellbeing, using art, humour and history and destigmatising mental distress.

Join this exciting walk and early celebration of Black History Month, explore stories and figures relating to Black History and BME communities in Southwark, arts and mental health.

Do you have a story to tell that is related to Black history, arts and mental health in Southwark?

Urgent notice – Due to police advice regarding current events, Southwark Council have decided to reschedule the Elephant and Nun Festival.

Sunday 18 September 2011, 12 noon at Camberwell Green

As part of the Elephant and Nun Festival CoolTan Arts takes you on a Largactyl Shuffle linking the four main areas of the Elephant and Nun Festival Finale. Join us for a fun guided cultural walk for mental and physical wellbeing, learn more about the local area of Camberwell Green, Peckham Square, Brunswick Park and Lucas Gardens. See what’s going on for this exciting new Southwark Festival.

Saturday 03 September 2011

Approximate times of the walk: 1.45 – 2.30pm, 3.00 – 3.45 pm, 4.15pm – 5.00pm

Starting point: Southbank Centre, Appearing Rooms Fountain (Royal Festival Hall Riverside Terrace entrance level, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX)

Explore the psycho-geography of the Southbank and the history of disability and mental health with CoolTan Arts’ Largactyl Shuffle Liberty walk.

Join CoolTan Arts’ guided Largactyl Shuffle walks (45 minutes each) across the Southbank site, explore the psycho-geography of the Southbank and find out more about access for disabled people within built architectural spaces of the 1950s.

In conjunction with the Liberty Festival and the 60^th Anniversary celebrations of the Festival of Britain, we will look back at the treatment of people experiencing mental distress in the 1950s, when the anti-psychotic drug Largactil (Chlorpromazine) was invented, contrasting the 1950s to the present day.

Join this exciting walk, explore the inside and outside of the Southbank site, including the Royal Festival Hall, Hayward Gallery and National Theatre, and discover the history of disability and mental health through the Largactyl Shuffle.

The walk is repeated three times over the afternoon; join us at the Appearing Rooms Fountain at 1.45pm, 3.00pm or 4.15pm.

20 August 2011, 12noon at Maudsley Hospital

Did you know…? Giraffes were first seen in public just off The Walworth Road/ Camberwell!

Come to CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle Walk to find out more. It will be entertaining, with lots of quirky details and facts you never knew before!

This walk is specifically designed for families and children – a fun guided cultural walk for mental and physical wellbeing, using art, humour and history, destigmatising mental distress.

Itineray of the walk:  We have three stops with talks plus refreshments at CoolTan. You can join us at any time and do not have to do the whole walk.

Private View: Tue 16 August 2011, 6pm-8pm
Venue: CoolTan Arts Unit B 237 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RL.

An exciting exhibition with fashion show at CoolTan Arts celebrating the achievements of the Batik and Textiles class since it started in 2006 with their first major ‘RetroSpective, coinciding with the 60^th Anniversary of the Festival of Britain’.

Come along to our private view, meet the artists and get inspired.

Please RSVP to kathrin@cooltanarts.org.uk or call 020 7701 2696.

As the Southbank Centre celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the Festival of Britain, CoolTan Arts look back over the last 6 years of their Batik and Textiles class with our first major ‘RetroSpective’.

Wednesday 20 July at the South London Gallery. The Clore Studio at South London Gallery was buzzing with excitement. A diverse group of around 50 people, sharing a common interest in CoolTan gather in the Gallery’s studio to listen to a sound scape and to witness the premiere of the documentary on the Largactyl Shuffle Walks “Innovation in Mad Culture”,  funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and the Mayor’s Story of London.

The sound scape presented consisted of sounds recorded at July’s Largactyl Shuffle Literary Walk created in collaboration with sound artist Isa Suarez.

Read and download the full review here.

Saturday 23 July 2011, 12:00 noon at Hackney Museum, 1 Reading Lane, London, E8 1GQ

Join CoolTan Arts for an urban exploration walk of the area where the Olympics and Paralympics will take place in 2012; find out about the place, people and local community, and celebrate the Games and Olympic values and what they bring to the local community and the everyday lives of the people living in the Olympic boroughs.

Experience the clash between the former industrial area and the funky artistic area that Hackney has become, and how it has changed with the preparations and construction for London 2012.

Saturday 16 July 2011, 12noon
Start at Maudsley Hospital, end at Tate Modern

Bifil that in that seson, on a day,
In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay
Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage
To Caunterbury with ful devout corage.

Geoffrey Chaucer, Prologue to The Canterbury Tales.

Following in the footsteps of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens, explore writers past and present, known and unknown – join CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle on 16^th July in an exciting literary walk with storytelling, celebrating literature, spoken word and poetry.

Night time is the time for the Outsider, the sleepless, the restless, and the wanderer. Charles Dickens, an avid nightwalker, asked: “Are not the sane and the insane equal at night as the sane lie a dreaming?” Over 50 people joined CoolTan Arts Midnight Largactyl Shuffle on 19 June 2011, following in the footsteps of past and present nightwalkers; and celebrating summer solstice, marking the shortest night of the year, and the magic of pagan midsummer.

