Creativity Works





Creativity Works Newsletter
July 2015 
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Directors Blog
Looking forward to an exciting summer

 

 We have had a very difficult few weeks lately, deciding on which artists to award our Pentagon micro commissions to. We were very excited to receive a large number of extremely good submissions, which made the decision process almost unbearable as we had to say 'no' to many project proposals that we absolutely loved. The decisions, however, have been made and we are delighted to announce that the following projects and artists have been awarded the inaugural Pentagon Micro Commissions 2015:

 

Megan Clark-Bagnall                   'Needle in the Haystack'

Carrie Love                                   'Take me to your Hero'

Shiva Page                                   'Automata Sculpture'

Carrie Love and Ali Brown         'How to build a community'

Elizabeth Jane Lovely                'The treasure chest of the treasured and the cherished'
 

We are very much looking forward to working with the artists over the next few months and producing their projects in the autumn. We will keep you up to date with how we are getting on. We will also be looking for some volunteer artists to work alongside the commission winners, so if you have some spare time and would like to gain experience in socially engaged public art, do get in touch!

We also can't wait for our first co|Create International Residency on August 4 th& 5 th, led by Darren O'Donnell, the founder of the Canadian company Mammalian Diving Reflex. Highly participatory and interactive, the workshop will take participants through a process that will give them tools and insights to produce high quality socially engaged art interventions, based on Mammalian's methodology of Social Acupuncture. Our five commission winners will be taking their places alongside artists from a variety of backgrounds and a scattering of Creativity Works staff as well! This is a real first for us and something we are very proud of as we endeavour to stay at the forefront of socially engaged arts practice. There are still a few remaining places left so do hurry to grab one before it's too late.

Finally, Creativity Works staff and trustees came together in Larkhall recently for our annual away-day, alongside our primary funder, Arts Council England. Our focus this year emerged as 'quality' not 'quantity', really embedding our award-winning and proven working practice into all aspects of our organisation, seeking new ways of articulating our impact and looking at innovative ways to tell our story and those of our participants and artists. I am sure much will come from the day that will see us taking ever-larger strides forward in all the work that we do.

Enjoy the summer rain!


Olly

 

(Director, Creativity Works) 

DeliciousFood

  

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 Please feel free to spread the word - you can download the poster here. Fore info contactVacancy:Comms ailsa@creativityworks.org.uk.  

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ProfilePF
Vacancy: Communications and Admin Coordinator
Part-time, maternity cover at Creativity Works.

Do you have initiative and a creative flair to produce inspiring communications? Enjoy organising the day-to-day running of an office?  


 

An exciting opportunity has arisen to get your teeth into a vital role within our arts organisation on a part-time basis. You could be doing a variety of activities day-to-day from collating articles and putting together our monthly e-newsletter, updating our website, designing leaflets and posters, to taking bookings over the phone or speaking to our IT company to source the best equipment for our office. You will be part of a creative and flexible team who enjoy making a difference to communities throughout BANES and the local area.   


 

For more information visit: http://www.creativityworks.org.uk/2015/07/vacancy-communications-admin-maternity-cover/   


 

Applications by midday on the 27th July please.

Interviews will be held on the 3rd of August. FreshArtdoneagain

   

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'Fresh Art@ has done it again'

 
They have created even more inspiring new artwork for the walls of NHS House as well as Hillview Lodge inpatient unit. After the success of their last exhibition as part of Fab15 (Fringe Arts Bath), 'Fresh Art@' were invited by councillor Ian Gilchrist to the Guildhall in Bath last week where they had a Civic reception held in their honour, celebrating not only the work that has been created but the journey all of their artists in their own personal development.

 

The 'Fresh Art @ the Guildhall' Exhibition showcases artwork that has been created by people affected by mental health and has been inspired by workshops within the Holburne Museum, The No 1 Royal Crescent Museum and the American Museum supported by Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust (AWP), Creativity Works, Sirona Care and Health and the Comic Relief Quartet Fund. The exhibition is free to the public and is in the main lobby of the Guildhall and is running until August the 11th.

 

Everyone involved in this project believes that creativity can make a significant difference to people's lives by inspiring and supporting them to have fun and be creative, learn new transferable skills, improve their health and wellbeing and connect with their communities. Working with Creativity Works artists, AWP art therapists and volunteers, this project has enabled participants to realise their creative potential, increase independence and create routes to education and employment. Projects like Fresh Art@ respond to prevention initiatives and create long-term savings in social care and health services whilst supporting people through periods of transition in their lives. Participant's ideas are taken forward and in similar projects have enabled the set-up of new self-run creative peer support groups increasing creative community opportunities.

 

If you know of anyone who may benefit from Fresh Art@ or if you feel that you would like to take part in Fresh Art@'s next project either as a participant, artist or a volunteer please contact nat@creativityworks.org.uk. This group is also open to carers who support someone living with a mental health condition.   

