Our Town
THE PROJECT
Our Town was a major innovative community arts project involving over five hundred contributors that ran throughout the year 2000, and was enjoyed by over 10,000 people. The project consisted of:
The exhibition Our Town, My Space;
The Our Town 'Audiotexs' CD; and
The Our Town print publication.
Listen to Audio Excepts
Mike de Sousa was the originator of the project Our Town, and was its director, composer, and curator. Our Town presented hundreds of voices and creative works that sought to capture the people and place of Basingstoke, Hampshire, England at the turn of the 21st century.
SUPPORTERS AND SPONSORS
For a comprehensive list of supporters and contributors go to Our Town Credits.
Our Town was co-commissioned by The Willis Museum, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, and Central Studio Arts Centre.
Our Town received a major grant from The Millennium Festival Awards For All programme. Our Town was also supported by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, The Four Lanes Trust, Hampshire Museum's Trust, Southern Arts, The Automobile Association, The Basingstoke Press, ntl telecommunications, Sun Life of Canada Financial Services, Virgin, and Wiggins Teape.
Our Town, My Space
The Our Town, My Space exhibition was about human stories, connections, and dislocations. The exhibition provided a voice for over five hundred people, many never having expressed themselves publicly before.
Visitors to the exhibition heard sounds, conversations and music collected from the people and place of Basingstoke, which forms the 'audiotexs' Our Town. You can listen to extracts from the 60 minute work by visiting the Music Archive (scroll down to the Our Town section).
As visitors to the Our Town, My Space exhibition traveled through the exhibition space, they come across a wide variety of visual media. Some people used paint to express how they felt about their space, some chose to represent their space in a concrete or representational way, others decided to exhibit an activity they did in their space.
A Message from the Mayor of Basingstoke & Deane (2000)
'One of the pleasures and privileges of my Mayoral Year has been to be associated with the Our Town project. It is a wonderful project which has brought together so many members of our community. I knew of the project in its early stages long before I became Mayor and I know how much is due to the enthusiasm and genius of its initiator and project developer Michael de Sousa with the able support of the Steering Committee.'
'The project has undoubtedly enhanced the community spirit of the Borough, and everyone of us should be grateful for such a gem to start off the Millennium.'
Lynden Jones, Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, 1999-2000
Our Town Credits
Co-commissioners
The Willis Museum
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
Central Studio Arts Centre
Project Organisation
Michael de Sousa
|
Project Director, Composer, Curator, Exhibition Designer, Fundraiser, Administrator, Marketing and Promotion |
| Sue Sharpe |
Graphic Designer |
| Hazel Hartgill |
Exhibition Technician |
| Tim Evans |
Exhibition Consultant |
| Pat Bonifacio |
Curatorial Consultant |
| Izita Kerr |
Exhibition Consultant |
| Alan Williams |
Exhibition Consultant |
| Derek Bunyard |
Exhibition Consultant |
Steering Committee Members
| Felicity Brooker |
Town Centre Manager |
| Tim Evans |
Curator, The Willis Museum |
| Christopher Holland |
Solicitor, Project Treasurer |
Rob Iliffe
|
Leisure Officer, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council |
| Izita Kerr |
Artist (Committee Member 1998-1999) |
| Phil Pennington |
Director Central Studio |
| Michael de Sousa |
Project Director |
| Sue Sharpe |
Graphic Designer |
Project Backers
Grant Assistance
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
Four Lanes Trust
Millennium Festival Awards For All Programmes
Hampshire County Council
Hampshire Museum Services
Southern Arts
Corporate Sponsors
The Automobile Association
The Basingstoke Press
Hammicks Bookshops
ntl Telecommunications
Sun Life Financial Services of Canada
Wiggins Teape
Virgin
Exhibition Venues
The Anvil
Central Studio
The Haymarket Theatre
Saint Michael's Church
The Willis Museum
Venue Personnel
| Christine Bradwell |
Chief Executive, The Anvil |
| Tim Evans |
Curator, The Willis Museum |
| Phil Pennington |
Director, Central Studio |
| Rev. Philip Welsh |
Saint Michael's Church |
| Tim Wills |
Theatre Manager, The Haymarket Theatre |
Contributing Schools
Bishop Challoner Roman Catholic Secondary School
Bishopswood County Infant School
Bramley Church of England Primary School
Fort Hill Community School
Kempshott Junior School
Kings Furlong Junior School
Manor Field Junior School
Marnel Junior School
Merton County Infant School
Oakley Junior School
Park View County Infant School
Queen Mary's College
Richard Aldworth Community School
Rucstall Primary School
Saint Anne's Roman Catholic Primary School
Testbourne Community School
Special Thanks
| Barbara Applin |
Basingstoke Archaeological and Historical Society |
| David Arnott |
Communications Director, Sun Life Financial Services of Canada |
