Sonic Postcards Framework

The Sonic Postcards project, and the associated promotion group, partners the nationally-known Sonic Arts Network and local sound, media and art practitioners with seven primary schools across Plymouth.

Children are creating soundscapes and artworks focusing on particular locations in Plymouth, from the neighbourhoods around their schools, to well-known tourist areas in the city. Primary schools involved include West Park, Highfield, Plym View, Ford, Prince Rock, South Trelawny and Woodfield, with the project focusing on music, ICT, geography, art and citizenship.

Using MP3 recorders and microphones, the schools have partnered with Plymouth-based MusicZone and Sonic Arts Network leaders in helping young people make and edit their recordings. Arts practitioners are working in the schools on associated Sonic Postcards artworks.

The recordings and art pieces will form an exhibition of work at the project’s end in June 2006, while an associated project via the Excellence Cluster in Schools organisation is empowering young people to promote and publicise the Sonic Postcards exhibition, to develop young people’s cultural and personal leadership, to develop their voices, and enhance city-wide creative cultural networks.

14 children have been selected from the schools to work on promoting the Sonic Postcards show, from writing press releases and taking publicity photographs to inviting VIP guests, planning the food and making a video trailer to act as a viral marketing tool.