Working with Creative Partnerships in Slough

Creative Partnerships, Slough, has initiated two educational projects with Manaia. The first involved children from 3 primary schools learning a number of traditional Maori action songs and haka, to perform at a big open-air dance festival held in Slough in July 2004.

The second involved young women from a Slough secondary school learning Mau Taiaha, traditional Maori weaponry, leading to a showcase performance in June 2005. This project formed part of the school’s drive to re-enthuse a group of disaffected students. The school monitored these students and found that their involvement with the Maori artists led to increased confidence, self-esteem, higher attendance at school and an improved attitude to school in general.

In both projects, the learning programmes incorporated creative activity with physical fitness and cultural education, through learning Maori language, customs and history.

Creative Partnerships Programme Manager, Alistair Will had this to say:

"My personal view is that Manaia have been able to make a deep impact on the children and young people of Slough for several reasons:

• The artists from Manaia see themselves as cultural ambassadors, and as such are able to convey a genuine sense of pride in their cultural traditions
• The artists have personal qualities which make them powerful role models for young people – professional, assertive and passionate
• Manaia employ a pedagogy based on traditional Maori education methods – fairly strict discipline and order is combined with lots of encouragement, patience and high expectations of students – a 'tough love' approach. The artists saw potential where others had seen problems.
• The cultural traditions themselves have intrinsic worth and interest which transcends ethnicity and geography, with literary, visual, performing and martial arts interwoven and informed by a holistic and unique world view."

Alistair Will, Creative Partnerships, Slough