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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 know sport isn't everyone's cup of tea, as much as art isn't, but there are certain times, certain occasions, that transcend any previous knowledge, experience or preference. Watching the Cricket World Cup Final was one of those occasions. The drama, the anticipation and the joy were unparalleled. The thing that sent shivers down my spine, however, was the reaction of the crowd. The raw emotion, or should that be 'roar' emotion. I have already watched the final ball over ten times, just for the reaction of the commentators, players and the crowd. That sense of witnessing and experiencing something together is why sport, and indeed the arts, is so powerful. Rarely, if ever again, will we be able to match the intensity of that game, but in many ways, the work that we try to achieve here at Creativity Works, bringing people together and supporting collective, community participation, is part of that same experiential continuum. There is something profound about witnessing something together, whether you are the protagonist or audience.
To support the work that we do, and the many artists and volunteers that are also trying to make positive change through that collective experience, we try to programme exciting, relevant and impactful co|Create sessions, and we have quite a few coming up that I would thoroughly recommend. From social media film-making, to walking and writing as a socially engaged practice, through to creative journaling and another day of our Creative Resilience Programme, I am sure there will be something that you will be interested in. Details are in this newsletter and on our website.
We are also very excited to be taking our work outside of our usual geographical areas and back into Somerset. Following the highly impressive project we did with Somerset Libraries last year in Street and Bridgewater, we will be running a fresh project in Shepton Mallet called Futures Bright, through a newly established consortium, Well Wessex. This consortium is supported by the Somerset Community Foundation and links like-minded organisations who have a focus on mental health and community development, enabling us to deliver a more holistic programme in partnership.
Now, I wonder if the open-top bus celebration will be coming to Radstock?
Olly
Director, Creativity Works
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Upcoming co|Create Courses
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Social Media Filmmaking Workshop with Suited & Booted *ONE PLACE LEFT*
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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Care and Practice: How to nurture oneself and others, and make work that matters with Ania Bas -
Monday 19 August
The Creativity Works team are very excited to be able to bring this fascinating, high-profile, socially engaged artist to Bath for this one-off, inspirational workshop and urge you to take part if you can.
Ania Bas is an artist and arts project programmer who works across text, performance, publishing and social engagement to create situations that support dialogue and exchange. Read our Q&A with Ania further on in this newsletter.
Through her work, Ania explores ways of working, making and thinking together that can challenge modes of participation, bringing together people from diverse communities andmaking art relevant in everyday life.
Her work has been commissioned by the Tate, Whitechapel Gallery, Art on the Underground, Radar and Yorkshire Artspace. See
aniabas.blogspot.com
for more information about Ania and her work.
She is a co-founder of The Walking Reading Group that she runs with Lydia Ashman.
Using walking and writing as a practice, this workshop will develop you as an artist through exploring how you establish good practice foundations and consider the pressures to perform and achieve as an artist, whilst also nourishing yourself and others.
The structure of the workshop:
- Short presentation from Ania
- How to walk - methodology
- Walk & conversations around Bath
- Writing/reflection session
- Group conversation and questions
Please be prepared to walk around the local area and to also read material ahead of time so you can make the most of the time with Ania and your fellow artists and creatives.
If you have any accessibility requirements please call Stacey on 01761 438852 or email
stacey@creativityworks.org.uk
to discuss how we may support you to access the workshop.
When: Monday 19th August
Time: Arrive 12.45pm (start at 1pm) ends at 5.00pm
Where: The Gardeners Lodge, Sydney Gardens, Sydney Place, Bath BA2 4DB [
The workshop involves walking around the local area]
Cost: Full price £40 / Student £20 / Pay what you can (for those in receipt of benefits)
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Creative Resilience Programme - Thursday 22 August
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:
Full price £50 / Student £25 / Pay what you can (for those in receipt of benefits)
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The Art of Creative Journaling with Jill Carter - Thursday 12 September
Join us for an inspirational day exploring
THE ART OF CREATIVE JOURNALING with Jill Carter, Multi-Media Artist.
Creative Journaling is an open-ended process, which can be
expressive, 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 and ideas in relation to the Self, people and place, journeys and everyday life happenings.
Discover inspiration for visualising ideas, exploring new ways of working, and reflecting on creative projects and possibilities. Experience collective/individual journaling, working outside/inside, using a diverse range of mixed media and methods, including inks and mark making, drawing into writing, textiles/stitch, and collaging curious collections of found and made objects and ephemera.
Enjoy making your own unique journal pages; outcomes can be private or public, or developed as a means of social engagement.
Workshop materials provided may include:
Inks, Felt tip marker pens, pencils and crayons, paper, newspapers, old books, magazines, photographs and postcards, cardboard, textiles and sewing stuff plus machine.
What to bring:
Bring own journal, which can be a current personal or project notebook or smart new thing, an old found vintage book, your own favourite art materials - pens, inks, paints, brushes, etc. Plus photos, old drawings and/or paintings, ephemera, textiles, etc. Please bring apron and warm weatherproof outer layers (we may spend some time outside, weather permitting) with your own lunch.
