HOME Manchester’s Homemakers project (see here), which brings together diverse arts people and projects during the Covid-19 pandemic, has announced four new commissions following an open call for artists.
The four include three from Manchester: sound artist and nature beatboxer Jason Singh and composer Katie Chatburn will create a film and music collaboration; multidisciplinary artist Christian Asare will create portraits of the eight members of the Manchester based House of Noir, and contemporary theatre and live art-maker James Monaghan will invite his audience into the homes of four different artists over the course of 12 hours. The fourth commission goes to Liverpool physical comedy company Ugly Bucket.
Last week the Homemakers project went nationwide, with additional commissioning partners including Oldham Coliseum, Z-arts and STUN, ARC Stockton, Cambridge Junction, Candoco Dance Company, Chinese Arts Now, Fermynwoods Contemporary Art, Lime Pictures, Music Theatre Wales and London Sinfonietta.
Among those working on the new commissions will be Oldham Coliseum associate artist Hafsah Aneela Bashir, who is introducing the “Poetry Health Service”, using her own and other poems as a “tool for healing”. The PHS will be available by phone and online, the concept developing from the poet’s daily (at 2,30pm) Instagram Live readings.
Oldham Coliseum Artistic Director Chris Lawson said: "We’re delighted to be working in association with HOME. We feel the PHS project, led by Hafsah, is a vital and necessary artistic service we are proud to support.”
All projects will be on HOME’s website as pay-what-you-can entertainments, with wide accessibility options where possible. Go here to find out more.