Creativity Works





Creativity Works Newsletter May 2017
Read all about our current work, get in touch for more info and please share with a friend or colleague to help us spread the word. 
Director's Blog

Financial resilience seems to be high on the political agenda and is becoming increasingly central to the strategic planning and direction of both the Arts Council (ACE) and the cultural sector more widely. In the recent DCMS review, the first for seven years, financial sustainability runs throughout the whole report and makes a broad series of recommendations for measures that ACE should take to build the financial resilience of the sector, including:

* further integrate financial sustainability into its grant applications

* support the sector to build financial skills that will help organisations diversify further their revenue streams and explore "alternatives to pure grants"

* embed commercial skills and commercial leadership, and support organisations to become 'investment ready'

* facilitate the sharing of best practice so that organisations can learn from each other how to "strengthen their respective financial resilience models"

* innovate around business delivery, such as touring models, fundraising and digital skills

* encourage partnerships to reduce costs, "for example by providing capital grants for organisations to share space, storage and/or services"

Fittingly, ACE have announced some very interesting and, I hope, impactful, projects that will help the sector to fulfil these ambitions. I recently attended a seminar in Southampton about Prosper ( www.creativeunited.org.uk), a new initiative that provides a funded business support programme for the arts, museums and libraries. It is delivered by Creative United and offers arts and cultural organisations, companies or individual entrepreneurs in England the opportunity to participate in nine months of free business support activities to improve resilience, commercial capacity and investment readiness.  I have also recently attended a Leadership and Sustainability course run by the School for Social Entrepreneurs (and funded by Lloyds Foundation) and I know that a scheme involving a collaboration between ACE and SSE is also being rolled out soon.  The beauty of these initiatives is that they are open to individual artists. 

Another new, and noteworthy, programme in our area and well worth looking at is The Network for Creative Enterprise Residencies. A partnership of Bristol and Bath-based organisations who are offering business support for creative individuals and small companies to develop a creative idea into an economically sustainable business. See more info: www.theguildhub.co.uk

Here at Creativity Works we are very interested in how we can support individual artists to be more resilient and to increase their capacity for employment. We will be running our very popular Art of Fundraising co|Create on the 6th July in Bath (see under co|Create news in this newsletter for full details) and are very interested to hear further from artists about how we can support them in their enterprise ambitions. Do get in touch.

I am now off on a week's break to the Lake District which will, I hope when I return, make me more resilient for the year ahead, however with two small children to entertain, will doubtless leave me financially unsustainable!

Olly

Director, Creativity Works
Wellbeing  
Mental Health Awareness Week  8 - 14 May 
#MHAW17

The theme for this year's Mental Health Awareness Week is - Striving or Thriving. There are lots of events going on across B&NES including one here at Creativity Works HQ - we hope you'll be able to come along or try some of the other events and learn some new tools to help you to thrive. We'd love to hear from you and your tips and techniques for looking after your mind and wellbeing. 


Join us in exploring 5 Ways to Wellbeing through Creativity & Nature. 

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, Creativity Works are hosting some creative activities in the garden at Leigh House that will explore the 5 ways to Wellbeing.

Join us for a fun and creative afternoon!

Wednesday 10 May  -  3.00pm - 5.00pm

Leigh House, 1 Wells Road, Radstock BA3 3RN

This event is Free - but booking is essential

Please email Philippa on philippa@creativityworks.org.uk or call 01761 438852 to book your place

Check out what else is going on this week around B&NES -  Mental Health Awareness Week Events

B&NES Creative Wellbeing Groups



Writing Space

Writing Space is a creative peer support group for anyone who has some experience of writing and would like to meet with others in a friendly informal group to develop and share ideas. You don't have to be a published writer! This group is fun and welcoming to all and anyone that would like to support their wellbeing through creativity. 

Writing Space will be working with artist facilitator Roz Mascall over the coming few weeks to develop ideas. 

If you interested in joining this group please book a place with  Philippa at Creativity Works: philippa@creativityworks.org.uk  01761 438852

Textiles: Skill Seekers

Boost confidence, experiment, share and learn creative textile techniques in a small supportive group. Skill Seekers is a group that meets weekly to socialise, create and develop projects.  Come and share ideas and develop your skills. No previous experience is necessary. Suitable for B&NES residents who would like to support their wellbeing through creativity. 

