global digital creativity research & workshops

It was great to be joined once again by Ultralab’s Shiley Pickford as the BBC Blast Truck rolled into Albert Square in Manchester for a fun packed four days of Animation, Film, Music, Poetry and Dance. A big stage was hired in Albert Square for some of the young people to perform on in front of a large audience. On the last day of the event was the famous England v Portugal football game, after the young people had gone home the BBC Blast team sat on the back of the support truck huddled around a tiny TV to watch England lose on penalties again.

View some of the pictures taken in Manchester.

The BBC Blast Truck rolled in to Belfast. Hamish Scott-Brown stayed with the truck while it was in transit from its last tour location; Derry to its new home in Belfast. I flew home and flew back to join the truck and run Clay Animation classes.

While in Northern Ireland we’re lucky enough to be working with some of the BBC’s finest, including Michael who works on BBC Northern Ireland’s Newsline programme, editing together some of the news stories. Northern Ireland so far has been fantastic, both Hamish and I are shattered, but there is a real buzz here of activity and creative output…..we’ve really enjoyed ourselves…..and learnt a lot from the people we are working with.As ever, the quality of the content produced by the young people we are facilitating is simply excellent.Click to view a selection of pictures taken in Belfast.

It was also good to have Ultralab’s local Anthony Russell join us onboard to meet the team from BBC Northern Ireland.

One of the best bits aspects I think this truck offers is the ability to leave with any creative work made by young people. Each young person will leave the truck with a CD or a DVD containing their work, and using Apple technology they are also bluetoothing footage straight out of Apple’s iMovie right to their Bluetooth mobile phones.

We’ve been running film and animation workshops while VJ’s and DJ’s mix music and video in the adjoining room. Outside a cheerleading workshop has been teaching young boys and girls how to dance to music.

Before ‘Archie’s Blog’ falls off the edge of the Internet forever I thought I’d better jump in and save the posts.

Digital creativity is not just about creative use of technology for the making of film and music. Archie had been keeping his blog for a period of months. Archie is only four years old. Archie is the little brother of one of our work experience students, who was also part of ‘The Real Project’. Imagine the power of Archie being able to reflect later in life on his early creative writing?

Imagine the debate potential Archie would be having with his family as they are kept up to speed (all over the world) with what he is doing? Archie is engaging in conversations with friends and family though ‘comment’ feature on his blog, a wonderful way to challenge his thinking and responding skills. What about spelling? Will this help him learn to spell new words? Will it create new words in his vocabulary as he asks his sister what things mean?

Notice how Archie begins to communicate with his growing audience. What is that doing to his self confidence? A really creative blog.

How does a four year old conduct online? Archie’s Blog has been a really good experiment, well done to Amy, Archie’s sister.

Blogging really is a powerful medium. Ultralab have a lot of experience with blogs, and we think Archie’s is excellent. Remember to read in your best four year old voice…..

Here are the posts: Click here to read them.