November 2001 saw Platform 4 embarking on the first of a series of Cross Arts Installation Projects all resulting in an exhibition of beautiful still shadow images. Making your Mark worked with students of Fair Oak Infant School and Tankerville Special School.

In both instances the idea was to create an environment of dance, music and adventure during the course of which the children recorded - by drawing and painting - impressions of themselves, made by themselves.

At Fair Oak Infants thirty 6 yr olds played, danced, competed with and wove together 16ft strips of plastic creating their own dynamic space - all the while ''making their marks" on the ribbons.

The result was a maypole of a place in time, which was finally exhibited outside Fair Oak Infant School.

With Tankerville Special School the approach was altogether different. It started with the creation of a colourful, interactive environment through which the children had to journey.

The children made hats and picnic food together before travelling through forests, snowstorms and rivers to reach a large tent. This tent served as a cave for the children to hide in, hunt for bears around and eat their picnics by.

As the environment descended into darkness the tent became a canvas for shadow plays, the children taking it in turn to trace around the body shapes made by each other. At the end of the workshops all that remained were their marks; a 'ghost of a party ' and unforgettable memories for all.

The Making your Mark Project was exhibited at The Point, Dance & Arts Centre and at Winchester Theatre Royal for November 2001 and December 2001. As part of the exhibition we also edited a short film - showing Fair Oak Infants 'making their mark!'

"Platform 4's approach is startlingly powerful and immediate in its impact, I recommend them highly." - Paula Ruddick, Head of Drama Itchen College