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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.
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I hope you have been enjoying Creativity and Wellbeing week this week. Having begun in London this is now a national initiative and one that we wholeheartedly support.
I have been concentrating this week on finalising some exciting and hopefully impactful co|Create events (see inside the newsletter for further details), and this led me to consider the creativity and wellbeing of our artists themselves; the ones that work in an industry where two-thirds of artists earned less than £5,000 from their art practice and only one fifth of artists (21%) indicate that the income they receive from their art practice allows them to spend as much time on their art practice as they would like. Add to this the often stressful, intimidating and uncertain nature of many of the social contexts where socially engaged artists work, and one can see that is vital that we support not only the creative practice of artists but their wellbeing as well.
'Changing Arts and Minds' is a report that offers a view of the mental health and wellbeing of those who work in the creative industries, primarily, but not exclusively resident in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. It has uncovered some health and wellbeing concerns for which the sector and wider society need to take some responsibility. I was particularly struck by two findings from the report that chimed with much of the dialogue we ourselves have with artists here at Creativity Works:
- Specific characteristics of the creative sector work environment were reported as contributing to the likelihood of developing mental health problems. Examples included pressure to reach high standards (both externally and internally), irregular work (including contracts, financial security, irregular hours, and working outside the sector), the perceived lack of value placed on their work and the inadequate financial rewards for the work.
- Despite these difficulties the majority reported having hope, and most considered themselves happy
As mentioned before, our co|Ceate programme is one of support, development and training for socially engaged artists and we have developed specific strands for this programme to support the wellbeing and career prospects of those working in social practice.
Creative Resilience is a day workshop with a focus on creative approaches to personal resilience, and also exploring tools of resilience for creative practice. Having piloted this programme earlier in the year we are delivering our next one this August. Come and experience what one artist described as "brilliant! a much-needed course." We are sure you will find it an invaluable resource for your own creativity and wellbeing.
Additionally, we have a strand of co|Create, Safe Practice, that reflects on best and safest practice when working in challenging situations. In July we will be delivering a mental health awareness course in collaboration with Bath Mind that I highly recommend.
I do hope you will find something on our co|Create programme that you find valuable, and that you are able to spend some time yourselves both being creative and looking after your own wellbeing.
Olly
Director, Creativity Works
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Upcoming co|Create Courses
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What is mental health and how does it link to physical health? This course will help you to:
- Spot the signs and symptoms of ill mental health.
- Respond to, and communicate with someone experiencing mental health difficulties.
- Remain resilient to dealing with mental health issues at work. (Using 5 ways to wellbeing).
- Signpost to professional external help.
Where: Bath Citadel, Basement Room
When: 8th July 2019, 1.30-3.30pm
Cost: £15 [plus booking fee]
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Creative Resilience Programme
We know how difficult it is to sustain a career in the arts; especially socially engaged arts. Our approach uses evidence-based research and best practice to explore themes of Self-Awareness, Diversity and the impact of your Environment. Develop tools to grow your personal resilience, concentrating on Adaptability, Re-framing, Maintenance and Support-Networks. The programme is not only delivered creatively, but also uses creativity itself as a central theme.
Artists taking part will develop skills in recognising situations and settings that could have an adverse effect on their mental health and wellbeing and their ability to work creatively, as well as finding ways to increase their confidence, outlook and support networks, and ensuring they are well-equipped to deal with the obstacles that both life and career present.
Refreshments and notebooks will be provided but please bring your own lunch!
As there are only 20 places available booking is essential.
Date: 22nd August, 9.30am - 4.30pm
Venue: The Natural Theatre Company Studio
Cost: £50
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Social Media Filmmaking Workshop with Suited & Booted
Are you a socially engaged artist, creative or volunteer interested in learning about how to make effective films for social media channels?
This course is run for Creativity Works by filmmaking experts Suited and Booted who have a multitalented team making corporate videos, branded content, video marketing, internal communications and animated videos.
They will provide you with knowledge which will enable you to develop your own filmmaking and story-telling skills to engage your social media audience. More information on course content will be provided as soon as possible.
Date: 24th July, 9.30am-5pm
Venue: Bath Citadel, Upper Hall
Cost: £15 [plus booking fee]
This co|Create course is subsidised through Creativity Works and B&NES funding.
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Creative Wellbeing News & Courses
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Philippa Forsey. Wellbeing Manager and Tasha Beesley, Fresh Art@ Worker at this year's Fresh Art@ Exhibition. Artwork is by Fiona Davies.
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The last month has been a busy one with a number of creative wellbeing projects across Bath & North East Somerset, including the fantastic Fresh Art@ Exhibition and Create Everyday workshops during Fringe Arts Bath. [See just a few of the photos from the exhibition below]. Some of the artwork will go to the Museum of Bath Architecture and the rest will be donated to Bath NHS sites to bring some colour to their walls.
The Fresh Art@ project really highlights the innovative partnerships that we are proud to be part of. We hosted a special Fresh Art@ co|Create event where we heard from partner organisations, participants, volunteers and artists about the importance of listening to all voices when planning and delivering successful creative wellbeing projects. This event was recorded and there will be a podcast available soon.
