|
|
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
|
This month we are off and running with three of our new commissions.
Firstly, Engaging Libraries, the project we are running in collaboration with Somerset Libraries, will be taking place at two sites in Somerset: Street and Bridgwater. Our two artists, Luke Palmer and Colin Higginson, will initially be running some engagement workshops, bringing participants with learning disabilities and autism together with library staff to begin their journey in redesigning the library spaces to make them more inclusive and welcoming.
The project is, for now, only a consultation, and we will be creating magnificent displays in the two spaces of the participants' work and ideas. We do hope that in the future, some of these ideas may actually be implemented by Somerset Libraries. We are also aiming to share much of the learning from this project with other library services nationally, and share the creative practice with artists through our co|Create programme.
|
 |
Talking of our co|Create programme, we held our first co|Create steering group meeting a couple of weeks ago and had a fantastic session discussing the particular needs of socially engaged artists, and how we can shape our programme of support, training and development in the future. Some of the themes that emerged were the isolation of freelance artists, and consequently their wellbeing, and how to find a common language within socially engaged arts so all stakeholders understand what we are talking about! The group will be meeting every two months and progressing many of these and other ideas. The first elements of the programme itself will be announced very soon, so do keep a look out!
Back to our commissions, and we have started delivering our work in Foxhill alongside our consortium partners, Kilter (see our Artists Profile this month) and Bath Dance. Creativity Works will be delivering a social history photography project and Kilter will be creatively consulting residents for their project relating to the people and stories of Foxhill. Bath Dance will be offering some taster sessions in a variety of dance forms, and they will also be facilitating the residency of Urban Playground, who will deliver a parkour project predominantly for young people. The overall project is entitled #Made In Foxhill, and one vital element of the project will see artists and makers from the community itself supported to share their skills with other residents. We will also be building our own artists studios, where M2AIR will deliver a brilliant artist-in-residency scheme for young people aged 8-11.If you would like to get involved in any of this work, or would like to hear more, please do email
madeinfoxhill@gmail.com, or contact the office.
We are also on the look out for Community Representatives from Foxhill and The Somer Valley to join our Co-Producers Group, to act as the link between those communities and the artists delivering the work. It is a brilliant opportunity if you have a passion for the arts and are interested in playing a vital part in your community. If you are interested in this role please email
mags@creativityworks.org.uk or, again, contact the office.
Director, Creativity Works
|
|
|
| Creativity Works: What we do. Our new animation |
We are excited to share our newly created animated film with you. We hope that it gives you a better understanding of the valuable work we do. The film was created for us by talented artists Ginny Cooper (design) and Tom Hall (animation, editing and sound) and was made possible thanks to a grant from The Lloyds Foundation. We hope that you enjoy it! Please do share it with anyone you think would be interested :-)
|
Deadline for applications: Thursday 15 March
This is a time-limited post to support the 'Fresh Art@' project that runs in Bath & North East Somerset. The post will be based at Bath NHS House and working across different clinical sites, at Creativity Works office in Radstock and in the community.
The job includes:
- Enlivening mental health clinical environments with fresh art created by service users, artists and staff
- Supporting the development of the Fresh Art@ project to stated venues and on ward
- Promoting social inclusion by liaising with AWP service users to engage in the Fresh Art@ project and creative groups in the community including museums, educational and social groups
- Supporting the progression and development of participants of the Fresh Arts @ project onto further community activity or peer support groups
Fresh Art@ is an innovative partnership project that creates artwork to enliven NHS environments. It involves Creativity Works, AWP, Virgin Care, The Holburne Museum, No 1 Royal Crescent and the American Museum, service users, carers, volunteers and local artists. The project promotes positive wellbeing by building connections between health and social care services, museum settings, local communities and the arts. Participants can self-refer or are referred onto the project through mental health support organisations. Creative sessions are facilitated by artists on ward, within community and museum settings. Participants donate some of their artwork to the project and benefit from the pride and recognition by having their work seen by others. This is a project that promotes social engagement through the arts.
|
|
|
*Workshop* The Art of Creative Journaling
Tuesday 27 March, Bath
|
|
Creative Journaling is an open-ended process, which can be intuitive, practical, poetic and playful!
This Artists' professional development workshop will offer space and time to explore ideas around how to use a journal to document thoughts in relation to the Self, people and place, journeys and happenings.
When: Tuesday 27 March
Where: Lonsdale Room, BRLSI, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HN
There will be opportunities to go outside as part of this workshop
Time: Arrive 9.30am (start at 10.00) ends at 4.00pm
Cost: £50
For full details of the day and how to book - Click here
|
|
Oliver Jones, CW Director, recently spent the day with George Jones, Policy Manager - Creative and Digital Industries as part of the NCVO Day in the Life Programme.
