‘Know Your Status; Get Tested’ Football Tournament - POST EVENT FEEDBACK

We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to you all partner organisations, commissioners, individuals, companies, community organisations, local businesses for your concerted efforts.

Sunday the 17th May came, it went and for those of you who were able to make it you will agree, a great time was had by all. Not even the ‘on and off weather’ could ruin the day.

Thanks goes to everyone who supported with their time, input and everything else in between. Pulling off something so big was the work of great team work and unwavering commitment. Special thanks to team Geoff (THT), Wayne (SHAE SHAE) for all their hard work and for initiating the idea in the first place. Peter and Gavin for making it possible, NAHIP for the resources and practical support…….the ‘DO IT RIGHT’ T-shirts/wallets were very popular, Maureen, Carole, Jonathan, Liz, Vannessa, Olive, Sophie, last but not least, teams AFSS/SACP. We are unable to mention everyone individually, but thank you all once again for making the day a success - to our actors and guest speakers too for delivering a clear message of Aids and Health.

African Night Fever present: AFRICA UNITE!!

Live music from across the continent at the Spiegeltent as part of the Brighton Festival.

• Nana Tsiboe and the Supa High Life Band (GHANAIAN HIGH LIFE)
• Linos Wengara and the Nhasithafara Crew (MBIRA REGGAE)
• Yiri Baa (AFRO MANDING BAND)
• plus DJs
  

Undoubtedly the most African experience to be had at this year's Brighton Festival!!!

DATE: Tuesday 12th May @ 7.30pm - late
COST: tickets £8/£7
TO BUY visit www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk or call the Fringe box office on - 01273 709709.

IRENE MENSAH ON SOUTHERN COUNTIES RADIO LATER TODAY

Spearheading the campaign to raise money for the charity rYico, Irene Mensah and rYico Director Vivienie will both be on Southern Counties (95.3 FM) Radio later today.

They will be talking about the need to support rYico and how the studio Irene is a founder of - Studio 106 - is doing something to raise funds through its communal art piece.

Please pass on this info and lets get some money into rYico for their continued work in Rwanda.

Studio 106 May Festival Exhibition 2009 & Creating a Communal Artwork

Studio 106, established in March 2005, has become an extremely popular artists space to visit during the Brighton Festival, where this year’s exhibition will showcase a selection of new artwork created in this wonderful 300m2 space.

The diversity of the artists’ work from painting, prints, graphics, cartoons, photography to installation art, made the resident members decide to invite the public to join them in the creation of a large communal artwork, ‘1001 Faces Draw it Paint it Stick it Stitch it!’, using the back of the A5 exhibition flyer and any preferred medium. Each ‘face’ will be on sale for £5.00, with the proceeds going to a local charity, rYico, who work with vulnerable young people in Rwanda.

Visit Studio 106 during the 4 weekends of the Festival in May from Sat 2nd to Sun 24th, 11am–5pm. Check www.studio106.co.uk for further information of extra events.

Studio 106 artists: Dan Bennett, May Everett, Christina Fedyk, Ricki Knights, Andre Lichtenberg, Grizelda, Irene Marot, Irene Mensah, Jael O’Connor, Simon Parkin, Michael Pearce, Heather Quin, Christina Reading, Henrik Simonsen, Maria Tribe, Lucianna Whittaker.

Studio 106
1st Floor
106 Coleridge St
Hove
East Sussex
BN3 5AA.

www.studio106.co.uk

‘Know Your Status; Get Tested’ Football Tournament on 21.4.09 in Brighton, UK

Press Release

Date: April 21st 2009
Contact: Hizze Fletcher at Thirteen Art Productions
Tel: 07535 118513

Kopano Fc V's Atheltico Chip Basket Fc (senior game) & Woodingdean Youth Fc V's Bec Utd Fc (junior game).

‘Know Your Status; Get Tested’ Football tournament with a purpose; a charity event brought to entertain you as well as promote good sexual health. ‘Know Your Status; Get Tested’ ………..is better at the beginning or end?

Sussex African Communities Project (SACP) working with Shae Shae Creations and Kopano FC, is holding a football tournament at Southwick Football Club (Brighton, UK) home ground on Sunday 17th May 2009 to bring awareness to Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities across Sussex about the benefits of early HIV testing.

