Merging Ecologies
Saturday August 25th and Sunday August 26th
10am – 5pm both days
Chesters Estate
Ancrum, near Jedburgh
TD8 6UL
http://www.chestersestate.com/
A free workshop weekend for Scottish Borders based performing arts practitioners, visual artists, writers, film makers, sound artists and musicians. The event is being hosted by Chesters Estate
Merging Ecologies is a 2-day project led by choreographer and physical practitioner Tim Rubidge that will inspire and develop exploratory arts practice where the body is central to our investigation.
Over the weekend we shall explore the outside environment at Chesters – the outbuildings, the stables, the land, and the shape of the grounds, to explore questions about the relationship between nature's elemental shape shifting, and the imprint of the human hand making for a sense of place. Focusing on the development of individual practice, the project will involve and integrate creative dialogue, site exploration, content development, collaboration and the devising of short pieces. Tim will share certain aspects of his practice that fully engage with enquiry and the making of new work. 
“More and more I have been working with the notion of our body being like a bridge that connects our inner world of imagination, reflection and ambition, with the outer world of our surroundings – the place where we find ourselves. As a dancer there are times when I want my body to be a medium through which nature's forces and shifting dynamics can be channelled, reflected or absorbed. And there are other times when I am aware and focus on working as something – as somebody – as object, material, stuff. My ambition for the weekend is that it will be informative, useful, enlightening and fun.”
Tim's work has developed to include many cross-discipline activities. His collaborations have placed the body central to dialogues with film, design, visual art and new writing. In recent years he has been to the townships of Port Elizabeth in South Africa a number of times working to develop new work with local people; he collaborates regularly with film-maker Christo Wallers, the abstract painter Linda Kent and writer Sean Burn. Tim has recently concluded 3 years as Visiting Fellow in Performing Arts at Northumbria University. He is currently developing a project for 2013 involving the narratives of refugees.
Tim Rubidge Biog 
Application
There are 16 places available for the workshop. If you would like to attend please apply by sending us a short paragraph about your practice/art form and a short paragraph as to why you would like to attend this workshop. e-mail your application to Kay.McCluskey@scotborders.gov.uk Enquiries please contact Kay on 01450 360 441 or or Mary on 01450 360 689
Deadline for application Wednesday August 15th - though please contact us any time as there may be some last minute places/cancellations.