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Read all about our current work - do get in touch for more info or help us spread the word.
Click on the links below to read more:
Courses for 2017
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Director's Blog
I felt genuinely inspired last Wednesday at our Social Design co|Create, where social designer Chloe Meineck, artist Barney Heywood from Stand+Stare, and Arts Programme Producer, Martha King, from Knowle West Media Centre, delivered a fascinating and eclectic session on how they are fusing their creativity, social purpose, and entrepreneurship alongside new technology to create products and services for care home settings, cities and communities.
Martha spoke about The Bristol Approach, and their collaboration with Barcelona-based company Making Sense (http://making-sense.eu/), using sensor technology to create smart cities and more precisely, for a community in Bristol, to measure damp in their homes. In a fascinating Q&A afterwards, all three speakers agreed that the starting point for any of these or similar projects, is to start with identifying the need, rather than finding a use for technology. I look forward to seeing how their projects evolve over time and hope that we at Creativity Works can develop some of our own ideas that have emerged through the work that we have been doing with Elders and in our work within Mental Health.
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I was very fortunate recently to spend three days on a Leadership and Sustainability course held at the School for Social Entrepreneurs in London. I was amongst an array of colleagues from a number of different charities across the UK. What was so evident and striking was the astonishing work that the 3rd sector undertakes. Organisations working with the homeless, with sex workers, with domestic abuse survivors, with adults with learning difficulties, amongst others, shared and learned from each other. Our commonality was marked not only by our constant struggle to survive as businesses and the increasingly desperate funding climate, but more so by our determination to succeed for our clients and participants and the extraordinary skill and experience of the people working in these organisations. Again, it was a truly inspiring and humbling three days. I am lucky enough to have two more 3 day sessions in January and in March and will report back.
And so another year has flown by. But what a year: an extraordinary tangle of rhetoric, revolt and revulsion. Never have the arts had so vital a role to play in the healing of communities, in the facilitation of dialogue, in the creativity needed to re-envisage our communities. Our effort at Creativity Works is often unseen, it is often unmeasurable but it is always integral to the lives of the people we work with. As the poet Elizabeth Alexander wrote, "to bother to engage with problematic culture, and problematic people within that culture, is an act of love."
On that salient and sentimental note I, and all at Creativity Works, wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Olly
Director, Creativity Works
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New Chair of Trustees Appointed
Louise Lappin-Cook has stepped up from Trustee to Chair
We are delighted to announce that Louise Lappin-Cook, Director,
Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Taunton is our new Chair. Louise is taking over the role from Karl Bevis, who has been our Chair for the past three years.
We asked Louise to say a few words about what taking on this role means to her:
"It is a huge privilege to take up the role of Chair at Creativity Works.
Prior to becoming a Trustee I was aware of the organisation's work and hugely impressed with the range of creative opportunities and interventions Creativity Works offers. Having gained a deeper understanding I am more inspired than ever about the significance and impact of our programme and approach.
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Witnessing first-hand the profound impact Creativity Works has on the lives of participants - and its real and tangible impact in using artistic engagement to improve, challenge and raise awareness of mental health issues, build communities and reach some of the most isolated and challenged communities across the south west - has been wholly transformative.
As Bath and North East Somerset's only Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, this is a critical time for Creativity Works in terms of nurturing and developing our relationship as a continued and growing part of ACE's portfolio.
I have been hugely impressed by the range of skills and expertise among the staff and trustees at Creativity Works. I am looking forward to working with Olly, the staff and the board to establish Creativity Works as a centre of excellence for arts and wellbeing in the south west: re-homing the organisation in a new multi-purpose venue; ensuring we take a leading role in driving forward conversations around artistic practice and socially engaged arts regionally and nationally; offering bespoke training opportunities for artists in the field; and affirming artistic excellence across all our programmes.
To achieve this we are looking for skilled, visionary, committed and passionate individuals to join our board. If you think you might like to get involved in the charity's work and join our dynamic team, do not hesitate to get in touch."
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B&NES Creative Wellbeing Courses 2017
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*NEW* Snap & Stroll Course Starting Tuesday 17 January in Radstock
Tuesdays: 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Dates: 17th, 24th, 31st Jan + 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th Feb, 7th March
Venue: Somer Valley Campus, Bath College, Wells Road, Radstock, BA3 3RW
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Snap and Stroll
Take a fresh look at Radstock - through a lens!