The event is about encouraging leadership and ownership of the health issues around us. With the main slogan ‘Know Your Status’ ‘Get Tested’. The key objective is to reduce the numbers of undiagnosed HIV amongst BME communities by encouraging people to utilise local HIV testing services.

Despite the fact that newer medications make HIV manageable for many, people often fail to identify themselves as being at risk, or they feel that being tested and diagnosed is a burdensome stigma. By ignoring the fact that they may be at risk, hiding from it or prolonging the time before seeking medical attention, they allow the virus to replicate unchecked and the disease to progress. Late stage disease generally results in poorer disease outcomes and reduced quality of life.

Beatrice Nabulya, Project Coordinator for SACP says: “We bring communities together to learn, share and support each other by participating in HIV prevention openly, challenging stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.”

Event co-organiser Wayne James, player/manager of Brighton-based football team Kopano FC, will join other players in taking an HIV test prior to the day. They will share their experience of the testing process at the event in an attempt to help combat stigma as well as increasing community awareness and responsibility. There will be free Chlamydia screening on the day.

This is a family-based event with youth and adult teams competing in the tournament. There will be a DJ and live entertainment plus refreshments. The event is free, but entrance will be by ticket only which entitles you to food, a soft drink and entertainment. Donations on the day will be appreciated to support our local HIV charity work.

Your free ticket collection points:
Shae Shae Creations: 50 Queens, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3
Tel: 01273-230832 Daytime
Mob: 07955-079059 Mobile
Afrik Mart: 4 Preston Road, Brighton, BN1 4QF
Tel: 01273691101


Notes to editors

• The prevalence of diagnosed HIV in Black African and Afro-Caribbean communities in England is estimated to be 3.7% and 0.4% respectively, compared to 0.09% among the white population.

• 40% of all new HIV diagnoses in the UK were among Black Africans. The majority had acquired their infection heterosexually. New diagnoses among Afro-Caribbeans represented 3% of new diagnoses.

• Among new diagnoses the percentage of late diagnoses of HIV was highest among Black Africans (42%). 27% of HIV diagnoses among Afro-Caribbeans were late.

• Sussex African Communities Project is a sexual health and HIV prevention project working with local Black African and Afro-Caribbean communities living in West Sussex and Brighton and Hove.
  

The football tournament will be held on Sunday 17th May from 12 until 6pm.
Entrance will be by ticket only which entitles the bearer to food and entertainment.
Southwick Football Club ground is located at Old Barn Way, Southwick, BN42 4NT


Contacts

Beatrice Nabulya, Project Coordinator, Sussex African Communities Project (SACP)
Tel: 01273 229002 / 07877301269
Email: Beatrice@afss.org


Wayne James, Shae Shae Creations & Event Co-organiser
Tel: 01273 230832 / 07955079059

HI FROM ART:sync

Welcome to the new ART:sync blog.

ART:sync is a hotbed of art and business inspired through culture jointly working together from Brighton, South East (UK) to bring to the fore an honest dialogue on the cultural art landscape.

BACKGROUND
A year-long Redemption Song Programme started in March 2007 and featured an eclectic series of over 50 creative projects. Funded by Arts Council England and Brighton & Hove City Council to commemorate the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, the campaign was tailored specifically to promote wider engagement in the arts by offering unique opportunities for under-represented groups to participate. Partners for the project included a diverse range of artists, cultural organisations, practitioners and commercial agencies. A major legacy of the Redemption Song Programme was the formation of the ART:sync association,
developed by Creative Producer, Jenni Lewin-Turner in response to the initial consultation process.

DEVELOPMENTS
Building on the successful and highly productive inaugural year, the ART:sync consortium currently has 4 main strands of development - Arts, Children & Young People, Business and Sports. The overarching themes are participation, inclusion, cross-cultural and cross-sector collaborations, and international links. The evolving group currently have 15 separate projects in various stages of development, encompassing a range of disciplines and sectors including; literature, film, music, performing arts, heritage, mental health, sports, circus, carnival, visual art, design, photography, multi-media, festival and touring projects.

We hope you enjoy reading about projects we're involved in and look forward to hearing from you.