Helpline

Outline of proposal for Helpline

Helpline:

A helpdesk is set up in an office and run by a team of volunteers (helper). The aim of the helpdesk is to help anybody (helpee) with anything. People ring up and ask for help with, for instance, their decorating. An appointment is booked and somebody goes around to their house to help them with this task.

(Obviously there are exceptions to what we are willing to help with however I want these to be as few as possible and based on the personal choices of the volunteer)

The “payment” for this help is an object that the helpee no longer wants. Upon return from the assignment the helper records a video recounting of what happened on the assignment (which will then be fictionalised by myself into a short story using some elements recounted from the assignment). The helper then has the choice of either cataloguing the object of payment or of replacing it with something of their own that they no longer want. (In either case the catalogue notation is the same – referring to the helpee and the date)



Some of the assignments that the helpers are given will be fictional stories prepared by myself originally and featuring characters performed by actors. Some of these may be genre pieces e.g. thriller, fantasy, adventure. Some may be the actors interpretations of a story produced as part of the fictional feedback process.

This will enable me to observe and control the movement of these pieces from fiction to reality and from reality to fiction.

I would anticipate that the videos and artefacts and stories would be presented as part of an exhibition following the end of this piece.