“Leading the Future”
Identity, Belonging and Storytelling
7th July to 14th July
and
14th July to 21st July
An extraordinary opportunity to dig deep into the stories of diverse cultures and communities and build new narratives for our future
An invitation
An incredible opportunity to take part in life-affirming workshops on identity, belonging and storytelling with two of the leading global artists exploring these topics.
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Guy Mendilow
Guy Mendilow was raised in an academic immigrant family devoted to increasing belonging and dignity, especially for those society tacitly deems it permissible to dismiss. For example, Mendilow’s maternal grandparents smuggled Jews out of WWII Hungary and founded a humanist home for youth-at-risk premised on full societal integration, defying the norm of isolating institutional dependence.
Mendilow has a long record with the use of moving artistic experiences and processes to cultivate belonging. It stretches from childhood participation in one of Johannesburg’s only integrated churches at the height of Apartheid to masters-level research and workshop development for Arab, Israeli, Pakistani and Indian educators using improvisation to set the stage for mediation.
Since 1996, Mendilow has designed and facilitated residencies in communities ranging from the
Navajo Reservation and rural Midwest to business schools (e.g. Babson College). Mendilow’s productions have received multiple funding awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Boston Foundation and the New England Foundation for the Arts on the basis of artistry, cultural preservation and the strengthening of communities through the arts.
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Regie Gibson
Regie Gibson has lectured and performed widely in the US, Cuba, and Europe. In Italy, representing the US, Regie received both the Absolute Poetry Award (Monfalcone) and the Europa en Versi Award (LaGuardia di Como). He has been honored with fellowships with Mass Cultural Council and YMCA and served as poet-in-residence at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts and Lexington MA’s Cary Memorial Library. A widely anthologized poet, author and playwright, Gibson has also performed with, and composed texts for, the Boston City Singers, the Mystic Chorale, and Handel+Haydn Society.
Gibson’s thought-partnership has informed the NEA’s “How Art Works” initiative and the “Mere Distinction of Colour” — a permanent exhibit examining the legacy of slavery and the U.S. Constitution at James Madison’s Montpelier home in Virginia. Regie is currently the creative lead on a team of scientists and members of the Red Cross-Red Crescent Climate Center (Hague, Netherlands), helping to craft language regarding issues of climate change. He teaches at Clark University in Worcester. Gibson now lives in Lexington, MA, USA.
It all begins with an idea.
Watch The Guy Mendilow Ensemble in their Forgotten Kingdom
Make it stand out.
Watch Regie Gibson performing one of his poems
And imagine all this whilst staying on the stunning Clos de Gaye estate in south west France, in the foothills of the Pyrénées, on the border with Spain….
Clos de Gaye
Extraordinary experiences where the world comes together for impact
New collection.
Accommodation will be provided in bell tents, with family camps housed in the superior ‘stargazer’ versions. ‘Glamping’ style toilets and showers will be available. All food and activities will be provided in multiple locations around the Clos de Gaye estate.
What to expect
● Moving and memorable experience of connecting with peers from very different cultures/backgrounds
● Learn principles and strategies for collaborating, transforming one’s personal experiences into resonant stories, creative project design
● Get to know each other as fellow humans by listening to one another, and being heard.
● Increase understanding of each other's differences, shared values/experiences and some of what has brought us to see what we see, know what we know
● Participate in an experience that is powerful enough that it becomes the start of ongoing relationships/connections/perspective shifting
Sample Workshop
Values Affirmation Writing Exercise: Brief writing exercise to help create a psychologically safe environment for participants to take greater creative risks, voice opinions and be open to new ideas and experiences. Learning of each other’s important values will also inform directions for the students’ production.
Reframing Risk: Through group movement improvisation games, participants will learn ways to take more intelligent risks and discern between types of “failure.” Participants will build trust, enable each other's creativity, and learn to work, play, stumble, fall and rise together.
Aristotle’s Taxonomy: Using Aristotle’s “scientific” method to write about our lives.
In this fun, fact-filled workshop, Regie will show how he uses Aristotle’s “scientific” method to build a story in 3 easy steps and a poem in 4! Students will create 2-3 stories.
Group Session: Students are placed into groups in which they will read to each other and explore what are shared experiences. Students will be guided to possibilities of combining stories according to those similar subject matters and contents.
When the show ends, what begins?
Countless research shows that participation and engagement in the arts, theatre in particular, is the very best way forward. With its proven ability to develop empathy, increase problem solving skills, and participants’ ability to take risks, it is the ideal way to develop bold, courageous, creative leaders.
Our summer camp programme is designed to not only give children, young people, and their families an extraordinary experience, but to invite them into leadership for a better world in their communities and the world at large.
We ask each camper to commit to a longer-term project where they contribute to making an impact when they go home and we follow up and support them in this journey.
What you and your child will get
By the end of camp, each participant will CREATE!
COLLABORATE with a diverse cohort that values partnership, respect, and empathy.
RESPOND to the needs of the group knowing their own needs will also be met.
ENGAGE in a process that enhances critical and creative thinking.
AWAKEN and share the unique artistic qualities inherent in each of us.
TRANSFORM challenges into opportunities with joy and hope.
EMPOWER themselves and each other knowing what they do impacts the world.
Download the full programme brochure now
And for more information about the other summer camps we have on offer….
Our camp leaders are all French BAFA-qualified* in compliance with French law, and are subject to a diligent screening process with criminal record checks. Additionally, the Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership has a rigorous safeguarding policy and procedures. Further details can be provided on request.
*The Brevet d'Aptitude aux Fonctions d'Animateur (BAFA) or, childcare aptitude certificate, is a qualification that is required by the French government. Under Youth and Sports regulation in France, a certain percentage of childcare workers in a summer camp must have this certificate.
What People Are Saying
I was quiet before, I didn’t talk much and I didn’t reach out to people. When I was home alone, I felt isolated. I didn’t communicate alot with my parents….we never talked deeply— [but] when we acted, the feeling was fantastic. We can be anyone that is different to ourselves and that is so great. We are closer than before, both friends and parents. The [facilitators] helped us both with the play, and with our lives
- Camp participants
Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to participate in the workshop. I have witnessed firsthand how it ignites creativity within participants and offers avenues for engaging and empowering others through art.
- US State Department
Thank you so much for yet another very wonderful workshop. It was beautiful and humbling and so very thought-provoking and I loved being amongst all of you. The work you do is bursting with goodness.
— Adult participant