Here Olly, shares his experience. |
|
|
I have always been fascinated by policy making, and the machinations of how policy is developed at government level and the trickledown effect policy has on local government, regional agendas, and individual organisations, projects and freelance artists. I have always wondered how much the politicians and civil servants are aware of the impact their ideas and actions have on arts organisations, artists and indeed, in the case of socially engaged arts, the participants involved in our work. I was like a kid in a sweet shop then, when recently, through the NCVO Day in the Life programme, I spent the day shadowing George Jones, Policy Manager - Creative and Digital Industries at DCMS (Department for Digital, Creative, Media and Sport).
Although I have lived most of my life in and around London, it is still a thrill when you ascend from Westminster tube station and The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are revealed to you.
I waited for George in the bustling lobby of 100 Parliament Street, the same building DCMS shares with The Treasury. We found a spacious meeting room, signed in digitally (obvs!) and got around to chatting. He made me feel incredibly welcome and gave me a fascinating insight into what he does day-to-day. The collaborative nature of his work and indeed the negotiation needed to progress certain agendas, is a vital part of his role. His knowledge, expertise and passion were tangible and extremely inspiring. George also explained a little bit about the approach and implementation of the creative industries sector deal and the Bazalgette review (some of which was penned by George himself).
What I found interesting, and in many ways the areas where we connected, were around the DCMS' two main areas of impact: improving growth in Creative Industries and progressing the social agenda. Overall DCMS has 5 main areas of work but 'Growth' and 'Society' definitely seemed to be the two overarching aims. This is where I found such a parallel, and I suppose in retrospect, I shouldn't be surprised, as much of my role is about 'growth': of our own organisation and of individual artists and participants, and also enhancing the impact that we have on participants and community: 'the social agenda.' I think we sat in that room as two extreme ends of the same scale: the macro and the micro; perhaps two sides of the same coin.
The day continued to fascinate with an engrossing meeting with James Richardson from the office of Civil Society (OCS) that is now housed within DCMS. James and I spoke about their place-making policies, which has particular resonance for Creativity Works in our role as Cultural Producer for the two arts development commissions within B&NES, and we also discussed funding and philanthropy models. James will be forwarding me a recent research report from USA regarding the American model of arts funding that I will disseminate and share in due course. Needless to say, this conversation involved talk of tax breaks, and who better to have those conversations with than the people themselves who write the legislation for the tax breaks in our sector!
After a very interesting seminar we attended called 'A Growing Population' delivered by the University of Southampton, a quick look round the Houses of Parliament and a swift lunch in St James Park, we returned just in time to attend a little party convened for International Women's Day, attended by Sue Owen, Permanent Secretary for DCMS and many others. Here I had the opportunity to talk with other members of DCMS staff about our work in mental health and some of the initiatives they are supporting, and I very much hope that this is a conversation that we can continue.
Finally, I attended a team meeting, held in the office of the Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries, Margot James MP. Again, I was made to feel very welcome and found talk of the sector deal, No 10, HMRC, DiT and many other acronyms and areas of government, usually only accessed through the TV, radio or web, rather seductive. I felt privileged to be sat around the table, although I have to say, that much of my attention during the meeting was focused on the sublime pieces of art work that the minister had in her office, courtesy of the governments' art collection. Although I can't say exactly what she had, alongside some modernist sculpture, a fascinating digital artwork, and a stunning oil painting, I think from Africa, an extremely impressive black and white photo from one of the UK's leading photographers really took my fancy!
And so home to the south west, with much to ponder and to reflect on. I am very much looking forward to hosting George in the return visit. Along side staff at Creativity Works, hope to introduce him to some of our participants and also to some freelance artists.
|
Image from Kilter's production 'The Kammionneers'
|
|
Each month we'll be shining the spotlight on an artist that we are currently working with. This month, we've the pleasure to introduce artists Olly Langdon and Caroline Garland, otherwise known as Kilter.
Hello Olly & Caroline - tell us a bit about yourselves (and your artistic medium)
Kilter is a social engaged arts company based in Bath and using a theatre practise evolved over the last 10-15 years as the starting point for lots of different types of work. We love working with special people in special places to uncover surprising stories that help make exciting, ground-breaking new work!
What project/s are you currently working on with Creativity Works?
"Made In Foxhill." In consortium with CW & Bath Dance and commissioned by B&NES Council. We have worked in Foxhill before and find it a fascinating place, filled with generous hospitable people and generations of fabulous stories.
Who inspires you? (and why)
We try to get inspiration from across all sorts of different media and artistic disciplines. We will more often be inspired by a book, a film or a dance show than by something too close to what we normally do. We are also constantly re-booted by anyone who makes it work for them, whatever it is. It inspires us to take every opportunity to aim to do whatever excites and interests us.
What book or exhibition has inspired you recently?