Eight
sessions which will include exploring the natural and built environment of Radstock by foot as well as time indoors for discussions, group activities and viewing/editing photos.
There will also be the chance to exhibit your work and take part in curating workshops at the end of the course.
No previous experience is necessary. You are welcome to bring along your own camera or digital cameras will be provided for you. This course is provided free of charge and is for B&NES residence.
This creative group is suitable for those who are experiencing or in recovery from anxiety, depression and mental health challenges
Tuesdays: 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Dates: 17th, 24th, 31st Jan + 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th Feb, 7th March
Venue: Somer Valley Campus, Bath College, Wells Road, Radstock, BA3 3RW
If you have any queries or to book a place, please ring Lynsey Parsons, Adult Community Learning
Tel: 01225 328822
Or Vicki Chapman Tel: 01761 433161 ext 330
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*NEW*
Beginners Writing Group for 2017
A 10 week course starting on Monday
20th Feb 2017
A creative group suitable for those who are experiencing or in recovery from anxiety, depression and mental health challenges living in B&NES
A 10 week course for beginners with no previous experience of creative writing to develop confidence in writing.
Make friends, have fun, get writing. No experience necessary.
Please bring something to write with - all other materials provided.
Mondays:
4pm - 6pm
Start date:
20th Feb 2017
Then every Monday until 24th April 2017
Family Room, Bath Central Library
To book your place and for more information
Wellbeing College 01225 831820
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Please share with anyone you think would be interested.
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Exhibition First for Creative Perspectives
The Creative Perspectives art group held their first ever exhibition at the Roper Gallery at Bath Artists Studios last month.
Creative Perspectives is a peer led visual arts creative group in Bath, in partnership with Creativity Works and Bath Museums and with funding through Quartet Community Foundation. Initially the group started with six weeks of creative activity during the summer of 2015.
By September 2015 the team had grown to 12 who were all keen to continue to keep the group going. Since then they have met weekly and the culmination of their work was brought together at a very well received exhibition. As all members help plan further sessions, creative activity and fundraise, it has been a real team effort and event.
The exhibition was curated by Steve Hedley a founder member of the group and now an Artist in his own right. Steve generously gave his time to share his knowledge and experience with current members of the group.
Creative Perspectives offers an opportunity to meet others, learn and share creative ideas, gain confidence in a safe and friendly environment and contribute to the planning and continuation of Creative Perspectives.
The members that exhibited were Anna Bater, Anna Newman, Alex Reid, Liz Balch, Mary Marchant, Rebecca Milestone, Stewart Williams and Lynda Tweedie. Quotes from the Creative Perspectives team:
"It's been great to have an opportunity to show our work.
It's been amazing an experience and a huge learning curve"
Anna Katerina Newman
"I've really enjoyed the creativity and feel very lucky to be part of this
because I'm with such a creative bunch of people"
Mary Marchant
"As the volunteer artist with this group right from the beginning, I am so proud of what the members have achieved. It's been nice to share the space with the members with all art work complementing each other"
Lynda Tweedie
"The work has genuinely impressed me and the diversity of styles has meant that this exhibition has been non regimental and it has really worked well. The work is amazing and has been great to curate."
Steve Hedley, Artist, Exhibition Curator and founnder member of Creative Perspectives.
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"When I arrived today and the sun was shining in so brightly and it was wonderful
to see so may colours together. It looks really impressive.
It's been good to see everyone's work so many different themes
and styles happily living together."
Stuart Williams, visitor to exhibition
"I had such a lovely time talking to artists and seeing the work. What a beautiful and thought-provoking exhibition. It was such a privilege to hear some of the artists talk about their journey into art, and I was amazed that some had been practicing for such a short period! They were all so articulate and genuine about the impact of the sessions on them as individuals and a group. Thank you for the invite."
Louise Lappin-Cook - CW Chair.
Huge well done to everyone involved!
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A fond farewell to Camilla, our Volunteer Coordinator
At the end of December we'll be saying goodbye to Camilla, who has been our Volunteer Support Coordinator for the past three and a half years. Camilla has written about her experiences of being a part of the Creativity Works team during that time. Over to Camilla:
When I first started work at Creativity Works I planned to use the part-time contract of Volunteer Support Worker as a means of financing my creative and academic work for just six months before moving onto a more permanent academic placement. And here I am, three and a half years later, finally saying good bye.
