CIAO! - The Children's International Arts Organisation

What's New?

Theatre Chipping Norton generously donates their pantomime set from 2009

Following its successful Christmas 2009 run at The Theatre, Chipping Norton, Dick Whittington’s pantomime set will continue to entertain the masses, albeit in a different shape and form! The Theatre has very generously donated the pantomime set in order for the materials to be recycled and reused in the building of the CIAO! Ark.

Our aim is to build the Ark from reclaimed materials gathered from a 20-mile radius of Oxford city centre and this donation will hopefully be the first of many, in a project the brings together scientists, architects and arts organisations from across Oxfordshire.

The CIAO! Children’s Climate Change Conference

Despite severe weather conditions, the CIAO! Children’s Climate Change Conference went ahead as planned and marked the official launch of the CIAO! Ark Project.

Dr Myles Allen addressing the children at the Sheldonian.

Eight of the ten primary schools involved in the project valiantly made their way to Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre, some on foot and on buses that had not been running the previous day when many of Oxford's streets were barely passable owing to blizzards! The scientists speaking at the event arrived in their wellies and, against all odds, nearly 400 school children listened to some of Oxford's leading environmental scientists and engineers present their visions for a low carbon future and explain the science of climate change.

Remote controlled cars powered by hydrogen whizzed around this historic building; children watched the effect of greenhouse gases being demonstrated with infra-red cameras and the audience learnt why even the smallest of insects enable us to eat vanilla and chocolate ice cream! Science came alive and the message was clear: we all have a part to play in this enormous challenge and the Ark adventure has only just begun...

Amazed to discover some of the latest technologies being developed to combat climate change, one child of Woodstock C of E Primary School commented:

“I thought that the various talks were very interesting and I learnt a lot of things about climate change and how I can do my bit to save the environment. I had no idea that you could do so much to your house to make it eco friendly.” Rachel, Year 6

Scientists will now go into the ten primary schools to hold workshops exploring all facets of low carbon living. Children will then work with professional artists to express what they have learned creatively through theatre, dance, music, creative writing, crafts, storytelling, film and photography. These final artworks will be performed and exhibited on the Ark when it is installed from 23-27 June 2010. The Ark itself is being designed by Architecture san Frontières and theatre designer Nomi Everall, and will be made from reclaimed materials from a 20-mile radius of Oxford. It will be an object of beauty, with lighting and sound from clean, green power. The Ark will be placed in 'the Sea of Troubles' - a visual representation of what the children choose to leave behind, from asthma inhalers to values and behaviours that they feel have contributed to environments problems.

Thursday 14th January 2010, Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford

The CIAO! Ark Project – Children's Climate Change Conference is awarded the Inspire Mark by the Cultural Olympiad.

The Sheldonian Theatre Oxford

The CIAO! Children’s Climate Change Conference has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark in recognition of the values that the project shares with the Cultural Olympiad.
Karen Draisey, CIAO!’s Artistic Director said; “We are very proud to have achieved the London 2012 Inspire Mark and see it as reflecting on the extraordinary range of partnerships that this project has created. We are working closely with Oxford Inspires as well as with scientists, artists, architects, schools and many others who support our ambition of showing how science can inspire the arts to creatively express a positive vision of a low carbon future.”

Speakers at the event are:
• Dr Malcolm McCulloch (who worked on the Morgan Life Car) talking about what you will drive in the future…
• Jo Hamilton from Climate Xchange exploring the positive changes we can all make in our lives to reduce emissions
• Helen Hanlon from Atmospheric Physics explaining the science behind tornadoes and hurricaines and what the future weather may be like
• Dr Shaun Savage talking about his work with the BMW electric Mini and other future transport
• Professor Brenda Boardman introducing future housing
• Chris Jarvis (Oxford Museum of Natural History) and Emma Williams (Oxford Botanic Garden) exploring the natural world and what can be done to encourage and save it…

Update on the ark school science projects

The Schools Science Projects

Each of the 10 primary schools working on the project is paired with a scientist to explore the issue of low carbon living and ideas about the future. Following the Sheldonian Theatre conference, children will take on investigations in their schools in diverse areas including:

• predicting future climate and imagining life in a warmer world
• increasing the biodiversity in their playgrounds and gardens
• creating a water footprint of their school
• reducing the food miles and packaging of lunch boxes
• finding where their school wastes energy.

Children will share their results with scientists and policy makers when they make presentations at a reverse conference on 24th June 2010.
These science projects will also inspire the performances and art works that children will create with their arts partners…more on these to follow.
We are delighted to be working closely with the University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, University of Surrey, Science Oxford and the Northmoor Trust in delivering the school science projects.