Tynemouth MP, Alan Campbell visited a new arts company on Friday that will support learning disabled artists and filmmakers create and exhibit their own work.

Co-founded by Arpeggio Films, Beacon Hill Arts CIC has evolved from an experienced and multi-award winning project - Beacon Hill Film Project - which won the National Lottery Award for the UK’s “Best Arts Project” broadcast live on BBC 1 last year.

The new company will continue Beacon Hill Film Project’s exciting work: supporting young learning disabled filmmakers and artists.

Other awards won by the project include a First Light Award for ‘Best Original Music’, Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival’s ‘Chris Anderson Award’, a Kids for Kids ‘Young Jury Award’ and the ‘National Young Filmmakers Award’.

The new social enterprise, which is a partnership between Arpeggio Films, filmmaker Andrew Coats and Beacon Hill School, has been established to enable other young people and adults with learning disabilities in the North East to get involved.

Will Sadler, Project Manager said
“Beacon Hill Arts will continue working with staff and students of Beacon Hill School, but we are also very keen to work with other people with learning difficulties and disabilities too by running regular workshops. The idea is to operate it just like a production company, so members get a real life vocational experience, can work towards a qualification and get their work seen by audiences across the UK and beyond”

Beacon Hill Film Project already has an impressive track record when it comes to getting its work seen by influential people. Previous films have exhibited at London’s BFI Southbank, Encounters Film Festival, Tyneside Cinema, Glasgow Film Theatre and at several film festivals from Oxford to Texas. The project has also won support from figures across the world of film, including actors Toby Jones and Jason Isaacs, film composer David Arnold and film critic Barry Norman who described two of their productions as “enchanting” and “made with great verve, infectious enthusiasm and off the wall originality.”

Beacon Hill Arts has almost completed its first production under its new structure, thanks to funding from Northern Film & Media, North Tyneside Council’s Young Mayor’s Community Fund and the RW Mann Trust. The team will release a music single and video on iTunes. This has included composing and recording their own song: “The Sky I’ll Be”, and planning, filming and editing their own music video.

Alan Campbell MP managed to get a sneak preview of the group’s work-in-progress during his visit. He said “It’s clear that Beacon Hill Arts isn’t just about providing educational benefit for its members, it’s also about recognising and supporting them as talented filmmakers and artists who make really entertaining work.”

Stephen Thompson, one of the members of Beacon Hill Arts said:
“I hope anyone else who is interested will get in touch. I've really enjoyed making and showing my films and music to lots of people, and hope other's can get involved too"

Anyone who is interested in getting involved in the multi-award winning project should fill in the short online survey at www.beaconhillarts.org.uk or speak to Will by calling 0191 232 38 38