| Sarah Boundy |
Public Relations, NTL Telecommunications |
| Annette Churchill |
Human Resources Manager, Wiggins Teape |
| Lesley Clark |
Sponsorship Manager, Sun Life Financial Services of Canada |
| Jeanette Davies |
Head of Art, Testbourne Community School |
| Aileen McDonald |
Day Care Manager, Saint Michael's Church |
| Rob Denham |
Head of Art, Bishop Challenor |
| Daryl Fraser |
Arts and Heritage Manager, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council |
| Nadia Harding |
Unit Manager, Audley's Wood Resource Service |
| Gordon Hill |
Managing Director, The Basingstoke Press |
| Angie Holmes |
Head of Art, Kempshott Junior School |
| Paul Littlehayes |
Manager, The Walks Shopping Centre, Basingstoke |
| Ken Single |
Day Care Helper, Saint Michael's Hospice |
| Bill Smith |
Marketing Director, The Basingstoke Press |
| Julie Smith |
Community Embroidery Teacher |
| Janice de Sousa |
Quality Control and Editorial |
| David Tattersal |
Manager, Corporate Public Relations, The Automobile Association (retired) |
| Mary Thomas |
Community Art Teacher |
| Peter Thomson |
Chief Executive, Saint Michael's Hospice |
| Jamima Trotter |
Leader, Audley's Wood Outreach Centre, Basingstoke Day Care Services |
| Rob Verner-Jeffreys |
Manager, Hammicks Bookshops |
| Gill Waller |
Head of Art, Fort Hill Community School |
Contributing Organisations
| The Anvil |
Grapevine Information Services Ltd |
| Audley's Wood Resource Service |
Hammicks Bookshops |
| The Automobile Association |
Hampshire County Council |
| All Saints Bellringers |
The Haymarket Theatre |
| Basing Clog Morris Dancers |
J Sainsbury's |
| Basingstoke Community Day Care Services |
Junction 6 |
| Basingstoke Cycle Works |
Kingsclere MOT Centre |
| Basingstoke Ice Rink |
North Hampshire Quilters |
| Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council |
The Malls Shopping Centre |
| Basingstoke Model Engineering Society |
Mayflower Morris Dancers |
| Basingstoke Football Club |
Millennium Festival Awards For All |
| The Basingstoke Press |
The Old Trout Band |
| Basingstoke Ramblers |
Ordnance Survey |
| Basingstoke Rugby Football Club |
Queen Mary's College |
| Basingstoke Salvation Army Band |
Saint Michael's Church Choir |
| Berry Bros. and Rudd Ltd |
Saint Michael's Church Bellringers |
| Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra |
Saint Michael's Hospice |
| Basingstoke Sports Centre |
SISK Builders |
| Basingstoke Business Support Centre |
Southern Arts |
| Central Studio |
Sun Life Financial Services of Canada |
| Club 2000-2005 Bingo |
Virgin |
| The Common Theatre Company |
Wiggins Teape |
| Corbett and Gelson |
Warner Brothers Cinema |
| Fairfields Arts Centre |
Wella Bisons Ice Skating Team |
| The Four Lanes Trust |
The Willis Museum |
|
Composition Contributors
Special thanks to my wife Janice for her unwavering support and commitment. Thanks also to all those at May Place, Roman House, and Saint Michael's Hospice for their generosity of spirit, time and effort. Our Town would not have come about without the help of many members of the public who kindly contributed towards this work yet preferred not to be mentioned by name in the following credits.
|
Mikedesousa
|
Composer and sound editor
Piano, keyboards, guitars, percussion and sampler programmes
vocals (Where I Want To Be)
Interviews and recorded ambient sounds
Studio recording, engineering and production |
| Keith Marsden |
Songwriter: Bring Us A Barrel |
| The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra |
Tuning up session recorded in rehearsals at The Anvil, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England |
| Erik Faithfull |
Northumbrian pipes, Uilleann pipes, wooden flute and tin whistle |
| Rip Rippingdale |
Lead Singer: Bring Us A Barrel |
| Saint Michael's Church Choir |
The Angel Gabriel (extract in Opening): C Edgar-Pettman/Sabine Baring, Organist and Director of Music: George G Hay |
Saint Michael's Church Bellringers |
Extract in Full Circle
|
| All Saints Church Bellringers |
Extract in Full Circle |
| The Salvation Army Brass Band |
Extracts in Full Circle |
| The People of Basingstoke |
Ambient sounds from public areas |
| Sue Sharpe |
CD Cover and graphic design |
| Sound Recording Technology |
High End Mastering and CD Manufacture |
| Jack Cruttenden, Molly Gray, Sue Sharpe, Class 5H Kings Furlong Junior School |
CD Picture Credits |
Contributing Organisations |
| The Anvil |
Basingstoke Sports Centre |
Mayflower Morris Dancers |
| Basing Clog Morris Dancers |
Camrose Football Ground |
Oakley Junior School |
| Basingstoke Cycle Works |
Club 2000-2005 Bingo |
Queen Mary's College |
| Basingstoke Football Club |
Common Players Theatre |
The Old Trout Band |
| Basingstoke Ice Rink |
Corbett and Gelson |
Sisk Builders |
| Basingstoke Model Eng. Soc. |
The Irish Club |
Warner Bros. Cinema |
| Basingstoke Ramblers |
J Sainsbury's |
Wella Bisons |
| Basingstoke Ruby |
Kingsclere MOT Centre |
|
Individual Contributors
The following list of contributors is in alphabetical order and as agreed, no reference is made to their occupation or interest group. Many others contributed but wished to remain anonymous.
