Homelessness Drastically Increased in London this Year

• There has been a huge rise in the number of homeless people this year and it has been blamed on housing shortages and the 'bedroom tax'.
• This is due to more housing demand than houses available.
• The number of people sleeping rough has increased by 13% in London this year and 6% in England alone. 
• There has been a 10% increase in those who are housed temporarily and 14% rise in the use of B&B's.
• Homelessness has only started increasing again since the government coalition. The previous 6 years years to this, homelessness had been decreasing.
• Labour want to 'abolish the bedroom tax', as the impact of it has been horrendous.
• A recent study found 9% of adults in England have been homeless at some point in their life.
• A survey by the Inside Housing magazine shows that 'councils and housing associations are increasingly resorting to the threat of eviction'.
• Although there is no evidence that the increase in homelessness is directly caused by the government's reforms.
• The only thing that in really helping all these homeless people are charities and those who donate to these charities.

References:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sudden-rise-in-homelessness-blamed-on-housing-shortage-and-the-bedroom-tax-9004207.html

CATEGORY: SOCIETY and FINANCE and POLITICS

Quayola - Artist

Quayola is an Italian artist who uses videos and computer software to display artwork. Therefore, adding depth and insight into his own work and others' work. As a result he is exploring 'a fine boundary between the real and artificial'.

He often uses audio and visual to explore and examine the intricate details within the aesthetics of classical art, architecture and sculptures.

After graduating from The University of the Arts London in 2005, he progressed rapidly in his career to his first exhibitions in 2012. As a more recent artist, his popularity has drastically increased and this is due to the newer generations becoming more appreciative of what is achievable with the use of technology.

References:
http://anim.usc.edu/sas2013/davide-quayola.html

CATEGORY: ART & DESIGN and TECHNOLOGY

The Effects of Stereotyping in the Modelling Industry

Currently the modelling industry is lacking in models that are shorter than the standard 5'8" model and older than the average 18-30 age group. This is due to the stereotypes within this industry and how the media portrays models.

The media generally chooses to show more female models who are around 6ft tall, in their early twenties with  blonde hair and blue eyes. As a result, the public believe this image is the only image that can enter the modelling industry. As a result, it means the industry is now lacking in models from all other areas of the industry.

The modelling industry is generally a risky industry to be involved in, with the acceptable age of entering being very controversial. Some companies accept 18-year-olds without a parent attending with you and others accept 21-year-olds, 23-year-olds or even 25-year-olds before you're allowed to attend photo shoot without a parent or guardian.

This is because companies don't want to risk or get involved in the abuse of using models and therefore often require those that are slightly more mature to enter the modelling industry, or to attend with someone more mature with them, such as a parent (someone who has direct control and influence over their child's choices).

This obviously impacts the age of those entering the industry and with your image being of strong importance, the youngest with the most acceptable age tends to do well, hence why most models are in their early twenties.

However, for the media's portrayal of models to change, a greater variety of people need to apply to be models. As a result, if we want change to happen in this industry, we need to make change happen.

The House of Peroni

The House of Peroni was a pop-up exhibition in London that collectively gathered together everything Italian in the creative industry, from different types of Italian artists and designers to fashion and photography, film, music, food and drink.

The exhibition was simple, unique and it gave a boost to the Italian creative industry within London. Featuring such a variety of creatives, the exhibition took you on a tour of relaxing, exhilarating and intriguing products, bringing out what lies at the heart of true Italian culture.

http://thehouseofperoni.com/

Flos - Lighting Company

Flos is a lighting company that has been 'shedding brightness on generations'. They aim to be creative in there crafting of lighting and have found that there is more that one purpose to lighting. Although, the main factor of lighting is the emotion and atmosphere it creates.

Flos believe that experimentation is the way forward in the future to revolutionise lighting and with this, Flos draws in a variety of audiences into the 'mass culture' of the lighting industry.

References:
http://www.flos.com/en/flosophy

CATEGORY: ART & DESIGN and TECHNOLOGY

Computers Will be able to Read Emotion

Humans are able to read others' emotions, whereas this has always been one of the main barriers that technology has had with us. Although, recently technology is being developed for our laptops to recognise when the user is in a 'bad mood'.

They can tell our mood by the way we click, type, reply, fast-forward and rewind different technology devices. Technology is now being able to detect the tones in our voice that makes someone's mood recognisable.

However, it is argued that technology is there to be 'dispassionate and functional' and have emotion, or be able to read emotion. And that technology it becoming 'too developed'.

References:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/rhodri-marsden-do-we-want-our-laptops-to-know-when-were-in-a-bad-mood-8983732.html

CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY and SOCIETY

MASK (Mobile Art School Kenya)

MASK is a Mobile Art School that was set up in Kenya in 2006 by a London-based artist, Alla Tkachuk. This was so they could ‘unleash creativity’ in young people, due to the lack of creative education in Kenya. Research shows that if creativity is neglected, then it can diminish.

MASK is a school that will help to improve young people's thinking, education and well-being. It would also help to eradicate poverty, build peace, increase the employability of young people and grow economies, resulting in socio-economic development in Kenya. Since 2009, MASK has taught 25,000 children the skills required in art, although creativeness in around 100 million young people (75% of East Africa’s population) will still remain under-utilised. This number increases a lot further when you consider the whole continent of Africa. This is where multiple projects could be set up by Global Giving to reduce the number of people lacking in creative education even further.

Much like the Maasai Mbili, one of MASK’s focuses is on peace-building by running a ‘peace-building through art programme’. This programme is a grassroots development project, as it was conducted in consultation with local national governments and peace-building NGO’s such as: Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA) and Centre for Conflict Resolution – Kenya (CCRK); to focus on schoolchildren, disabled children, abused children, refugees and victims of the post-election conflict. All of those who take part in the activities are aged between 3 and 19 years old. MASK focuses on young people, as they believe that “developing values and attitudes in young people from the early age prevents conflict and builds peace”.

However, children aren’t the only ones who suffered in the post-election violence, in which people seem to be supporting the most. Although this is a sustainable way to support future generations, Global Giving could also set up projects to support the current and slightly older generations. This would create a better all-round society, not only now, but in the future too.

If art and creativity is implemented into the current generations, then this could provide a strong economic benefit to future generations. Creative industries in the UK have grown by 34% in the last year and the US and UK combined employ 8 million people in the creative industries, generating $250 billion every year. This could happen in Kenya too, if we can make change happen.

Creative education is directly linked to culture and with culture, is growth and development. This combined with the notion that creativity can generate social, economic and political development could lead and support the eradication of poverty.

An NGO company, Center for Conflict Resolution – Kenya, that works with MASK said:

"We are happy to associate ourselves with the Mobile Art School in Kenya and its founders. This programme is the first of its kind in this country. Though the ministry of Education has some small allocation on art in schools the schools hardly utilize these facilities preferring to concentrate only on the examinable subjects. We hope that this programme can be extended to most parts of the country."

                                     - Francis Apollos, Executive Director, Center for Conflict Resolution - Kenya.

This quote displays the need for art in Kenya and how the government has a strong focus on academic subjects in comparison to more artistic subjects. Global Giving could support MASK and help to make projects greater and better for Kenya’s population. This would benefit the country as a whole, as well as individuals. This approach is known as ‘bottom-up’ development, whereas the Kenyan government are implementing a ‘top-down’ approach. The government’s approach along with charities and organisations will be able to improve Kenya if they worked better in co-operation, achieving the highest possible standard.

References:

CATEGORY: ART & DESIGN and EDUCATION and CULTURE and SOCIETY