DEATHSCAPES: Mexican Day of the Dead inspired-FREE Family Event

On November 9th, the Institute of Education (London Road campus) is opening its doors to the public for a celebration of life and remembrance! 

Come trick or treating with your family,wear your scariest,shiniest costume, visit different parts of the campus and join our fun Art, Computing/digital technologies workshops: pottery, screen printing, face painting, programming using BBC Micro:bits, program your designs & turn them into badges, walk the labyrinth, play board games, 3D hangman and more! There are workshops & talks for adults too!

At 6.30pm join our New Orleans style jazz procession and end up at our Lecture Theatre to listen to our guest speaker taking us about an artist's perspectives of death rituals over the ages...

ALL WORKSHOPS ARE FREE-LIMITED SPACES FOR SOME OF THE WORKSHOPS

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Information about the workshops that require booking

Screen Printing: Join Emily Gilmor, well-known printmaker & artist in residence at the IoE, and explore the topic of remembrance through creative screen printing on cotton bags: https://www.facebook.com/emilygillmor, https://twitter.com/emilygillmor Suitable for all

Pottery: Seeds of Diversity: well-known ceramic artist and artist in residence at the IoE, Sue Mundy works with clay and explores link with the natural world: https://www.suemundy.com/ Suitable for all

Talk: Laura Prime, experienced and qualified curator with an MA in Curating Contemporary Art from the Royal College of Art & Secondary Art & Design teacher. With a multi-faceted practice, key research interests include cognitive functions of the brain in relation to learning and communicating; human evolution; the cross-fertilisation of science and art; the use of science fiction as a tool. Death and the Voice is one of Laura's recent projects

Programming (the ghost in the machine): Design a paper chat-bot & send secret messages with the Micro:bits (for younger programmers, create a flashing halloween paper-pumpkin); 

Design a pattern using Python or Turtle Academy programming & print it on a badge.

Age 10+-budding programmers-beginner level (more experienced programmers may enjoy revisiting key programming concepts.

There will be activities for younger children in our drop-in workshops. 

While you are waiting for your workshop here are some drop-in workshops. You don't have to register for:

• Eulogy wordclouds

• Ghost parade
  

• Inside Out Drawings for our Emotions Tree installation

• Decorating our offrenda

• 3D hangman

• Wall of tears

• Great Funeral Bake Off

• Walk the labyrinth: Mindful walk

• Dead-boo the unspoken game

• Top 10 music hits to watch the world go by

• Data legacy: digital rights after death

• Death wishes game

• New Orleans jazz procession (though we would like to know number of attendees)

Some of the workshops will be recorded and we will take photos of the activities. Feel free to tweet using #uordeathliteracy

FAQs

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?

This is a family event and you are all welcome! We do suggest though that most of the workshops are more suitable for children ages 5 years and up. Children younger than 5 years are welcome to join their siblings but need to be supervised by their parents. The billetto tickets will indicate the age-appropriateness of each workshop.

There will be notes on the door of each workshop to indicate age appropriateness and content.

Few of the activities will be aimed towards adults and again there will be indication on the site and at the door of the workshop. Laura Prime's talk is mainly aimed at ppl age 15+.

Workshops are supported by DBS-checked volunteers (mainly our wonderful PGCE Reading Partnership Trainees ) but we expect that parents will stay with their children during the workshops.

What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event?

There is some but limited parking on site. The venue is not far from the Reading train station and public transport takes you near the Institute of Education.

Where do I go when I arrive?

Start at Building L33, Room 101. You can register and receive a nice wristband and a sticker! Don't worry if you ran out of time though! If you have booked a workshop, you can go directly to your workshop. If you have not registered, the workshop convenor will register you there (and give you your wristband and your sticker).

We will share an event trail map on 1st November and you are welcome roam around the workshops!

What can I bring into the event?

Your ticket for the workshops, please.

Water and a snack for the kids (there is a cafe both at the Institute and at the MERL but they may get busy).

Do I have to register for the workshops?

Some of the workshops are open to all and you don't have to register. Others require you to register. We want to ensure that we have enough resources for you. Most of the workshops are repeated more than once. If the workshop is full, please contact us and will add you to the waiting list. If the workshop is full, you can still attend but you may not be able to take part if you have not registered.

How can I contact the organiser with any questions?

Email Yota Dimitriadi: Y.Dimitriadi@reading.ac.uk

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No. You can show your ticket to the module convenor on your phone on the day and at the door.

Can I update my registration information?

Yes until midday on 09/11/18. Registration for the workshops will close at 1pm on 9/11/2018.

Can I register for more than one workshops?

Of course!...and while you are waiting for your selected workshop you can explore all the other activities and workshops that don't need booking...