Mozart and Me

Throughout the Mozart and Me project, Ignite Imaginations’ successfully worked with ten targeted groups (approximately 105 people) across Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham. For each group, two artists with an expertise in different art forms delivered three workshops to explore the music of Mozart and participants’ connection to the music.

The groups reached included AFAB Adults with Asperges, Artworks who work with artists living with learning disabilities, Creative Recovery Barnsley, a people led organisation who support people to boost their wellbeing through creativity and Forget Me Nots Community Choir, a community choir that included participants with memory loss and participants who are partially sighted and living with hearing loss.

The diversity of the groups, including age, disability and socio- economic status was a real measure of success for the project and lack of previous opportunity is something that participants’ and partners remarked upon.

“A lady told us she had not been to any sessions like this before because she did not feel

confident. By coming to the session, feeling welcome and taking part she said she had gained some confidence and would be more likely to come to a community activity again.”

(Rotherham Rise, Partner)

Workshops were delivered by high calibre Ignite Imaginations’ artists including visual arts,

contemporary dance, South Asian dance and puppet-making.

From the artists’ feedback on the project, 100% artists agreed that participants had learnt or

developed their confidence and creativity with arts and crafts, performing arts, collaboration emotional intelligence, and decision making highly referenced also.

Please see below two short case-studies promoting the skills development aspect of the project:

“Two [adults living with disabilities] who were initially reluctant to move their bodies very much

during the dance sessions were enabled using finger lights. The dance artist encouraged

participants to focus on the lights to create patterns on the walls, and surfaces, changing the

shape & pattern of lights in response to the music. This technique meant that in focussing on the

lights, they un -self- consciously moved their arms rhythmically to join in.”

(Artist Feedback on participants)

“One participant living with physical disabilities after the first session of Mozart and Me went

home researched Mozart and then also learnt a pieces of music to do as solo song by Mozart and

shared this with the group. I don't think the participant had done a solo to the group before.”

(Artist feedback on Forget Me Not participant)

One important element of the project was the bringing together of groups for the Mozart and Me Celebration event which successfully achieved the project aims to ‘1) offer connectivity and creativity in times of isolation 2) work across the county to give a sense of togetherness and celebrate the creative outputs to increase confidence and a sense of achievement.’

Approximately 50 participants attended the celebration which aimed to bring participants together, increase connections through a common experience and to showcase the artworks created. Participants and supporting staff participated in a group dance warm-up activity, everybody could see the exhibition of work that had been created across the groups, plus a group voice recording and puppet show were performed, speeches from participants and partners as well as a VIP lunch.

“Recording the voice over, listening to it at the event made me joyful, happy, and cheerful.” (Participant)

“I was proud to get up on the stage and explain about the project” (Participant)

“Thank you again for yesterday. The group is absolutely buzzing about it - it really affected them...thank you for giving them the opportunity to perform something that was so meaningful and inspiring” (Partner, Forget Me Nots Community Choir talking about the celebration)

Artists described the legacy of the project to be “Participants have shared a real interest in Mozart and his life and struggles; it has made his music accessible.”, “increased skills & self - confidence for the participants - increased skills for staff supporting the group - increased skills for artists working in collaboration - greater feeling of having worked on something larger and connecting with new communities in the region” and “[The project was] a great way to make friendships and develop important social and creative skills.”