| Mrs R L Allen |
Melinda Gatcum |
Craig Newman |
| Joe Allnutt |
Clive Grace |
Jason Nethercliffe |
| Louise Anderson |
A Godfrey |
Claire Noble |
| Valerie Applebee |
R Gowling |
Mike Nicholls |
| Ellen D'Arcy |
Gavin Greenhalgh |
Charlotte Ninnis |
| Angela Athawes |
John Greenwood |
Leanne O'Neil |
| Emma Atkin |
Warren Grew |
Graham Osborne |
| Richard Atlin |
Jenny Grieves |
Patrick |
| Arthur Attwood |
Abdul Gioffar |
Mick Paull |
| Tony Attrill |
R Gowling |
Mr Pati |
| Derek Ayling |
Molly Gray |
Margarete Payne |
| Chris Bailey |
Warren Grew |
Ian Pegg |
| Stephen Baker |
Alexander Hackett |
Kelly Pearcy |
| Lloyd Ball |
Iris Harding |
John Penfold |
| Craig Ball |
John Harding |
Tim Pickup |
| Samantha Bandy |
Mr G Hargrove |
George Plummer |
| Ian Baneck |
Chris Harris |
Gemma Plumb |
| Zoe Barrett |
Ian Harris |
Margaret Porter |
| Ron Bell M Bennett |
Mavis Gwendoline Harvey |
Adam Pring |
| Lindsay J Berry |
Richard Hasted |
Simon Pugsley |
| Elliot Billingham |
Heather Hasthorpe |
Pat Rampton |
| M Bibbó |
Bill Hayes |
Alisdair Ramsey |
| Kayleigh Bird |
S Haywood |
Matt Randall |
| James Blanchard |
Stefan Harrison |
Rebecca Reilly |
| Luke Bloomfield |
S Haywood |
Alex Reid |
| Christine Bonner |
Danika Henderson |
Mrs Phyllis Ralton |
| Jane Bonnin |
Mrs S M Headley |
Wendy Ray |
| Ashley Boon |
Rose Heath |
Iris Raynbird |
| Martin Boult |
EJ and SJ Hedges |
Joan Rhodes |
| Joe Bourne |
Adrian Hemmings |
Mark Richards |
| Earnest Bow |
Danika Henderson |
Chris Richardson |
| Rachel Bowden |
Joy Hickson |
Matthew Rixon |
| Tom Braybrook |
Helen Hill |
Daniel Robb |
| Cyril Brooks |
Jeffrey Hill |
Eloise Robb |
| Tony Brotherton |
Jim Hill |
Mr and Mrs Robb |
| C Brophy |
Tom Hizer |
Christina Rocca |
| Anne Brown |
Alan Hoare |
Jane Rolfe |
| Anne Brunton |
Leeza Hilden |
Lily-Bilie Roman |
| Peter Brunton |
Amanda Hobden |
D R Sadler-Hall |
| Hannah Bryer |
Reuben Horsfall |
Sylvia Salter |
| Annabelle Buckland |
Wendy Horsfall |
David Deane-Saunders |
| James Burke |
Claire Hobbs |
Erica Schröder |
| Brian Burwood |
Andrew Hobden |
Cliff Seamark |
| Jenny Byford |
Tony Hollow |
Iona Sewell |
| Lois Carrington |
John Holmes |
Ian Shanks |
| Julie Carver |
Linda Holmes |
Stephen Sheedy |
| Hugh Chalker |
Ian Holmes |
Jessica Sheldrake |
| Tessa Chevallier |
David Howe |
Mrs Mary Shelley |
| Peter Churchill |
Nick Houston |
Mukhtar Siddiqui |
| Christopher Clair |
Colin Hyde |
Linda Simmons |
| Clarke-Williams |
Daniel Ilett |
Jake Simpson |
| J L Cochrane |
Chloe Inman |
Andrew Smith |
| Ben Constant |
Catherine Ives |
Jillian Smith |
| Kimberley Cook |
Daniel Ilett |
Julie Smith |
| Claire |
Jamie |
Kirstine Smith |
| Matthew Cleaver |
Mrs Sandra Jeffery |
Terry Smith |
| Holly Coles |
Cerys Jenkins |
Mr Trevor A. Smith |
| Adrian Collum |
Emma Jobling |
Jon Soar |
| Morris Cooper |
Amanda Jones |
Jenny Soar |
| Mr G Cook |
Lynden Jones |