 

 SteveHedley

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Steve Hedley's work at the Holburne                       

Steve Hedley, an artist from the Fresh Art @ project has been given the opportunity to display his work at the Holburne Museum. The painting was created in response to the artist's first experience of walking to the Holburne Museum for the Fresh Art @ project and to the some of the objects he was inspired to draw.

 

Steve was inspired by the collection galleries where a small bronze statue in the Posnett Gallery, caught his attention:

 

'Initially, it wasn't the object as much as an immense light shadow which I followed to find a tiny, little bronze ...I walked around it and saw a change in colour, a yellow light from one side and a red glow from the other'.

 

Inspired by this figure with a violin, the artist has created a fairy-like creature which he imagines escaping from her display case and dancing along the mezzanine railings. The small, compact wings of the chubby putto have, in his words, 'blossomed' into expansive feathers.

 

Each detail in the picture is inspired by the museum and the artist's experience. The figure alights on William Holburne's collection of silver spoons and gingerly hops from the tip of one to another. She is 'caught' in the act by a spotlight and our own gaze.


 

Steve hopes that exhibiting this new piece at the Holburne Museum will inspire people to look again at objects in the collection.

 

'I think a picture should tell a story.

I think people underestimate how art can change people's emotions and perceptions.'                                                      

 

(Steve Hedley, June 2015)

 


Created as part of Fresh Art:

A partnership project between Bath Museums, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Trust, Sirona Care and Health and Creativity Works.

 

 SpecialExperience

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"A Special Experience For Us All"

Tuesday 23 June: 'And Together We Wrote' Anthology Launch


 




 

The launch of the Writing Space Anthology 'And Together We Wrote' held at St James St Wine Vaults in Bath last month was a great success. The personal achievement of being able to create an anthology was fantastic for everybody. Many members hadn't had the experience of reading in public before, and we were nervous at first, but surprised and pleased with our confidence once we got started. Being given the experience to read out our own writing was a tremendous confidence boost.

 

"It built my self-esteem up a bit,"  

said Laura, a writer whose poetry is inspired by personal experiences.

 

"It made me feel ever so proud, to be part of a group that could manage something like that publicly," 
said Dea, a poet who writes daily accounts in response to nature.

 

Marian, who is inspired to write about things she sees in the everyday, said,

"It was a good venue, a good space to be in. I think everyone felt quite relaxed - there was no pressure."

 

One guest at the launch commented that she was impressed by the wide range of subjects, and how well they all went together.

 

"We all make a difference to this group. We all work well together," said Immy, who writes a mixture of poetry and short prose pieces which capture a sense of humour, whether the subject is serious or light.

 

"To feel a part of a group is great and to share our pieces together was exhilarating," said Sita whose writing is quirky and inspired by life. She co-edited the anthology with Camilla.

 

That aspect of working together and supporting one another is evident when the group meets weekly. People are able to give their opinions and they're always positive.

 

The group would like to thank Camilla Nelson and David Davies, who started us off initially.

 

There have been many people involved through Creativity Works, we have always felt encouraged and inspired, and appreciated how the facilitators come up with something new each week, responding to what the group wants to do. We have had many group members, some who pop in and out, and some who have been participating for years - everyone's contributions are welcome.

 

If you are interested in joining us please contact Camilla@creativityworks.org.uk  

 

Writing Space Members

 

 

One of the members, Dea has written her own reflection on the experience:

 

"To start, I would like to say a big thank you to each of you in this very special group for all your support to me and each other. I just have to tell you all the immense pride I feel, being able to include myself in the group you all represent - truly a real privilege - even though there may have been some nervousness felt at the thought of reading our work 'out loud' to an audience of people. Camilla did a great service to each of us individually as she introduced us prior to the readings.  

 

Each and everyone read our special work with such pride, clarity and confidence. We all did ourselves proud that evening. I do hope you all agree!  

 

Camilla has made a suggestion to us all that maybe an anthology could be an annual event! I find that possibility a very rewarding thought, which I am sure will give each of us a reason to keep writing, to possibly achieve again, becoming even more successful. It would be something very special to work for during many more months to come, hopefully. Many thanks to Camilla for making this suggestion and to you all, for being such a positive, encouraging help and friend during all the time of writing creation."


 

DeaCreativePerspectives

 

 

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New project launching on the 4th August
Creative Persepectives

FacilEngage
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Facilitation and Engagement in the Health and Social Care Environment (FEHSCE)

A course recommended by our Enterprise Manager Ailsa!  


 

After attending, and thoroughly enjoying, Engage for Changes' 'Understanding Health and Social Care Course', Jane Manning from World Jungle (Gloucestershire) and Ailsa Eaglestone from Creativity Works talked to Engage for Change about bringing their next course down to Bath and Gloucestershire.  So do have a look and if you are interested, sign up by Monday 27th July to commence in September 2015.  

 

The course is for people who are interested in learning more about skills and techniques for engaging seldom heard groups in order to bring about improvements in health and social care. The course is suitable for anyone with an interest in or responsibility for engaging groups to improve health such as Local Healthwatch staff and volunteers, community groups, Local Authority Engagement Leads and Clinical Commissioning Group staff.