The truth is that working in an organisation that values compassion and support - not just of the participants we work with, but of the artists, volunteers and the staff team itself - has been an incredibly refreshing contrast to life in academia. It has made me re-evaluate my priorities - what makes me happy, where my skills lie and what I really want to do with my life. This part-time role has helped me to develop my creative career to the extent that I am actually managing to make some money from it. This was always what I'd wanted to do but hadn't thought it was possible. This kind of progression is the sort of thing we aim to support on every level within the organisation so it is gratifying to feel that it works on a staff level too. Somehow supporting others to achieve their creative ambitions makes it easier to support yourself! I'll be leaving Creativity Works, at the end of this year, to continue my creative projects - Reading Movement, Poem Factory and my ongoing language work (on and off the page) - alongside a more hands-on teaching role as part of the newly established environmental arts organisation art.earth in Dartington, Devon.
My time with Creativity Works has been enriching and challenging. In these three and a half years I have supported the World Mental Health Day at Bath City Farm, helped co-ordinate the first manifestation of Fresh Art @, developed a more formal volunteer database and volunteer recruitment process, supported volunteers and artists, worked on evaluation and alongside our creative peer support groups, particularly Writing Space. It has been an immense pleasure to have Philippa Forsey as my manager. She has been an exceptional role model in her compassion, creative thinking, flexibility and commitment to working alongside and in partnership even in the face of the accompanying challenges. I have learned a lot about my own skills too - my ability to organise, co-ordinate, evaluate and review. My ideas have always been welcomed and the opportunity to realise these ideas as part of the organisation's operation has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this job.
...To read the rest of this article please click Here
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co|Create News
A programme of socially engaged artists' CPD and training
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Last month Co|create ran a Creative Facilitation workshop in Bath, Sarah Gilmartin our Artists Training & Development Manager shared the experience of the day:
This was the first time I had been part of delivering Creativity Works highly successful Creative Facilitation course with Helen Moore and Mel Day. The course is rich and packed with practical ideas, creative exercises with discussion and reflection looking at the role of a facilitator in a Socially Engaged context, including different icebreakers, introductory activities, boundaries, the role of a creative facilitator, working with different community groups and the importance of reflection.
The day brought together an amazing group of artists with a wealth of experience and knowledge which led to loads of amazing ideas and discussion. The experience and the feedback point to the idea that it could really be a two day course and it is something we will continue to discuss as we know artist's time is limited and precious and we want to ensure our courses are accessible as we believe good quality CPD is vital. The day also highlighted to me the huge value of peer to peer support and exchange of experience, ideas and knowledge, particularly as we are working in challenging times with ever increasing demands on our skills and diminishing funds. For this reason the focus of the Christmas Networking event in Bath on 6th December is peer groups and Minnets.
Some feedback from the day from participants:
"I really enjoyed todays training and feel I have much better understanding of the role of facilitator and some great ideas for what to do in my own future practice."
"Very informative, Inspiring, lots of ideas"
"I got out of it what I wanted to gain confidence and clarify ideas - get inspired"
If you missed this course we do plan to run another in the Spring as we already have a waiting list, but we will also be launching our new programme, so please look out for it.
Artist Survey responses continue to come in, if you haven't already please do complete the survey (link below) to give your voice to the CoCreate programme.
Facebook page: @cocreate.CW
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We really want to know what you want and with limited resources to ensure time and money is invested in the right places for you to develop and grow as artists. We have lots of new ideas including Minnets - mini networks of artists providing peer to peer support and the potential to collaborate on new projects, action Learning sets, assistant artist roles across our programmes, mentoring and creative conversations as well as training courses to help you to keep up with the latest developments and thinking across SEA and health.
Please see below a link to a very short 10 question survey, we would really appreciate your input as we move forward to designing and fundraising for a new CoCreate programme.
Link to Co|Create Artists Survey
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Embedding Five Ways to Wellbeing into Arts Practice @ Creativity Works
When: Tuesday 31st January 2017 10am - 12pm
Where: Widcombe Social Club, Widcombe Hill, Bath BA2 6AA
For artists who have completed the Wellbeing College Five Ways to Wellbeing Course (listed above) to extend their knowledge and embed thinking.