Kevin Spector |
| Ralph Cook |
Rob Jones |
Grace Springthorpe |
| Adam Coulter |
Simon Jones |
Victoria Stanford |
| David P Coppin |
Lucy Lucy |
Natalie Stanton |
| Verena Cornwall |
Jordan Lynne |
Sarah Stevens |
| Jade Coulter |
Jordan |
Mrs Alison Jane Stone |
| Adam Coulter |
Pete Jordan |
Dave Stone |
| Adam Coulter |
Russell Keenan |
Helen Stones |
| Adam Coulter |
Jan Kerch |
Aron Stroner |
| Mike Curran |
Emily Kidgell |
Kath Sutton |
| Rory Chapman |
Fred Kinge |
Sharon Symonds |
| Peter R Churchill |
Janet Kinge |
David Taplin |
| Debbie Clarke |
John Kinge |
Nathan Danielle Taylor |
| Anne Craddick |
Kirsty Kinge |
Threshie |
| Mrs Crawford |
Matthew Kinge |
Ron Tillson |
| Paul Cripps |
Cheryl Knight |
Joan Thomas |
| Paul Crosby |
Janet Knight |
Sandra Thomas |
| Nicholas Crowson |
Mrs Shirley Kirsopp |
Tigg |
| Jack Cruttenden |
Shelain Lakhani |
Neil Topliss |
| Alma Cruttenden |
Fiona Lane |
Mathu Trevedi |
| Fr. Danny |
Gary Langham |
Sabina Turrell |
| Colin Davies |
Dawn Langley |
Rosalind Turrell |
| Nigel Darley |
Mrs Sheila Lawrence |
Philip Turell |
| Shiela Darley |
Josh Lee |
Tyeson |
| Christopher Day |
Shane Lewis |
Pauline Underwood |
| Paul Day |
Paul Littlehales |
Scott Upshall |
| David Deane-Saunders |
Kelly Longhurst |
Mr Walker |
| Simon Derbyshire |
Carly Louden |
Mr Barrie Walkley |
| Cicely Dewe |
Brenda Lockyer |
Jenny Walker |
| Rhiannon Doe |
Peter Malcolm |
Jenny Walpole |
| Emma Dobbie |
Becky Marlow |
Keith Walpole |
| Rhiannon Doe |
Andy Marshall |
Betty Waters |
| Sophie Dollin |
Louise Martin |
Christine Waters |
| Don |
Petronella Mattress |
Alethea Watterson |
| Edmund Donovan |
Phillip Mayer |
Claire Wareham |
| Paul Donohoe |
James Mayers |
Esmé Weaver |
| Yvonne Donohoe |
Christopher Maynard |
Dorothy Wells |
| Carol Dooley |
Kathleen McCarthy |
Rev. Phillip Welsh |
| Ernest Downing |
Roy Mears |
Kelly Wheatland |
| Chris Duncan |
Anton Medford |
Roger Wheble |
| Bryon Dwyer |
Melanie Owen Mills |
Jill Wheble |
| Graeme D East |
Daina Mills-Powell |
Mr J D White |
| Amy Elliott |
Rajon Miah |
John White |
| Niall English |
Ripon Miah |
Amanda Wilde |
| Angela C Evans |
Kelly Miller |
Steve Wiles |
| Clare Evans |
T Minshell |
Vanda Williams |
| Margaret Evans |
John Moffat |
Robin Williams |
| Jason Ewins |
Ann Monger |
Sally Williams |
| Niamh Fagen |
Robbie Monroe |
Mrs E J Wilson |
| Janet Farmer |
Emma Morgan |
Jan Wise |
| Mike Farrow |
Susan Morris |
Deborah Woods |
| Sam Flint |
Penny Morris |
Stuart Woodman |
| Michael Forbes |
Kerrie Moth |
Mr and Mrs Woodman |
| Pippa Forster |
Robie Monro |
John Wright |
| Barbara Foster |
Phyllis Murray |
James Wyatt |
| Paul Gallie |
Hannah Myat |
Michael Yau |
| V Gilmour |
James Myers |
Vincent Yau |
| Mgr. Jeremy Garratt |
Brian and Richard Nagle |
Vest |
| William Garrey |
Sheila Nagle |
Zingy |
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