The Choolers, eclectic and mixed european musical group
Astonishing and original group, which brings together mentally disabled musicians and independent musicians… On the initiative of the La Hesse CEC, an association working for the promotion of the artistic skills of mentally disabled people with the Inuti (Stockholm) and Remi (France) associations. Brass, voices, percussion, guitars, machines… "The Choolers" is a remarkable musical mixture, the secret of which is the artistic and human collaboration between mentally disabled people and amateur and professional musicians from various European countries.
The main theme of this project is spontaneous musical experimentation. An emotional creativity emerges from this collaboration between the musicians, with a desire to be professional, anxious to win the regard and attention of the audience, and rejecting any feeling of pity towards the disabled.
Our project concerns the organisation of an artistic residency at La "S" Grand Atelier, the theatrical space of the CEC La Hesse à Vielsalm. To allow the group to achieve important creative work and offer concerts in various locations. We will start work on the staging with the scenographer Valérie PERIN under the artistic supervision of Jaco VANDORMAEL. The Choolers is a group which exists by direct contact with the audience through "live" performances and not by means of studio recordings.
This project fits in with the theme of the 2010 European year for combating social exclusion. In this process of developing the talents of mentally disabled people, Art is a means of restoring a positive self-image within a group and society. All societies which practice art evolve constantly and with them, art itself. According to the sociologist Marcel Mauss, it even precedes the changes and better, initiates them. Art affects the community; it is one of the essential elements of what is commonly called "social dynamics". So, who better than artists affected by a metal disabilities to change society's view of their difference and disabilities in general?
Artistic practice can reverse the trend: a person is no longer perceived as dependent and not "profitable" for society, they become an efficient person who actively participates in its renewal.
For several years, the La Hesse CEC has embarked upon "contamination" actions between its artists and contemporary artists in various disciplines including music. The art discovered at La Hesse generally shocks "ordinary" artists… an explosion produced by intensity, freedom, ignorance of the challenges of contextuality, an indifference to the aesthetic codes… a world outside the normative culture and therefore an opportunity to find a regenerating context for one's own artistic path. For a mentally disabled person, it is also an opportunity to change their practices, to share a humanly and technically enriching experience…
"The Choolers" will be produced for the benefit of a large audience, whether it be rural (in the context of the Manhay festival) or urban (Brussels), which, through theatrical performances, will be able to discover a completely original form of musical and theatrical production.