When: Tuesdays (ongoing group) Arrive 1.30pm for a cuppa. Start 2pm - 4pm

Where: Odd Down Community Centre, Odins Rd,  Bath BA2 2TL 

Cost: £2 per session
 
To book: Call or email: Lesley Johnston tel: 01225 831411  email:  mhsls@sirona-cic.org.uk

co|Create News




We run a highly regarded Training and Development Programme in Socially Engaged Arts for Artists at all stages of their careers and  have an exciting mix of events and training planned for the year.
 
Radical Landscapes with International Language Artist

only 2 places left!

Exploring Sound, Movement, Mark and Language making in the landscape with artist Camilla Nelson.

This workshop introduces a variety of movement, sound, and mark-making techniques as part of a poetic investigation into our relationship with the landscape.

When: Tuesday 16 May, 09.30 - 16.00 
Where: Bath 
Cost: £50

For full details and to book your place visit www.creavityworks.org.uk
The Art Of Fundraising

Following feedback from our successful half day courses we are now offering artists a full day workshop led by professional fundraiser Jo Byron and Rebecca Swindell, an artist with personal experience of successful fundraising for creative projects. 

We are very fortunate to be joined by Ruth Kapadia from Arts Council England who will present her perspective and advice in response to the current climate and Arts Council England's priorities

The Art of Fundraising will include: 
  • researching and identifying funding sources, 
  • how to tell your 'story', pitching and writing a fundraising bid. 
  • there will also be time to focus on your own project and funding bid.
Suitable for people with ideas for a creative project who want support on where to go to get funding and how to maximise their chances of gaining funding.

 "It was fantastic. It changed my life. I had a complete block about going for funding. The fundraising workshop made such a difference. I'm already using the information and doing a funding bid." 

"So grateful for all the expertise shared. I have learnt a great deal and I'm feeling much more confident." 

"Feel super motivated. Can't wait to start." 

"All of it was brilliant."

When: Thursday 6th July
Where: Bath Venue TBC
Cost: £50 to include The Art of Fundraising Booklet
Booking:  

Checkout



Monthly Mental Health Training Talks

One hour lectures followed by an hours discussion with medical colleagues.
Tuesdays 10.30-12.30  Next talk: 30 May - Understanding PTSD
Email: sarah@creativityworks.org.uk to book your place. Click here for the full list.
Mental Health Awareness Training for Artists & Volunteers

Supporting People with Mental Health Needs and Supporting People with Mental Health Needs in Group situations

For those of you who missed the first mental health awareness training day, the morning will cover Supporting people with mental health needs including mental health awareness, stigma, communication and planning. The afternoon will focus on working with people with mental health needs in group situations and is tailored to Creativity Works delivery and project context.

You can book onto just the morning but need to have completed the morning session or the February session to attend the afternoon as it builds on that knowledge and understanding.

When: Monday 26th June 2017 10am-1pm and 2-4pm
Where: St Mungos, 1 New Street, Bristol, BS2 9DX
Cost: Free

For further information and to book your place please contact Sarah@creativityworks.org.uk
This training is delivered in partnership with St Mungos and facilitated by Laurie Grandi
FREE Online training, Level 2 Certification, 8-10 weeks

Online training, Level 2 Certification, 8-10 weeks

Course options:
  • Awareness of Mental Health Problems
  • Awareness of Common Health Conditions
  • Understanding Behaviour that Challenges
  • Care Planning
  • Dignity and Safeguarding
  • End of Life Care
  • Caring for Children and Young People
  • Dementia Care
  • Understanding Autism
  • Infection Control
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Equality and Diversity

Terms and conditions apply - for more information about the course content and T&Cs please contact sarah@creativityworks.org.uk


The training is free but there is a penalty of up to £125 for NOT completing the training.
Creativity Works Upcoming Events
Dreams, Masks and Mirrors
Radstock exhibition Tuesday 16th - 30th May
Radstock Library 
Jill Carter, multi media artist, was commissioned by Creativity Works in 2011 as Artist in Residence to respond to the Radstock Community Festival. Members of the local community were invited to participate in performative play inspired by a unique treasure trove and collection of dressing up materials. 

