Description of the "Filmworks Farm" community art project held in Rogalik, a tiny village in North-East Poland (Mazury region). By Assosiation for an Active Culture SO:ON based in Warsaw (Poland). website: www.gospodarstwofilmowe.blogspot.com only in Polish

4. FILMWORKS FARM GOSPODARSTWO FILMOWE

5. It started in April 2009. Before, we were in touch with community of Rogalik and local authorities in Stare Juchy for more than a year.

9. We were familiar with the difficulties the village suffers from: - Among 70 inhabitants there are only 4 people officially employed - Nobody is a farmer too - Economic decline and low income problem - Dependency on benefits

12. Filmwork Farm, as a community arts project, was funded by: Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Ełk District Local Government Post-Accesion Rural Support Project Stare Juchy Commune Literary, the project was about: MAKING FILMS TOGETHER How does it work towards the aims described above?

17. “ A Blindfold Game” / “Gra w ciemno”

23. Collaborative work is a practice of self organization and communicating with others. A crucial step toward social integration.

27. Participation as a method of working with local communities means changing the inbalance of their / individuals presence in public space. The effects of our workshops took different forms and gave voice to different skills.

28. THREE FILMS the third one, “It comes”, is a documentary where the participants assisted in filming the interviews with older inhabitants of the village

30. PHOTOGRAPHIC SELF-PORTRAITS

31. PHOTOGRAPHIC SELF-PORTRAITS

35. NEWSPAPERS

36. CAMERA OBSCURA PICTURES MADE FROM A CAN

43. CULTURAL EVENT WITH MORE THAN 200 GUESTS We invited other institutions: schools, associations, informal groups to show the effects of their work during the grand finale

57. We (community of Rogalik and animators from our association) search for the means to revitalize the old building in the middle of the village into a proper community centre. We need a heating, running water, some equipment. We have: many ideas for activities that could happen there and a group of young people who can and are able to organize it locally.

60. Association SO:ON is preparing now for implementing a project directed to teachers and local cultural workers: BACKYARD DESIGN This project is devoted to creating tools (lessons’ scenarios, website activities, digital photography) for work in contiguity of youth where they live: secluded villages, occupied by everyday exercise of rural life.

62. Thank you for your attention. We will be happy to share the experience and hear about yours. Contact: Anna Ptak [email_address] http://gospodarstwofilmowe.blogspot.com/