DECIDE outreach – Wellcome Trust with Carousel

As you know, DECIDE is working with Carousel in Brighton; an organisation that helps learning-disabled artists to develop and manage their creative lives (http://www.carousel.org.uk/). The Wellcome Trust is funding Curing Perfect which aims to engage the public on what they know about stem cells, particularly their appropriate use. David Parker, the Senior Producer (Film and Digital Media) at Carousel, and Geoff were invited by the Trust to attend a meeting at the Science Museum in Manchester entitled “Engaging Science”. The meeting, a couple of weeks ago, was interesting. Invited persons were holders of Wellcome Arts Grants and accordingly an assortment of documentary makers, TV and film producers, artists, sculptors, playwrights, performance artists, storytellers, poets and a smattering of basic scientists. The meeting was ‘open microphone’. First, they met to decide what needed to be discussed and then in groups to discuss. David and Geoff took part in discussions on science festivals, storytelling to deliver science and whether medicine needs always to cure. The central theme of the meeting, and value as to outcome, was science might best be presented to the public by scientists and artists working together, for example science festivals/open days put on by scientists alongside artists rather than laboratory workers merely showcasing their work. In keeping with this notion June Jones and Geoff are off to Brighton for the 3-day launch of Curing Perfect (http://brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/event/curing-perfect-online-graphic-novel-launch-event/) and a day with the public on what we can and can’t and should and should do with stem cells. The international festival will include films and videos, a feature film, live bands, digital art and more. Alan, June and Geoff have seen the preview of a short German film that examines a perfect world. All the people in the world (on the bus, in the street and shops etc.) are played by actors with Down’s syndrome and the one different person trying to fit into this perfect world has autism – a quite thought provoking film.