The journey over five days was documented with photography and a journal. "We have learnt so much about ourselves" said one resident whilst wearing an oriental dress, a wig and a pair of colourful spectacles.

Creativity Works are delighted to be able to bring this exhibition back to Radstock that revisits Jill's engagement process to encourage people to dream and tell their creative stories through performance and play. This exhibition will be part of this year's round-about Radstock on Saturday 20th May run by DNA Arts.

These black and white images don't easily fall into a single category. They are part street photography, part feature story and part something else. It's easiest to think of the photographs as a comic book without the text.
If you look at these images over and over again the stories keep changing. The ambiguity of the images allows the stories to keep bubbling to the surface. Maybe these images are about the viewer as much as the viewed.
 
The visitors to the library will be invited to respond to the images in a collection called The Book of Everyone.
 
The name of the book comes from one of the Radstock residents who participated and said to Jill - "there should be a book about all of this - a book of everyone - and then everyone can tell you what they think." The book will be available for all to contribute to.

Fringe Arts Bath 2017

FreshArt@ Exhibition
South Corridor, RUH, Bath

New artwork created for the walls of Swallows Therapy Rooms, Paulton Hospital by participants on the creative wellbeing programme and inspired by workshops within the Holburne Museum, No 1 Royal Crescent and the American Museum supported by AWP, Creativity Works and Virgin Care.



Venue: Bath Royal United Hospital, South Corridor, Combe Park, Bath BA1 3NG
Opening times: All Day
Dates Tuesday 30th May - September. Entrance free

'An Hour A Day'

We will be running some free 'taster' creative wellbeing workshops during FAB '17. 
Please check our website for up to date details of venue and times www.creativityworks.org.uk
Booking is essential - contact  philippa@creativityworks.org.uk  or 01761 438852

Venue: 44AD, 4 Abbey St, Bath, BA1 1NN
Opening times: 10 - 4pm
Dates: Tuesday 30th May - Friday 2nd June


Creativity Works to speak at the International Conference for Culture, Health & Wellbeing

Creativity Works, peer group members and volunteers alongside University researchers will present their findings based on recent participatory action research with University of the West of England and University of Bath. We will review some of the discoveries and identified challenges around the question of: How can creative activity support sustainable models of wellbeing and mental health recovery?

Interest in supporting the sustainability of creative groups has led to the co-creation of a Toolkit to support peer led groups and participatory research with UWE and Bath University.

Presenters

Philippa Forsey, Manager of Creative Wellbeing Services for Creativity Works. 
Lynda Tweedie is an artist and volunteer member of Creative Perspectives creative peer support group in Bath. 
Tom Cook is a writer and volunteer member of Writing Space creative peer led group in Bath.
Dr Justin Rogers and Megan Robb are from the University of Bath and have an interest in community based participatory research and public engagement.

Monday 19th June 4pm - 5pm
Peer led Groups and Co-production in arts and health
Venue - City Hall Lord Mayors Room

Tickets the the conference are available here [Deadline to buy tickets is 31st May]

Other News, Useful Websites, Articles & Events


Pink Rain and Pain (detail), © George J Harding
Alternative Visions

Some of the artists we work with submitted work to this project and had it accepted onto the online gallery that exists alongside this exhibition. From the huge number of applications to exhibit a few artists were chosen from across the south west and this touring exhibition showcases this work.

There will be an exclusive Private View of the exhibition Alternative Visions at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery on Thursday 1 June 2017. The preview is 6pm to 8pm with speeches starting at 6.45pm. Following the speeches, there will be a one-off performance by Stopgap Dance Company's Siobhan Hayes and Chris Pavia, specially devised in response to the exhibition. Stopgap Dance Company employ disabled and non-disabled artists who find innovative ways to collaborate.
 
