1. An introduction to the project and the artist
1.1 What we want to do
The project will allow participants to create and perform within a contemporary fairy tale. One that evolves in real time, which is dynamic and exciting, involves mystery and quest and above all lasts as an arts adventure that has transformed the imagination. A team of creative people and primarily children will guide the artist in a ‘hunt for the fairy tales of the yeti’, journeying through faraway lands, to the home of the yeti. This team will have researched the art of storytelling, created their own fairy stories and equipped the artist with the specialised creative tools for the expedition. More that this, they will decide where the artist goes and what he will do in the hunt via the exchange of a live filmed diary of the journey and thus finally guiding him safely home with amazing tales and discoveries. The permanent legacy as a result of creating this fairy tale adventure will be an exhibition, enabling others to have the courage to take creative risks, realising the potential of the creative arts to transform the imagination and their future. The theme is aimed at a contemporary reinterpretation of fairy tales, one where the myth of the monster or demon is placed back as one of demonstrator and guide, in this case the Yeti. The innovative methods of realising these aspirations have been selected to generate a new appreciation of the plasticity of the internet, as potentially a two way interactive artistic tool, in this case developing a new way of storytelling. The hunt will explore the benefits of taking artistic risks and additionally aid the development of resilience towards fear (of the unknown), equipping us to cope with challenges in later life, which arguably remains a key purpose of the role of fairy tales in our culture heritage.
Hunting for Fairy tales of the Yeti will take place over one year, involve Andy Comley as the lead artist, two UK primary schools and a youth project in Nepal, be hosted by Seven Stories (the centre for children’s books), be supported by artistic and technological mentors and reach out to an internet audience of potentially several thousand. It has only been possible to envision such a project in these recent times as a result of current technological advances in media communication and therefore will positively challenge and expand the artistic skills all those taking part, whilst creatively inspiring them within a pioneering artistic environment.
The lead artist in Hunting for Fairy Tales of the Yeti has been chosen as a result of his successful experiences with Seven Stories, and the completion of a number of similar commissions that have demanded a corresponding level of responsibility and awareness of participant’s needs and interests. For example, where the artist has co-managed projects with a core element of international exchange or research and where the engagement with creative resources has advanced educational discovery resulting in original and unique solutions to issues for participants and communities, particularly when involving young people.
The website will be known as yetifairytales.com and will be live as of 30th October 2011 marking the public launch of the project.