 

The course is delivered through a combination of online and face to face learning, an online course of study of 30 hours and a final all day session to complete assignments.

The course is accredited with the CERTA (Operating name of the Open College Network Yorkshire and Humber Region) as a 3 credit level 3 module (the academic level required is roughly that of an A level).

 

The final presentation days (these are full days to share your own and listen to others presentations) have been set for:

 

7th December - Dursley, Gloucestershire at The Chantry Centre.

8th December: - Bath, The Guildhall.

 

Please state on your application form if you want a place on the Bath or Gloucestershire FEHSCE. There is a ?50 deposit required per learner, refundable on completion of course.

 

Please contact info@engageforchange.org.uk  for more details. coCreate-lastplaces


 

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co|Create - last few places on first International Residency left  
Book while you still can!  

 

 

Known for its innovative and surprising ways of getting the public and artists to interact, and using creative interventions as a way to trigger generosity and equity, Mammalian Diving Reflex will take participants through its unique methodology, known as "social acupuncture", and get participants interacting with the public, and designing and trying out interventions to transform relationships and perceptions.

 

Guaranteed to be fun, playful, provocative and inspiring, the two day workshop will give participants tools to design and carry out effective social interventions using art. 

 

When: 4th & 5th August 2015

Where: the Natural Theatre Company studio, Widcombe Hill, Bath. 

http://naturaltheatre.co.uk/contact/ 

Cost: ?150.

 

For more information email kate@creativityworks.org.uk 

or you can read more about Mammalian Diving Reflex here: http://mammalian.ca/about/ 

 

BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment, spaces are limited! 

www.creativityworks.org.uk/cocreate  

   EldersUpdate

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Update on our work with elders
Exploring poetry & storytelling, a trip to the steam museum, pottery vases and totem poles!

 

The Home Service Project and our consortia work with Arts for Health Cornwall and Scilly continues to go from strength to strength. Across the project, which is taking place in Stockwood House (Brunel Care), Manor Farm Care Home and Cleeve Court (Sirona) we are co-designing a range of exciting resources alongside residents and care home staff. These will include a large print poetry book and various fun seasonal boxes of activity. The coming sessions are going to focus very much on care home staff having fun by exploring poetry and storytelling and learning how to put this in to action themselves. 
 
Residents from Cleeve Court had an excellent trip out to the Steam Museum in Swindon. (A big thanks to Tina and AGE UK's minibus for transporting them.) The residents are planning more trips to places they want to visit such as Lidl and Bath City Farm!
Beautifully illustrated poetry panels are being made to decorate the loos and we will now be working across the two floors of the home.
 
Manor Farm residents recently worked to produce some wonderful pottery vases, which have now all been turned in to a beautiful totem pole for the garden. 
In Bristol, at Brunel Care, there has been a lot of work happening around Life Story documents-scanning and creating vibrant collages about people's lives.

Our artists are all off to Cornwall at the end of July for a reflection session to meet with all the artists from down there and to hear about how their work is progressing. 
 
We are excited, and have started planning, for an event on Oct 26 in partnership with St Johns Hospital and Age UK to host Bath's very own celebrating Age event. 
 
We also attended the Tangible Memories Conference, Bristol http://tangible-memories.com/   and are keen to start using some of the intriguing inventions including a therapeutic rocking chair,  a story creator app and cushions that talk!

WMHDcel
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World Mental Health Day Celebration 
Saturday 10th October - be a part of it!

A date has been planned for World Mental Health Day, if you are interested in being involved in the planning of this event, come along to Manvers Street Baptist Church on Wednesday the 22nd July, 11 - 1pm to offer your ideas.  TrusteeAd
 
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Could you be a Trustee for Creativity Works?
Trustees Required
 

We are always looking to widen our Board of Trustees for Creativity Works and would welcome any expressions of interest. We are particularly looking for those with skills in the following areas:  

- Human Resources;
- Legal Services;
- Fundraising;
- Accounting;
- or the Visual Arts. 
 

  

You will be helping to lead a hard working, creative and dedicated team of staff, steering the way in the effective growth and promotion of this expanding organisation.

Trustees meet at least 6 times a year and we encourage engagement in particular areas of work and ongoing projects.

  

Further detail about our work is available on our website www.creativityworks.org.uk.


 

For more information please contact our Chairman, Karl Bevis (karlbevis@btinternet.com). If you would like to apply for a position as a Trustee, please send Karl your CV and written application. Consideration of applications will be ongoing.

 
Please feel free to spread the word - you can download the advert here.OtherNews
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With Best Wishes,

The Creativity Works Team


For more information:
Tel: 01761 438852

Email: info@creativityworks.org.uk 

Supported by Bath & North East Somerset Council and Arts Council England

 

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Creativity Works | 01761 438852 | info@creativityworks.org.uk | http://www.creativityworks.org.uk
Leigh House
1 Wells Road
Radstock
Bath, BA3 3RN
Supported by:

BANES-Council


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Registered Charity No. 1075812 Company No. 3768255 Creativity Works for Everyone is a company limited by guarantee registered in England