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Press
Release
Small Feet Go Far:
The First Ever Swedish
Cultural Season
For Children Opens
In London
...five plays,
seven films, six
authors, two ministers,
nine rehearsed readings,
three seminars...
04 September
2006: Philip Pullman,
Henning Mankell,
David Lammy, Jacqueline
Rose, Tony Graham,
and Suzanne
Osten are among
the British and
Swedish cultural
leaders participating
in Small Feet Go
Far, the first ever
Swedish cultural
season for children
which takes place
at venues across
London from 11
- 29 October 2006.
(Download
full release with
event listings)
Small Feet Go
Far (www.smallfeetgofar.com),
provides unparalleled
opportunities for
children, families,
schools and arts
practitioners to
see the very best
Swedish culture
for children and
engage in a wider
debate exploring
culture for children
as part of Sweden's
Year of Young Culture
in 2007.
The theatre productions,
films and books
in Small Feet Go
Far have helped
transform the Swedish
cultural landscape
and been influential
around the world.
It is the first
time that many of
them have been shown
in the UK. Many
of the events are
free.
Small Feet Go
Far overview:
| Theatre |
Five productions
at the Unicorn
Theatre and
nine rehearsed
readings of
specially translated
plays at Unicorn,
National and
Polka Theatres.
RADA, Hampstead
Theatre and
Company of Angels
are also involved.
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| Film
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Two-day
film festival
and family workshop
on film in partnership
with the Swedish
Institute and
the BFI at the
National Film
Theatre. Two
Swedish films
screened as
part of National
Schools Film
Week. |
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| Literature |
Two-day
festival with
public readings
from six of
Sweden's best
authors
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| Seminars |
Three
seminars with
British and
Swedish authors
and cultural
experts. |
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| IKEA |
Transforming
the foyer of
the Unicorn
Theatre, into
an installation
that reflects
ideas about
active children,
play and creativity
for the season.
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| VisitSweden |
Running a
competition
for a weekend
break to Gothenburg
for a family
of four.
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Philip Pullman,
Henning Mankell;
UK Culture Minster
David Lammy MP;
Kristina Rennerstedt,
Director General,
The National Swedish
Council for Cultural
Affairs; Tony
Graham, Artistic
Director, The Unicorn
Theatre; Professor
Suzanne Osten,
Director, Unga Klara
Theatre Company;
are among a range
of high profile
speakers taking
part in a series
of free seminars
at the Unicorn Theatre
to explore culture
for children. The
Swedish Minister
for Education, Research
and Culture is also
expected to take
part.
Small Feet Go Far
has been initiated
by the Swedish Embassy
in London to provide
a unique opportunity
for British children,
families, schools
and arts professionals
to see some of Sweden's
finest work for
children and participate
in debate with authors,
film makers and
playwrights about
what children's
culture means.
Small Feet Go Far
is a precursor to
'Young Culture 'O7',
an initiative from
the Swedish Government
to raise national
debate on the provision
of culture for children
in Sweden. Small
Feet Go Far provides
a starting point
for this debate,
gathering thoughts
and exchanging ideas
with British culture
providers and audiences
of all ages.
Leif Pagrotsky,
Swedish Minister
for Education, Research
and Culture
said: “Young
Culture ‘07
will be a national
debate on how we
develop the best
cultural framework
for our children
and our country.
Exchange and collaboration
with leading arts
providers in other
countries and listening
to foreign audiences
will help us develop
our policies, as
well as showcase
Swedish culture
for children. Small
Feet Go Far will
add a new dimension
to our dialogue
and creative possibilities
by seeding the debate
with views and ideas
from British audiences
and arts professionals.”
READ
FULL QUOTE
Staffan Carlsson,
His Excellency The
Ambassador of Sweden,
said: "I
hope Small Feet
Go Far will be an
exciting experience
for children, families
and schools and
provide an insight
into the way we
work with children
and culture in Sweden.
The three week season
sees us working
with some of London's
most important cultural
institutions. It
enables us to build
on the already strong
bonds with the arts
and cultural sector
in the UK and explore
and share ideas
about culture for
children to the
benefit of both
our countries".
Tony Graham, Artistic
Director of Unicorn
Theatre, said:
"Small Feet
Go Far is one of
the most important
events to take place
at the Unicorn.
It is built around
the important idea
that children's
culture matters.
That Sweden values
its children can
be seen in its approach
to child development,
culture and education.
Sweden has been
a trend-setter in
children's theatre
for over 30 years.
There is much we
can all learn from
this experience.
This Festival will
encourage us to
look at how we see
our own children.
We look forward
to welcoming Small
Feet Go Far to the
Unicorn. It promises
to be a powerful
provocation of the
sort we need right
now." READ
FULL QUOTE
Olle
Wästberg, Director-General,
Swedish Institute:
"A child’s
right to culture
is a high-profile
issue in Sweden.
The fact that we
attach such importance
in public debate
to the child's perspective
in our provision
of culture has generated
a great deal of
interest internationally.
One of the plays
being performed
is The Girl, the
Mother and the Rubbish,
which is a good
example both of
how the child is
placed at the centre
of a play and of
our faith in children
and their ability
to embrace artistic
experience".
Small Feet Go
Far's website www.smallfeetgofar.com
provides full public
information on the
season and ticket
details.
  Download
full release with
event listings
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