Cost: £10
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Profile: An Insight into Working with Creativity Works
A Focus on: Annelies Egli - Artist
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What is your connection with Creativity Works?
I was approached late last summer by CW : would I be interested in facilitating a series of textile based sessions with a group of people in the outskirts of Bath? I am an artist with some specialist experience of creative textile processes, a subject I taught for several years in a small women's community college in Bristol.
How did you first come across Creativity Works?
I must be some sort of fossil that remained on the database from the distant past when CW was still Nesa! I can't remember having any dealings with CW until January this year when I treated myself to a professional development/training day that was organized by CW in /Bath.
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What made you want to work with this organisation?
It all looks so interesting and varied and definitely my kind of thing : 'explore develop and grow' through creativity is a motto I have shared for years, be that in my role as teacher, community artist or group worker who devised activities in day services for many years in the past.
Which projects have you been involved with / how have you helped support Creativity Works?
The group I have been working with calls itself Skill Seekers , it is of a loose structure with a steady but small core alongside new people still joining as my sessions with the group are taking their course.We are exploring creative textile techniques such as felting, weaving, stitching etc and my aim is to leave the group with a 'tool kit' containing materials and a record of the activities that have been tried during the sessions. The idea is that through the sessions the group will be better equipped to continue and build on the newly acquired skills, as well as share new skills amongst each other as people get to know each other better.
What have you enjoyed the most about working with Creativity Works?
I have only just started working with CW but I like what I perceive as a good degree of fluidity and flexibility within the organisation which are the hallmarks of creativity itself. It does feel like an organisation which is responsive to ideas and needs as they arise from within the community it serves.
What have you found surprising about Creativity Works?
I am impressed by the range and diversity of projects that CW is making possible and accessible to so many people.
In what way has Creativity Works been of value or support to you?
As an artist who likes working with people CW is of immense value to me with regards to information, training, networking , professional development and facilitation work.
What has been your biggest professional , personal or creative achievement to date?
It is often the things that cannot be seen or clearly measured that to us personally amount to our biggest achievements! I would never have thought I could give up smoking for example or enjoy so much peace and joy in my life as I do now. Two steady contributors to this long process of harmonisation are my art and meditation practice.
Do you have any creative aspirations for the future (with or without Creativity Works)?
There are several ideas that stand out for me at the moment: I would like to explore working on my art outdoors. Another area of interest hitherto unexplored would be a collaboration. Last but not least: an exhibition in my native Switzerland!
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News, Useful Websites, Articles & Events
Interesting links and opportunities from around the South West. Please do share with us any sites, articles and films you also find useful and inspiring.
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Keep us in the picture by tweeting us @CW4everyone as well!
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Help spread the word about Men's Sheds
Across Bath & North East Somerset
Men's Shed's are a larger version of the typical man's shed in the garden - a place where he feels at home and pursues practical interests with a high degree of autonomy. A men's Shed offers this to a group of such men where members share the tools and resources they need to work on projects of their own choosing, at their own pace and in a safe, friendly and inclusive venue. They are places of skill-sharing and informal learning, of individual pursuits and community projects, of purpose, achievement and social interaction. A place of leisure where men come together to work.
A shed usually involves making or mending in wood or metal work but can also include things like bike repair, electronics, model engineering etc. Whichever activities are pursued the essence of a shed is not the building but the network of relationships between the members.
If you know anyone who may be interested in setting up a shed please contact Justin Wride via email.
Please see website for further info:
www.menssheds.org.uk
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Local Charities Day takes place on 16 December 2016. Led by the Office for Civil Society as part of DCMS, the day will celebrate and shine a spotlight on the work of small local charities and community groups. The main focus is to provide local charities with a platform to promote the fantastic work they are doing and the many, varied benefits they bring to people, communities and good causes.
Did you know that we, Creativity Works, are a charity?
Here's how to show your support: Local Charities Day
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Thank you for reading our newsletter. If you would like to follow our updates in between newsletters remember that you can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest!
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 Click here to return to the top of the email |
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| Simply click through Give as You Live every time you shop online to raise money for Creativity Works |
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Registered Charity No. 1075812 Company No. 3768255 Creativity Works for Everyone is a company limited by guarantee registered in England
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