Jayshree and Daxa, both workers at the New Parks Pre-School, prepare to improvise a found sound composition live in the Pre-School with artists & producers I-mitri CounterAction (Dimitris Moraitis) and Little Onion (Paul Conneally).

The 3 to 5 year-olds at the pre-school also made live improvised compositions using the Ableton push pad loaded with sounds found by The Blue Army Craft Group in and around New Parks Library. The work is part of CAGED – The Sound Of New Parks with and for Soft Touch Arts, Arts Council England and Leicester City Council.

New Parks Pre-School is based in New Parks Community Centre a vibrant community hub that is set for closure by Leicester City Council due to central government austerity funding cuts. During this session the children and the staff with Dazzo, I-Mitri CounterAction and Little Onion also performed and recorded 1’00 (after Cage) – emphasising the lack of silence by recording it. If the Community Centre closes and the pre-school is not allowed to take over the running of the building this space place will undoubtedly sound different again.

Paul Conneally
December 2016