Writing Space, one of our creative peer-led groups, has been working with local artists and is proud to present a new programme of activity. Sara Firman will be hosting a Writing and Walking session on 25th June and Christina Sanders will be developing skills on life writing and memoirs for an anthology to be produced later this year. Writing Space are always keen to welcome new members, so do get in touch if you would like to join. Listen in this Saturday at 1pm on Somer Valley FM to hear some of the members talk about the group and share some of their work. We are thrilled to be part of this new partnership with Somer Valley FM, as this is a great opportunity to hear the voices and stories of many of our wellbeing course participants and members. There are so many great stories to be told!
Watch this space for some new photography and walking sessions in Bath and Keynsham and t
here are also plans afoot for a new peer led visual arts group in Bath. More details to follow.
If you would like to be part of the Creative Wellbeing programmes please do contact me, Philippa, either via email: philippa@creativityworks.org.uk or call 01761 438852.
Philippa Forsey
Wellbeing Manager |
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Would you like to develop Creative Writing Skills and connect with other writers and the world around you?
We invite you to join our sessions every Tuesday afternoon in Central Bath to learn simple practices to rebuild confidence in writing, draw on life experiences and kindle creativity through words. The focus is on enjoyment, sharing and connecting with others through creative writing and the group are currently working towards their third anthology, titled 'Looking Back.'
Some sessions will be facilitated by writer Christina Sanders between June and October and 2 will be facilitated by Sara Firman [
25th June
and 3rd September 2019]
When: Tuesdays
Venue: central Bath
Time: 1 - 4pm
Writing Space is a peer-led project for people of all writing skills who would like a safe place to present and develop their own abilities. The group is suitable for adults who would like to support their wellbeing and mental health through creativity. Please note that there is no specific mental health support, but safe, respectful space is a priority.
Some practices will be outdoors, weather permitting. Wear clothing suitable for easy walking and weather protection. To join in c
ontact Philippa Forsey either on 01761 438852 or email
philippa@creativityworks.org.uk
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Voices of Creativity Works First Radio Show!
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mage: Dom Chambers, Justin, Philippa Forsey, Dee and Irene who all feature in the first radio show this weekend.
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Creativity Works, have teamed up with Somer Valley FM to create a series of radio shows highlighting the benefits of creativity on mental health and wellbeing and the first of the series will be broadcast this weekend.
The episode called - Voices of Creativity Works, will be broadcast on Saturday 15th June at 1pm and will be repeated on Monday 17th June at 1pm.
Writing Space, one of our peer-led groups who meet weekly in central Bath, went into the Somer Valley FM studios earlier this year and with the support and encouragement of Dom Chambers, Somer Valley FM's Director and radio host and Philippa Forsey from Creativity Works, members Justin, Dee and Irene shared some of their recent work and what makes Writing Space important to them.
Somer Valley FM are part of a national project called Health FM which explores the links between broadcasting and enhancing physical and mental well-being.
Justin, said of the experience "We talked about why Writing Space is such a great place, how it helps, and shared some encouraging words to anyone who may like to come along in the future. It was rather nerve racking at times, but we got through it! Another member, Irene, a local resident, did a wonderful talk all about her experiences in the war and with post-traumatic stress, and how being part of writing space has helped."
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Dom Chambers from Somer Valley FM, our local radio station, attended the Fresh Art@ Private view on Friday 24th May and produced a live broadcast during the event.
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A selection of artworks from this year's Fresh Art@ Exhibition will be on display at the Museum of Bath Architecture. Polly Andrews from the Bath Preservation Trust tells us more about it:
"Taking on History will run at the Museum of Bath Architecture from June 29th to January 2020 and will feature work by 6 community groups who have engaged with our four museums so far this year (No.1 Royal Crescent, the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Beckford's Tower and the Museum of Bath Architecture)."
Photographs by Creativity Work's Snap and Stroll group taken at Beckford's Tower will be included, as well as seven pieces from this year's Fresh Art@ project.
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"It was an incredibly difficult task to choose from such an exciting range of work produced by this year's participants. It felt appropriate to the exhibition's theme to select work which was influenced by No.1 Royal Crescent's stories and collection, and so visitors will see photographs of tiny details within the house and paintings inspired by its architecture." Added Polly.
At the end of the exhibition, all the work will be transferred to Hillview Lodge at the RUH for display as this is such a fundamental element of the Fresh Art@ project.
"We anticipate over 6000 visitors will see this exhibition and of course all the project participants will be invited back to see their work displayed in the museum, which is a fascinating and atmospheric former chapel."
The aim is to show the variety of creative ways in which people have responded to the stories the museums tell. More information about the exhibition can be found here:
Taking on History Exhibition
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| Image: Artwork by Matthew Hill. Acrylic monoprint on paper inspired by the architecture of Georgian Bath. |
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As we enter an exciting stage of our development as an Arts Council England funded National Portfolio Organisation [NPO], we're in need of certain extra skills on our Board and
we're currently seeking new Trustees with the following skills:
- Legal
- Socially Engaged Artists
- Accountancy & Financial
- Business / Enterprise Development
Whilst ideally you'd be a practicing professional, we recognise that as a voluntary role it might be more suited to an active newly retired person. If you are interested in volunteering as a Trustee and have the time and energy to devote to us, we would love to hear from you, or does this sound like anyone you know? Please do share our call-out with anyone you think could be interested.