When: 12 September 2019
Where: The Gardeners Lodge, The Holburne Museum, Sydney Gardens, Sydney Place, Bath BA2 4DB
There may be opportunities to go outside as part of this workshop
Time: Arrive to set up 9.30am (start at 10.00 am) close down at 4.00pm
Cost:
Full price £50 / Student £25 / Pay what you can (for those in receipt of benefits)
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Creative Wellbeing News & Opportunities
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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 now and October and one will be facilitated by Sara Firman on
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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Are you looking to experiment with different arts materials and techniques? Our Get Creative peer-led visual art group in Bath, could be just right for you. The small group's aim is to support personal wellbeing through creativity.
The weekly group offers an opportunity to meet others, learn and share creative ideas and gain confidence in a safe and friendly environment.
All members help plan further sessions and creative activity.
When: Tuesdays from 1.15pm - 3.15pm
Where: Odd Down, Bath
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Can you offer a range of innovative ideas and skills that can be developed into future projects by a peer led creative wellbeing group?
Radstock Wellbeing and Loving Life Group would like to work with an experienced artist facilitator who can inspire and enable their creativity to develop. Sessions will involve trying out a range of different creative ideas and art forms over a period of 6 weeks that will support the group to plan and develop further ideas for their own programme of activities over the next few months. The group mainly works with 2D and 3D visual arts.
If this facilitation offer is of interest to you please outline your ideas for the 6 x 2 hour sessions on no more than 2 sides of A4, send us a short CV and summary of any relevant experience facilitating community wellbeing and mental health groups. Attach any images that may support this application. Artists will need to have a current DBS check and public liability insurance. Artists fees for this commission are £450 plus up to £150 for material costs.
Deadline for applications is 31st July 2019.
Interviews 15th August in Radstock. The sessions will be delivered in October and November.
Please send applications by email to philippa@creativityworks.org.uk . If you require any further details, please contact Philippa or ring 01761 438852.
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Following on from last year's Creative Wellbeing Challenge we are keen to find some enthusiastic volunteers to help us this year. Could this be you?
This year we're also excited to say that we'll be partnering with Bristol based
Creative Youth Network, look our for a seperate email all about this year's challenge and how to sign up next week!
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 Wellbeing Challenge this summer.
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 involved - We'd love to hear from you - so drop an email to morwhenna@creativityworks.org.uk by 31 July 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 end of 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 22nd July.
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Share your Creative Wellbeing Ideas With Us!
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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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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This month we've the pleasure to introduce Ania Bas who is will be running a workshop for us next month. We hope that you find her interview inspirational.
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Hello Ania! Tell us a bit about yourself and your artistic medium
I'm an artist, writer and arts project programmer. I enjoy the mix. I work across text, performance, publishing and social engagement and I create situations that support dialogue and exchange. I'm interested in exploring ways of working, making and thinking together that can prod at forms of participation, bring together people from diverse communities and make art relevant in everyday life.
I co-founded and co-run The Walking Reading Group, I'm Open School East Alumni (2013- 2014) and Faber Academy Alumni (2018).
I work nationally. Currently I'm working on a commission with Whitstable Biennale in Kent, I'm developing a resource for families at Tate in London and I'm also ESP [Extra Special Person] and Public Programmer at
Eastside Projects in Birmingham.
What project/s are you currently working on with Creativity Works?
I'm working with Creativity Works on an artists training and development session as part of co|Create dedicated to question of care in ones practice.
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It's going to be an afternoon workshop filled with opportunities to read, listen, walk, talk and write and reflect on artistic practice situated within the field of social engagement.
Who inspires you and why?
Boundless amounts of inspiration come from my Grandma who is 97 and incredibly active. She taught me to treat each day like a gift and appreciate small, daily wonders. She is open-minded and curious, and always ready to have a laugh.
What book or exhibition has inspired you recently?
I couldn't part with Cygnet by Season Butler. It is a coming-of-age story set on a crumbling island. A place where youth and old age collide in the landscape determined by environmental collapse. This book is like an emotional bullet, it pierces through you.
What's been your biggest professional, personal or creative achievement to date?
I consider my biggest professional achievement to develop practice that is sustaining me, that acknowledges my limits and is constantly shifting to accommodate me, changing.
What are your creative aspirations with or without Creativity Works?
Make good work.
What advice would you give an emerging socially engaged artist?
Make things happen. Don't expect things to be done for you. Seek allies. Build connections. Spend time with people who grow you. Trust your gut. Be motivated by critique not praise.
Where to connect with Ania
Meet and work with Ania at her workshop - Care and Practice: How to nurture oneself and make work that matters is running in Bath on Monday 19th August - click here for the full details and to book your place |
Other Opportunities & Events
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Help to shape the future of health and care services in Bath and North East Somerset
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What would help you to live a healthier and happier life?
NHS Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are putting a plan together to make sure you and your loved ones are able to get the support you need with your health and care, now and in the future. And we need your help!
Complete our survey online www.ourhealthourfuture.org or contact us for a paper copy: email ourhealth.ourfuture@nhs.net or phone 03333 219464.
Share this with a family member or friend so they can have their say too! The survey closes on 31 July and we'll share the results and next steps in autumn 2019. you wish you'd known sooner to help you be as healthy as possible? that would help you to find and use health and care services more easily? that would help to make a difference to your health and care in the future.
PDF of Flyer |
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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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