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Scottish Charity Register No. SC043760

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Ten Feet Away Festival

May 18 2009
The festival is only weeks away - and open to everyone, homeless or otherwise The Ten Feet Away festival is only weeks away. On 26th-29th July, St John's Church in Waterloo will be transformed into a veritable feast of sight and sound with the third instalment of Ten Feet Away, celebrating the art and accomplishments of homeless folk worldwide. "It's an arts festival," says event co-ordinator Billy Rippe. "The art just happens to be made by homeless people, and the performers, producers and organizers all happen to be homeless or ex-homeless too." The festival is taking place over three locations. Art submissions from all over the world are on display at the Novas Contemporary Urban Centre on Blackfriars Road on 17th-29th July, while City Hall plays host to an exhibition showcase on weekdays from 17th-27th. At St John's, the cardboard-wrapped columns and sculptures provide a backdrop to the festivities, a stark reminder of the reality of life on the streets. The festival is open to everyone, homeless or otherwise, and all the activities and performances are free. Festival director Julia Farrington hopes that the art will encourage integration: "It's an opportunity for people to confront the prejudice and stigma associated with homelessness. Making art is about being seen and heard. It connects the person who makes the art to the person seeing it." The three-day event kicks off with a fire-show on the evening of the 26th and the weekend is packed with free workshops on everything from poetry and creative writing, to digital photography and dance lessons with Spanish samba group Maluko Ga Beko. The church doubles as a free cyber cafe for the duration of the festival, with refreshments provided courtesy of Pret a Manger and Eat. "This is a space for the people on the margins, a place where homeless and non-homeless can co-exist," says Farringdon. There's something for everyone: performances from Streetwise Opera and Cardboard Citizens, DJ sets, visuals from video artists, yoga, lively debates and much more, with over 100 events taking place over the weekend. Beyond all the frivolity, the festival makes a very potent statement. "The saying goes that you're only ever 10 feet away from a rat," says Rippe. "The homeless are just as invisible, just as easy to ignore. This festival addresses that issue and reminds us that homelessness can happen to anyone regardless of background or situation. You're only ever 10 feet away from being homeless."
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