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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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!

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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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.

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.

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.

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.

Saturday 16 April 2011, 12noon, Maudsley Hospital

Join CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle from Maudsley Hospital to Tate Modern, a fun guided cultural walk for mental and physical wellbeing, using art, exercise, humour and history and destigmatising mental distress.

While walking through local Southwark, explore the theme of perception vs. delusion, share April fools, hoaxes, jokes and tales. The Mad Hatters Walk is an intergenerational event with a traditional Easter egg hunt and fun in the park! Bring your grandchildren and join CoolTan Arts for a family day out, learn new things, meet like-minded people, make friends.

“Everybody was extremely welcoming and it was great to meet some interesting people in my local community.”

Come along and add to the discussion and exploration, share your thoughts and ideas, enjoy the company of others and have fun.

The walk starts at 12noon at the Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 8AZ, and ends at Tate Modern.

Join the alternative inclusive demo against the cuts! – Largactyl Shuffle – a history walk about disabled people’s right

Saturday 26 March 2011, 12noon

Start at CoolTan Arts, Finish at Imperial War Museum

CoolTan Arts and Disability Lib join forces and organise a Largactyl Shuffle against the cuts, an alternative inclusive demo for disabled and non disabled people to march together and make their voices heard against the cuts.

Michelle Baharier, a campaigner for disability equality and rights, against stigma and discrimination, and the infamous Ari Henry, local campaigner and co-founder of the People’s Republic of Southwark, will lead this demo and history walk about disabled people’s rights.

Saturday 19^th Feb 2011, 12noon, From Maudsley Hospital to Cross Bones Graveyard

“We gathered outside the Maudsley on a drizzly February morning.  A diverse group of walkers, we were ready to sashay on a tour of Southwark and learn more about the borough, mental wellbeing, and LGBT history, local and otherwise.

Our first stop was the Institute of Psychiatry, where we learnt about ‘treatments’ received by people to ‘cure’ their homosexuality. Two years after being chemically castrated as an alternative to imprisonment for his sexuality, Alan Turin committed suicide. He was not the only victim of such misguided ‘therapy’.

Saturday 19 March 2011, 12noon

Start at Imperial War Museum, Finish at Tate Modern

Join CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle, a fun guided cultural walk through Southwark for mental and physical wellbeing, using art, exercise, humour and history and destigmatising mental distress, celebrate International Women’s Day and inspiring women.

The day will include a fun-packed itinerary with an opportunity to explore issues surrounding women in mental health throughout the centuries to the present day through arts, history, politics and social care. Celebrate women’s rights and women’s wellbeing in the area and commemorate famous women in Southwark.

Saturday 19^th Feb 2011, 12noon, Start at Maudsley Hospital, Finish at Cross Bones Cemetery

Celebrate LGBT History month with CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle, a fun guided cultural walk for mental and physical wellbeing, on Saturday 19^th February, 12noon at Maudsley Hospital.

The walk starts at Maudsley Hospital with a talk about Psychiatry and our LGBT community, and ends at The Cross Bones Cemetery SE1, in Redcross Way near London Bridge. We end the walk with a talk on the history of the Cemetery, Southwark Geese and Outcast Dead, the Libertine of Southwark, and a finale with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Download the poster here

Discover famous historical and local LGBT residents of Southwark, explore LGBT social and political issues, the history of Southwark LGBT groups, pubs, clubs and storytelling with Polari!

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month takes place every year in February.