Have a look at our website for more information about what we do www.creativityworks.org.uk, or if you are interested please email chair@creativityworks.org.uk telling us a bit about yourself and why you're interested in becoming a trustee. Thank you! |
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Following on from last year's Creative Wellbeing Challenge we are keen to find some enthuastic volunteers to help us this year. Could this be you?
Artist Volunteers
| Artist Call out: Be one of our 'Take-over' Artists this August. |
We are looking for artists who'd like to do a social media 'Take over' as part of our Creative Summer Wellbeing Challenge this year.
The challenge, which runs throughout August, is a free programme of daily creative activities that are linked to the 5 ways to wellbeing. As a 'Take Over Artist' you'll have a great opportunity to share your work and practice with a wide audience and inspire them to join in and explore their own wellbeing through creativity.
We are looking for 8 artists to be involved each taking over one of our social media channels for a day in August.
Please get in touch if you are interested in being one of our take over artists - We'd love to hear from you - so drop an email to morwhenna@creativityworks.org.uk by 30 June telling us a bit about yourself and your artistic practice. If you'd like to be involved in another way - please get in touch!
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Social Media & Marketing Volunteers
Are you interested in creativity for wellbeing and love using social media?
Do you have any design / film making / marketing skills?
Would you like to be part of a creative project this summer?
If you have any of these skills, we'd love to hear from you as we'll be running our Creative Summer Wellbeing Challenge again this August and are looking for some creative volunteers to get involved. We need your help to make it bigger and better than last year!
The volunteer role would start in mid July (exact date tbc) and run until the first week of September, with a minimum commitment of 7 hours a week.
If you are interested, or would like more information, please send an email telling us a bit about yourself, your experience and what you'd be able to add to the Summer Wellbeing Challenge.
Email Morwhenna - morwhenna@creativityworks.org.uk by 30th June.
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Ideas?
We are keen to get as many people as possible taking part in the Creative Summer Wellbeing Challenge this August and we want to hear from you. What are YOUR ideas of how to Connect, Keep Learning, Be Active, Give and Take Notice creatively? Drop us an email morwhenna@creativityworks.org.uk with your thoughts and a chance for them to be featured as part of the challenge.
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Other Opportunities & Events
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Marks I make on the world
- a writing for wellbeing workshop for teenagers
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Literacy targets, through emphasis on presentation, can take the fun out of the act of writing. In this workshop pleasure in the creative process is given priority. It is designed specifically to create an environment where participants feel free and enabled to drop in to the natural flow of their imaginations. Attention to the craft of writing can follow. Another side-effect is that people who enjoy writing are naturally more curious and adventurous in their reading. With a little guidance, writing can also serve as a very useful, safe and private witness to the challenges young people face as they develop into adults. This practice can become something that is useful to them all through their lives. Marks I make on the world offers an introduction to all of the above, as well as being a valuable way to make deeper connections between participants sharing the experience in a gentle, structured, stimulating and immersive environment. It is led by trained and experienced facilitator Kate Pawsey and is open to all teenagers, whatever their literacy skills.
Date: Tuesday 30th June
Time: 10.30am to 12.30pm
Cost: £10 for the workshop. Tea and cake or light lunches can be purchased from the on-site cafe.
or requested from writingtimewithkatepawsey@gmail.com
or Tel. 01225 862030
N.B. Booking is essential
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Artists Opportunity:
A Forgotten Landscape
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South Gloucestershire Council wishes to commission a socially engaged artist to create a legacy project to the art programme for the Forgotten Landscape project based at Severn Beach. For the full details please download this PDF - A Forgotten Landscape - Art Programme Legacy
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Volunteer Training: Range of free courses available
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A host of training is available through St.Mungo's enabling volunteers to access a wide variety of
training opportunities across Bath and NE Somerset.
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Free Training: Connect 5 - New Format for 2019
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CONNECT 5 has changed and is now available in an improved and condensed version. Connect 5 is a course that helps you develop the skills and confidence to talk with someone in distress and who is experiencing mental health and wellbeing difficulties. Connect 5 takes the position that we don't need to be mental health specialists to support those who are experiencing emotional and mental health problems. Now run over 1.5 days you can sign up for all or part of the programme as suits you best.
For the full details dates, locations & booking please click here to download a PDF flyer
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Free Training: MECC - New Dates
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This course is about supporting people to make the most of every opportunity they have to start up a conversation about health with the people they meet through their work and broader lives. Telling people to change unhealthy behaviour is unlikely to be successful; instead MECC provides the skills to work in a different way, encouraging brief interventions that can lead to longer term change. MECC training is delivered over two half day sessions.
Full details - Dates, locations & how to book please click here for a PDF flyer |
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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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