School presentation scheduled (Anna & Esa)

Dragonbane meeting report
Friday, November 11th, 2005
Turku, Finland

Anna and Esa had a meeting with the teachers of Southwest Finland Institute for Craft and Design and Turku Polytechnic. This school teaches crafting wood, metal, use of prehistoric techniques, textile works and building restauration.

Our meeting was set for 10 o’clock. In time we met with Arja-Liisa Kuitunen (Formgiving department leader, Turku Polytechnic) and Inga Grönlund (Clothes design, Turku Polytechnic). Esko Rihu (prehistoric technique, SFICD) also popped in for a while. We made our case mostly verbally, but we also had the Cinderhillian costume, some small metal, wooden, stone, horn and bone implements to show.

Heiko whipped up a CD the night before with pictures and texts about the project and especially the building camp. Arja-Liisa had a look of it and we explained the context for the images. The CD was good help, but afterwards I wonder if we should have shown all those pictures about us, and the well represented Team Italy, having a barbecue on the Åsen school grounds ...

Our case was made clear and received rather well, atleast we didn’t have to start by telling what larping is. I’d say they gave us a fair hearing, though it was clear that they were given many new and alien ideas to digest.

Results: The teachers didn't really promise us any direct support, but they promised to present Dragonbane as a possibility to their students. We set up a time for a presentation for the students on Thursday, November 24th, 2005. We gave the teachers three Dragonbane posters for their internal distribution.

The school can't take a more active role in the project since they already have their timetable set for the year. We keep our fingers crossed about the students.

Anna Nummi & Esa Arbelius