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Intrigued? Contact us for more information or drop an email to info@cooltanarts.org.uk to be added to the mailing list and receive updates and event invitations.

Around 70 people came along to our Open Day & Mad Hatters Tea party and joined a fun afternoon with taster workshops, film screening and debate.
Have a look at the images. Want to join next time? Drop an email to info@cooltanarts.org.uk with your details and we’ll add you to our mailing list.

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You are invited to the Film Premiere Innovation in Mad Culture – CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle (named after an anti psychotic drug that has extreme physical side effects), followed by a panel discussion with CoolTan participants and speakers from the fields of arts and health/mental health. Join us in what promises to be an inspiring and engaging evening.

Venue: South London Gallery, Clore Studio, 65 Peckham Road, London SE5 8UH
Date: Wednesday 20 July 2011, 6.30pm-9pm; screening at 7.
Free but RSVP essential – Please RSVP by Friday, 15 July 2011 info@cooltanarts.org.uk / 020 7701 2696.

Wheelchair accessible. Limited disabled parking space available nearby.

Directions: The newly refurbished Albrighton Centre is in Dog Kennel Hill Estate, East Dulwich, on the other side of the road to the large Sainsbury’s.

• Rail: East Dulwich station
• Buses from Elephant and Castle: 40, 176. Buses from Camberwell Green: 40, 176, 185, 484
• Buses from Peckham: 37, P13.

Map: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=533359&y=175705&z=0&sv=SE22+8AH&st=2&pc=SE22+8AH&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf

Saturday 18 June 2011 12midnight

Meet at Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG (main entrance on Holland Street)

Join CoolTan Arts for a guided Summer Solstice Midnight walk, explore the urban psycho-geography of South London and learn about local history and familiar landmarks in a light you have never seen them before.

Participate in this unique procession from the powerhouse Tate Modern to the home of contemporary psychiatry, the Maudsley Hospital.

Walkers meet at 12midnight at the main entrance of Tate Modern and finish the walk in the wee hours of Sunday at the Maudsley Hospital.

Saturday 11 June 2011 1pm – 5pm

Join CoolTan Arts for a fun-filled afternoon with film screenings, poetry readings and taster workshops. Discover CoolTan Arts’ new exhibition ‘Summer Madness’, learn more about CoolTan Arts and the Largactyl Shuffle and join us for some chit-chat, tea, coffee and cakes. Imagine, inspire, create!

Light refreshments available.

Have a fun day out, meet like-minded people and make friends.

Location:

CoolTan Arts, Unit B 237 Walworth Road London SE17 1RL,

T: 0207 701 2696 M: 0798 565 8443, E:  info@cooltanarts.org.uk

There are still places on our fabulous summer workshops for Southwark Residents. Sign up now!

• Digital Photography: Thursday 2 June to 29 June, 4pm-6pm
• Photoshop for beginners: Monday 6 June to 4 July, 11am – 1pm or 2pm-4pm
• Basic IT: Wednesday 15 June to 13 July, 11am-1pm
• Sewing Machine for beginners: Wednesday 1 June to 27 June, 6pm-8pm
• Sewing Machine for beginners: Monday 13 June to 11 July, 6pm-8pm

Have fun, meet new people, gain new skills!

CoolTan Arts runs free arts and multimedia workshops open to all Southwark residents aged 19 and over. Workshops are taught by professional artists.  Tuition is free for one workshop of 10 hours (five 2-hour sessions).

On a beautiful afternoon, 21 May 2011,  a group of walkers met at Tate Modern for guided cultural walk through South London discovering hidden places and learning about the history surrounding May Day in Southwark, arts and mental health.

The walkers were joined by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence who  performed a blessing, marking IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia). The walk finished at Camberwell Green with Maypole Dancing. A fun afternoon for wellbeing.

Check out some photos here:

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For more images from Zoe, a Largactyl Shuffle walker, follow this link

Saturday 21 May 2011, 12noon

Start at Tate Modern, end at Camberwell Green with Maypole dancing

Another exciting guided Largactyl Shuffle walk with CoolTan Arts. Celebrate and discover the origins of May Day in a fun way. For this walk we invite participants to dress up for May Day celebrations, as Green Men, pagans in garlands, May Kings or Queens, or anything else that will help us in welcoming the return of spring.

On this walk we’ll be exploring the origins of May Day, the Maypole, and the history of Mayday in Southwark.  We’ll also look into the political importance of Mayday with an anarchist/communist insight.

We are joined by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence who will perform a blessing, marking IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) at the Cross Bones Cemetery.

In a glamorous ceremony on Saturday 7 May 2011 at St. Georges Church CoolTan Arts and our volunteers Richard and Maki won Southwark Civic Awards and were recognised for their  contribution to the local community and life of the borough.

We are excited that we have been offered these awards, and that our work and the achievements of our participants and volunteers have been recognised. Congratulations to all involved!

The recognition of our long-term volunteers Richard Muzira and Maki Spanoudis proves that people with mental health issues contribute to making the local community a better place and build a cohesive and inclusive society based on solidarity and active citizenship.

Richard Muzira, volunteer film maker and video editor has produced podcasts, films, contributed to the development of CoolTan Arts’ website, and helps with CoolTan Arts’ various public events and activities.