Daily debates provided opportunities for discussion and encouraged critical thinking. A major debate on Human Rights and Young People, linked to the United Nations International Year of Youth, was hosted by major festival sponsor MINI Plant Oxford.

“Mesh was brilliant! I enjoyed being able to run the debates and co-ordinate and organise events.” Kema Daley, 17, Oxford.

The Government Inspector, Procession and Finale Performance

The energy of the Finale created during the festival was electric. The general public flocked to the Town Hall to see the stunning ensemble spectacle everyone had been working on for 10 days – The Government Inspector.

“It was a privilege to get a sense of the vibrancy that had built up over the weeks the companies have all been together taking part in performances, debates, street theatre and the astonishing grand finale.” Bob Price, Leader, Oxford City Council.

“…performances, debates, street theatre and the astonishing grand finale…”

“…a way of putting Oxford on the map for the arts…”

We wholeheartedly thank all our partners, funders and supporters for making Mesh 2011 possible. Our partner The North Wall Arts Centre and the international companies –

• Créarc, Grenoble (France)

• Drive Dance Company, Perm (Russia)

• Dramski Studio, Sisak (Croatia)

• BplusC, Leiden (The Netherlands)

• Ashtar Theatre, Gaza (Palestine)

• Bertolt-Brecht Gesamtshule, Bonn (Germany)

• Pegasus Youth Theatre Companies, Oxford (UK)

And of course – Arts Council England; Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council; Major Festival Sponsor

MINI Plant Oxford; The European Commission; Oxford Inspires; Infineum; HMG Law; Lucy Properties; Twestival, Oxford; Dragon Sale, Oxford Brookes University and Creative Junction.

We also thank the Oxford Bus Company, Exeter College and the First Floor Restaurant for actively supporting Mesh; members of Oxford International Link and those who fundraised to bring the twelve young people from Gaza and three of their leaders to participate in Mesh.

“…Mesh is a way of putting Oxford on the map for the arts and can bring many good things to Oxford...” Raymond Pelekamoyo, 18, Oxford

“Helping to run and taking part in Mesh 2011 has been one of the best experiences of my life. I’ve met other companies from all over the world and learned new skills such as budget management and intercultural understanding.” Manon Franklin-Fraiture, 17, Oxford

The fifteen young people on the Planning Committee of Mesh 2011 met regularly over 11 months to plan the festival. 1, 600 tickets were sold for 15 international performances and the Grand Debate; 150 young people from seven countries (including Oxford’s Twin Cities) took part; 24% of participants were from minority (non-white) backgrounds.

Help make sure Mesh continues in 2012

Email yasmin.sidhwa@pegasustheatre.org.uk tel: 01865 812164Pegasus Theatre, Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1REwww.pegasustheatre.org.ukCharity registration: 1055305

O x f O r d I n t e r n a t I O n a l Y o u t h A r t s F e s t i v A l

o n e f a m i l y - m a n y l a n g u a g e s

“…one of the best experiences of my life…”

Mesh O x f O r d I n t e r n a t I O n a l Y o u t h A r t s F e s t i v A l

“…a true festival for young people by young people…”

“…a human right to education and cultural participation…”Trevor Phillips OBE, Chair, The Equality and Human Rights Commission and Pegasus patron

“…connecting young people across cultures through the arts …”Yasmin Sidhwa Festival Director, Mesh

“…a great opportunity for my country’s youth to freely express and share their experience…”

“Pegasus Theatre’s Mesh is a groundbreaking new international youth arts festival which aims to bring together young people of many nationalities to encourage tolerance and cultural diversity.

Giving young people the opportunity to share their experiences is also promoting their human right to education and cultural participation, which is why exchanges like Mesh are absolutely vital as a way of improving cultural understanding and integration.

I wish everyone taking part in Mesh 2012 the very best of luck!”

Most of the fifteen young people who were part of the Mesh Planning Committee had already been involved in projects at Pegasus.

Giving the responsibility of planning and organising the festival to the young people themselves is a way of helping develop their leadership and mentoring skills and to become future champions for the arts in the community.

The Planning Committee helped organise all aspects of the festival including decision making on the logo, print and publicity, the debates, and social events for the young people, as well as the much enjoyed ‘picnic in the park’. They also took on significant fundraising roles.

“I liked the fact the festival was just as they said it would be – a true festival for young people organised by young people” Patrik Gregurec, 18, Croatia

Morning workshops gave the international groups of participants opportunities to work together and learn new skills. This created an excellent environment for cultural transmission between the young people, where they passed on culturally relevant knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to each other.

Daily international performances at Pegasus Theatre and the North Wall Arts Centre ranged from the true-life stories of the young people from Gaza to re-inventions of classic works by Moliere and Ionesco and an epic adaptation of Gilgamesh the oldest story every written.

The group from Gaza was especially welcomed as this was the first time they had been allowed to travel outside their own country. Their performance of The Gaza Mono-Logues was one of the highlights of Mesh alongside After Gilgamesh.

“Mesh is important because it provides a space to develop humanism...” Fernand Garnier, Artistic Director, Rencontre, Grenoble

“Mesh offered a great opportunity for my country’s youth to freely express and share their experience.” Ramy Salem, 21, Gaza

“Mesh evolved as a way of connecting young people across cultures through the arts and was largely inspired by the Rencontre youth arts festival in Grenoble, France.

In July 2011, Mesh saw participants from Russia, France, Croatia, The Netherlands, Germany, Palestine and UK come together for 10 days to explore the power of the arts to transform lives.

A huge ‘thanks’ goes to everyone who supported and took part in the festival, we couldn’t have done it without you!”.

Mesh was produced by Pegasus in Oxford, which was established in 1962 and specialises in a range of performing arts for young people in collaboration with professional artists. Young people are at the heart of the organisation and are involved in all aspects of its operation – at board, management and staff level.

Chloe Robinson, 18, from the Mesh Planning Committee says “Mesh really did sum up what Pegasus means to me – giving a voice to young people through the arts which for me is related to confidence but for the Gazans, for instance, it literally gave them the opportunity to share their experiences with the world.”

Pegasus recently underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment, and since re-opening in September 2010, has been able to offer 39 projects a week both at our venue and through outreach, developing long term relationships with 1000 young people per year.

“…what Pegasus means to me…”