Imagined Futures Opportunity

19 January 2022

Are you a young person aged 11-15 with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)? Are you interested in learning more about filmmaking and storytelling?

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Join the Imagined Futures project and meet a group of like-minded young people just like you to explore filmmaking, digital storytelling and drama workshops where we will think about identity and your future.

We will meet on Zoom in January once a week for an hour and then come together for a FREE week’s residency, where you will travel in every day and attend workshops at The Unicorn Theatre near London Bridge in February half term 2022.

No experience is necessary. You will work with professional artists to learn film, drama and storytelling skills which will culminate in a sharing to friends and family at the end of the week in February.

How to Apply

Applications to the project are open now. Simply head to this form and ask an adult in your life to fill in your details. We will be in touch soon to let you know if you have been accepted onto the project.

Key Dates

February 14th – 18th 2022: The whole group will come together daily from 10am – 3pm, Mon-Fri at The Unicorn Theatre located at 147 Tooley St, London, SE1 2HZ. The theatre is a short stroll from London Bridge Tube Station.

Who is involved?

The project is led by theatre practitioner Anna Woolf. Anna is a freelance researcher and practitioner and is really interested in digital storytelling and theatre as ways for people to engage with ideas about their identity and health. Anna teaches digital theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. This project is part of Anna’s PhD research, which is about young people with arthritis. She is really interested in how the arts can make us feel better.

Supporting the project is professional filmmaker Chuck Blue-Lowry. Chuck has worked for lots of organisations including Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and Magic Me Arts. Her films have been shown at Tate Modern, Battersea Arts Centre and the BFI.

This project is being done in collaboration with JIA at NRAS. JIA-at-NRAS is a part of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS). They provide information and support services for those affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), their families, friends, carers, and health professionals.

The project is funded by Children in Need.

What does the project cost?

Nothing. The project is free to you, we will also provide some funds to cover your travel costs to and from the week’s residency in February.

This project forms part of Anna’s PhD research, and as such by taking part you will need to ask your responsible adult to consent to recording, filming and photography. The nature of the project involves filmmaking and sharing, so if you feel like this might be uncomfortable this might not be the right project for you.

For more information on this opportunity, please contact jia@nras.org.uk. Alternative get up to date with all things JIA and follow us on social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.