Alternative Visions: Undiscovered Art in the South West is a remarkable and celebratory new exhibition, set to tour the South West of England. It provides a unique insight into a previously undiscovered group of artists and what motivates them to create art. The exhibition is developed by Arts & Health South West, Outside In and Bristol Culture, in partnership with Falmouth Art Gallery, The Wilson in Cheltenham, Poole Museum and Bristol-based Artists First.

An open call across the South West of England invited artists who identify as facing a barrier to the art world for reasons including health, disability, social circumstance or isolation to submit work for the exhibition. More than 300 submissions were received and a team of selectors chose 20 artworks for their visual interest and emotional impact. The exhibition will feature painted, drawn, printed and sculpted works, which are diverse in content, style and approach. The artists in the show represent a wider community of individuals who are driven to produce art for a broader range of reasons or purposes than many mainstream contemporary artists.
 
RSVP:  To attend please click on the link below and indicate whether you would like 1 or 2 places.

round-about Radstock. Saturday 20 May 

 
Training Opportunities


Mentoring Training

Training Friday 26th May and Friday 2nd June

This two day course is designed to give volunteer mentors the skills and confidence to:
  • Support people, to access groups, build their support networks & use their time meaningfully
  • Support people joining their group
  • Build a positive safe and boundaried relationships with mentees
  • Provide mentees with the support to develop the skills and confidence they need to  improve their wellbeing
This course is being delivered by Claire Lawrence and Ralph Lillywhite to support the development of volunteer mentors supporting clients and carers positive progression.

To find out more or book your place contact Claire Lawrence at c.lawrence1@nhs.net        Tel:  07736 457670



Training and Facilitation Skills for volunteers
 
This new free two day course runs on Tues 18th May  &  Thurs 23rd May
  • This is for any volunteers to start co-delivering training or improve their current training skills
  • This could be for your organisation the Wellbeing College or Volunteer Network
  • Certificate on completion
  • Travel costs and lunch provided
To find out more or book your place contact atralph.lillywhite@mungos.org    Tel:  0782 511 5775


Charter sessions 

An opportunity for three people to co-deliver Charter training across teams and groups in BANES
This role will be paid £20 for each 2 hr training session (approx. 20 sessions).

Participants should have lived experience of mental health. Plus experience of delivering training or book themselves on the training and facilitation skills course above.

Please e-mail expressions of interest or to find out more contact:
Caroline Mellers  Caroline.Mellers@MUNGOS.ORG

Artist in Residence at No.1 Royal Crescent, Bath

Sat 13 May 11:00-1:00  Free with normal admission & workshop dates

Artist Beverley Ferguson will be at work in the Servants' Hall developing her textile pieces inspired by the objects on display at No. 1 Royal Crescent. 

Beverley describes her work as:

"Blending formal elements such as line, design and composition with self-expression, using the inspiration of No.1 which is so rich in stories and visual opportunities"

Come and see her at work and chat to her about her art.
 
For more information visit -  www.no1royalcrescent.org.uk


Left: Artist Beverly Ferguson

Mummy's got Bipolar
 
Mummy's got Bipolar by Sonia Mainstone-Cotton is a new illustrated children's book. Self-published and financially supported by over 40 different backers,the book has been written to help children and families to understand that having a parent with Bipolar is not unusual and its ok to talk about it.  

Sonia Mainstone-Cotton, a local early years practitioner and consultant, who works with children, families and professionals was aware of how hard people find it to talk about Bipolar, and to explain it to children. Sonia's own Mum has Bipolar and she wanted to use children's books to explain to her own children about the illness but was unable to find any books for young children. For this reason, Sonia decided to write the book; it is a gentle story of a family with a Mum, Dad, 2 daughters and 2 guniea pigs. The story gently introduces Bipolar to children and enables families and professionals to start talking about the illness. The story has been illustrated by Jon Birch.

Jon is multimedia artist with over 30 years professional experience he has won awards with Paperhorse for the creation of  cowforce.com

Books are for sale at £7.99 via Sonia's website    www.soniamainstone-cotton.com or from Amazon or from Oldfield Park bookshop and Health and More in Timsbury.
World Mental Health Day - 10 October

Get in touch if you'd like to get involved with planning a creative event for this day.
Simply click through Give as You Live every time you shop online to raise money for Creativity Works

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

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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