January 21st 12noon at Maudsley Hospital, walking to South London Gallery
Join CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle, a free guided cultural walk promoting mental health and physical wellbeing using art, humour and history to help de-stigmatise mental distress.

This month’s Fitness Walk begins outside the Maudsley Hospital at 12noon. Instead of the usual talks, each stop on the walk will feature a simple, fun, physical activity to help you gently warm up to wellbeing in the New Year. The walk will end at the South London Gallery, taking in some of Southwark’s green spaces where we will be skipping and running three-legged races.

CoolTan Arts believes mental wellbeing is enhanced by the power of creativity

PRESS RELEASE

CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle – Jingle Bells Walk

Date: Saturday 17^th December 2011

Starting: Tate Modern, Turbine Hall entrance SE1 9TG

Finishing: Maudsley Hospital

Times: 12noon – 4pm   Cost: free/voluntary donation

Come and join us and make some festive noise!

We will be singing and playing our way through the streets of Southwark, bringing some merry cheer and light as the nights draw in. Your voice and instruments are very welcome!

The Largactyl  Shuffle William Blake Walk took place on the 19th November 2011 at Tate Modern. The walk focused on the life of William Blake, an English poet, painter, and printmaker (1757 – 1827).  He was unrecognized during his lifetime,  but now Blake is considered a influential  figure in the history of both poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age.

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Thank you to everyone who joined us on our BIG Largactyl Shuffle Walk. We received very positive feedback about the walk.

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Date: Saturday 19th November 2011

Starting: Tate Modern, SE1 9TG Finishing: Bunhill

Times: 12noon – 4pm Cost: free/voluntary donation

Join CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle, a free guided cultural walk around Southwark, promoting mental health and physical wellbeing, using art, humour and history and de-stigmatising mental distress.

This walk focuses on William Blake, an English poet, painter, and printmaker (1757 – 1827). Largely unrecognized during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. During the walk, we will explore themes of Poetry, Art, The City of London, Blake’s influence on artists, Religion, Politics, Revolutionaries, Abolition, Riots and Mental Health, not to mention Non-Conformism!

Comedian takes part in charity’s walk
Southwark News, 13 October 2011
Article highlighting comedian Arthur Smith’s involvement in the Sponsored Walk 2011.

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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.

The Black History Month Largactyl Shuffle took place on the 17^th September 2011. It explored stories and figures relating to Black History and BME communities in Southwark, arts and mental health. Facts were also discovered during the event, such as the first documented interracial marriage which took place in Southwark in 1770.

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An exciting urban exploration walk of the area where the Olympics and Paralympics will take place in 2012. During the walk we discovered the place, people and local community, a brilliant afternoon with lovely people. One walker said: ” This walk made me realise what the Olympics are all about and I discovered a new area in London. The walk leaders were brilliant, I learned a lot. I’ll come again!”

Photos by Brigitte Flock

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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.

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.

CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle on 16th July was an exciting literary walk with storytelling, celebrating literature, spoken word and poetry. An experimental performance piece; the talks and readings from the walk were recorded for a sound art project, a collaboration with South London Gallery and artist Isa Suarez.

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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.

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.