Local history books by Kirsten Elliott and Andrew Swift are always inspiring when working in Bath. The Southwark Mysteries by John Constable has inspired our ideas for what we are working towards in Foxhill. We were lucky enough to be involved in staging a production in 2010. It's a play staged every 10 years in Southwark Cathedral with a community cast telling the lesser known stories of the borough. We love the collision of the higher-end and lower-end aspects of the community.
What's been your biggest professional, personal or creative achievement to date?
Our 10th birthday probably. To sustain a multi-disciplinary arts company like Kilter with just 2 part-time staff in the aftermath of the credit crunch and all the chipping away at public funding for the arts.... We have had to redesign our business plan several times and each time it's helped us to learn and grow.
What are your creative aspirations? (with or without Creativity Works)?
Another 10 years for Kilter to keep growing and changing. And we would love to find a home for Kilter out in the countryside near Bath. If you know of an empty barn just screaming for a make-over and a resident theatre company, we are only a phone call away. Please get in touch!
What advice would you give an emerging socially engaged artist?
Choose projects that you believe in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join Creative Perspectives and expand your creativity
The peer-led group are keen to welcome new members
Creative Perspectives is a peer-led visual arts creative group in Bath. We offer an opportunity to meet others, learn and share creative ideas and skills, gain confidence in a safe and friendly environment and contribute to the planning and continuation of the group.
The group is planned and run by members for its members with occasional facilitation by visiting artists. It is suitable for those who would like to support their wellbeing through creativity.
There is no set tuition but a volunteer artist is available to assist when needed and all group members have a wide variety of skills and experience in many different mediums.
The group meet on Friday afternoons in central Bath.
This is not a drop-in group but if you are interested in becoming a member please contact: Philippa@creativityworks.org.uk - 01761 438852
|
 |
|
Help support the peer-led group Writing Space
Copies of the Writing Space Anthology booklet are now available to buy via our website, with all profits going to support the continued running of the group.
The anthology is an A5 soft cover booklet with 18 original works written by Writing Space members.
Each copy is £3.50 and includes P&P to any UK address (if international postage - please contact us)
. I
f you would like to buy more than 5 copies, please contact us directly to combine p&p costs.
All profits from the sale of these booklets goes towards supporting the running of the group.
Please allow 14 days for delivery. THANK YOU for your support.
 
|
|
Join Writing Space!
Keen to welcome new members, Writing Space is a creative peer-led 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 is suitable for anyone that would like to develop their writing skills. Bath: Tuesdays 1 - 4pm.
This is not a drop-in group but if you are interested in becoming a member please contact: Philippa@creativityworks.org.uk - 01761 438852
|
With exciting plans for 2018-22 we are looking for Trustees with a strong background in finance, law, HR, IT, business development/social enterprise or property acquisition.
The Board meets six times per year and is a friendly and committed team.
To apply please send a letter outlining your interest and a CV to our Director, Oliver Jones: oliver@creativityworks.org.uk by 31st March 2018.
"It's good to know that I'm a part of something that has such a huge positive impact for the participants we work with" - Existing Trustee
Creativity Works is a registered charity no.1075812
|
Call-out for FaB Festival 2018
Inviting Artists and Creatives to respond to the exhibition & event proposals for this year.
|
|
Crazywise Community Screening Discussion Evening with Director Phil Borges
'Mental health' crisis, or potential growth experience?
Photojournalist, human rights commentator & film maker PHIL BORGES, director of 2017 documentary CRAZYWISE, comes to Bath Spa University on Thursday 15th March from 7:30 - 10:30pm for a Community Screening of the film, Director's Q & A Session and an optional extended informal discussion/networking.
|
|
Free Training for Volunteers
Lone-working; Thursday 22nd March 10am-1.30pm at Bath Fire Station, Bathwick Street, BA2 6PU
Safeguarding; Monday 26th March 10am-1.30pm at Bath City Farm, Kelston View,BA2 1NW
Equality & Inclusion; Tuesday 3rd April 1-3.30pm at Bath Fire Station, Bathwick St, BA2 6PU
Make every contact count; Thursday 5th and 12th April 10am-1.30pm, a course over 2 half days Location TBC
Introduction to working with people with mental health; Tuesday 17th April 12-4.30pm at Bath City Farm, Kelston View
These workshops are run by St.Mungo's and AWP. For any further information, please contact Claire Lawrence - Claire.Lawrence@MUNGOS.ORG
|
|
Mental Health Awareness Week: 14 - 20 May
Creativity Works Summer Wellbeing Challenge: 01 - 31 August
World Mental Health Day: 10th October
|
|
|
|
| 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:
Supported by Bath & North East Somerset Council and Arts Council England |
|
Registered Charity No. 1075812 Company No. 3768255 Creativity Works for Everyone is a company limited by guarantee registered in England
|
|
|
|
|
|
