Africa in Motion (AiM) Film Festival 2011 will take place between 27 October and 6 November and the focus will be on films and events that open doors onto the lives of children and youth in Africa. We will screen films with educational and entertainment aspects as well as films that deal with the challenges faced by African communities and their children. Through African films, Scottish children can learn about the complex realities of growing up in Africa while learning to critically evaluate stereotypical media reports on African famine and war.

Africa in Motion (AiM) is keen to speak to teachers who would be interested in finding out more about African cinema or Africa-related events in or for their schools. We’d like to offer more film events and study guides to accompany screenings. To ensure these areas are developed in line with the Curriculum for Excellence and are relevant to your class work we hope you will be interested in attending an informal meeting on 4th May 2011 at 5pm in the Guildroom at Filmhouse cinema in Edinburgh. The meeting will be co-hosted by Stefanie Van de Peer (Director, AiM) and Nicola Kettlewood (Knowledge & Learning Events Manager, Centre for the Moving Image). Refreshments will be available and participants are invited to stay and see a film that evening at concession prices. To reserve a place at this meeting please contact nicola.kettlewood@cmi-scotland.co.uk.

We want to especially invite primary and high schools in the Edinburgh area to get in touch if they are interested in collaborating – please contact Stefanie@africa-in-motion.org.uk. Visit www.africa-in-motion.org.uk for further information on the festival.

25 March, Edinburgh, Free event

This event is the culmination of the Creative Learning Networks project, managed by Children in Scotland in partnership with Creative Scotland. The day is an opportunity to network, exchange and discuss creative practice in relation to children, young people and Curriculum for Excellence.

http://www.childreninscotland.org.uk/html/tra_tshow.php?ref=1510<http://www.childreninscotland.org.uk/html/tra_tshow.php?ref=1510>

Contributors will include Joan Parr, Portfolio Manager for Education, Learning and Young People, Creative Scotland and Victoria Pagan, Principal Consultant, ERS Research & Consultancy, who will be reporting on the findings of the national evaluation of Creative Learning Networks. There will also be presentations from local authorities on the development of their Creative Learning Networks, plus an Arts Marketplace with information from arts and cultural organisations.

Sir Ken Robinson, PhD, is an internationally recognised leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources. He has worked with governments in Europe, Asia and the USA, with international agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and some of the world’s leading cultural organisations. On Tuesday 8 March he gave a keynote speech to an invited audience of students, staff, guests and colleagues of Creative Scotland, University of Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. You can hear Sir Ken Robinson’s keynote speech on the Creativity Portal in Glow.

https://portal.glowscotland.org.uk/establishments/nationalsite/Creative%20Learning%20Scotland/Lists/Pages/Ken%20Robinson%20Keynote.aspx<https://portal.glowscotland.org.uk/establishments/nationalsite/Creative%20Learning%20Scotland/Lists/Pages/Ken%20Robinson%20Keynote.aspx>

Dynamic Youth Awards and Youth Achievement Awards offer an open framework for accrediting the achievements of young people inside and outside of school. These customisable Awards can be used with young people from P6 onwards – in the classroom, community, and within social settings.

They offer a framework of accreditation that supports existing learning programmes. The Awards offer significant opportunities for young people to develop the four Curriculum for Excellence capacities: successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

http://www.youthscotland.org.uk/schools.htm