Welcome to Our Hidden Hills
A multi-generational, community history project that produces new ideas and a new understanding about ourselves and our world.
Theatre Wakefield is a community-based not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the arts as a means for developing our communities, supporting local businesses, and promoting cultural entrepreneurship.
Our Hidden Hills was born from two needs. Theatre Wakefield wanted a way to build its capacity to record and share our regional stories and local history. We were also concerned about the urgent need for relevant teaching resources in the English-language school boards of Quebec.
Our Hidden Hills was born from two needs. Theatre Wakefield wanted a way to build its capacity to record and share our regional stories and local history. We were also concerned about the urgent need for relevant teaching resources in the English-language school boards of Quebec.
The Story so Far
In fall 2008 Theatre Wakefield received a small development grant from Canadian Heritage to research local history and bring it to life. In October Theatre Wakefield conducted three workshops with community educators, artists and organizers interested in using local history for educational, artistic or other community development purposes – in Chelsea, Wakefield and Low.
Following these workshops the Hidden Hills facilitation team put their heads together and came up with the “History Animation Template” – a process for taking historical source material and getting the community to work with it to create a history animation.
Using the specific source material gathered from the three October workshops, Theatre Wakefield then field tested its newly created “History Animation Template” in Chelsea and Low using a “Live on the Airways” format made famous by Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” broadcasts on PBS, and Robert Altman’s movie of the same name. Check out a video clip from the history animation workshops at the Seniors Centre in Low with St. Mike's High School and the Low Seniors Club on April 17th.
Following these workshops the Hidden Hills facilitation team put their heads together and came up with the “History Animation Template” – a process for taking historical source material and getting the community to work with it to create a history animation.
Using the specific source material gathered from the three October workshops, Theatre Wakefield then field tested its newly created “History Animation Template” in Chelsea and Low using a “Live on the Airways” format made famous by Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” broadcasts on PBS, and Robert Altman’s movie of the same name. Check out a video clip from the history animation workshops at the Seniors Centre in Low with St. Mike's High School and the Low Seniors Club on April 17th.
The Brennan's Hill History Hour Old-Time Radio Show
Winter 2009-2010 in the Hills
Thanks to a generous grant from Patrimoine Canadien, Theatre Wakefield is rolling out its history animation process into the Outaouais. Six regional communities will work with the Hidden Hills facilitation team to explore how research and animation of local history can support development of educational curriculum, artistic creativity and appreciation of culture and heritage. The project will also include schools in LEARN Québec's Community Learning Centre video conference network - building community development capacity over the internet.
For more information contact project coordinators Peter MacGibbon - peter@qln.ca - and Gwen Shea - gwenshea@magma.ca
Other Theatre Wakefield Projects
www.piggybackfringe.ca
www.filmcamp.weebly.com
Presented by Theatre Wakefield with financial support from Canadian Heritage
