The word of the month is 'digital'. Not only is there a lot of it about, there is a lot of funding for it as well. At least funding for the training of organisations and individuals in digital strategy, techniques, social media and such like.

I was lucky enough to enjoy a free 2 day training in Bath over the last couple of weeks delivered by The Dot Project in association with B&NES' 3rd sector group, 3SG. The funding for this comes from DCMS who are funding a raft of similar training programmes in the UK. It seems they want to turn us all into Digital Leaders as my colleague Morwhenna has also been on digital leaders training this week, all be it with a different focus to this one. I am also taking the opportunity of further digital training in Bristol next week, this time with a focus on social media.

The Arts Council are similarly interested in 'digital'. But what is it; to them, to us, to you? It seems it really is a catch-all term for so many things, from social media to online content, to apps, to interventions. I do applaud funding going into this area as long as it enhances and complements, and does not detract from, the invaluable face-to-face work carried out by socially engaged artists, peer-support groups and others using the arts and creativity to change people's lives positively.

Many of the concerns I heard on the recent training coming from charities and third sector groups working predominantly with vulnerable communities, was that there is a widening gap between those that can access and communicate with digital skills and technology, and those that can't. It is up to organisations such as Creativity Works and others delivering similar work, to ensure this gap does not widen, and that there is an accessible and meaningful creative offer open to everyone. The opportunities 'digital' offers us in the future is undoubtedly exciting, as long as we use it sensitively, creatively and most importantly, democratically. 'Digital' is the word of the month' but I think it must only be mentioned in the same breath as 'accessibility.'

For those who would like to enhance their lives through the digital experience, can I recommend joining Libraries West and then downloading Borrow Box which means you can order audio books and store and listen to them at your own leisure. I am about to take a journey to London to meet with a group of colleagues at the amazing Rosetta Arts in West Ham and will be listening to an audio book about prisons in Afghanistan on the train! Each to their own!  Great tip from Morwhenna! Thanks! 

Upcoming Creative Wellbeing Courses

Photowalking - 

Exploring Bath and its Heritage

Would you like to develop your photography skills in a friendly group, explore Bath on foot and visit three different Bath museums? [No.1 Royal Crescent, The Herschel Museum, Museum of Bath Architecture (MoBA)] 

We are excited to announce that we're running another of our hugely popular photography courses and on this one you'll also have the opportunity to have a go at digital image editing at Bath College. You can use your own phone, ipad or camera.

Dates: 28th March - 2nd May 2019 [ Thursdays]   Time: 11am - 1pm

Programme: [Booking essential]

28th March    Meet at No.1 Museum, Royal Crescent Bath.

The group is suitable for adults who live in B&NES and 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.

To confirm your place contact Rachel 01225 328822 acl@bathcollege.ac.uk

 

This course is being facilitated by Sally Collister, socially engaged photographer from In the Picture and is supported by Creativity Works, Bath College and No.1 Royal Crescent.

Fresh Art@ update from Tasha Beesley, our Fresh Art@ Worker...

 

Fresh Art@ is in full swing, with the 12-week project in the community well underway and the group enjoying the unique opportunity that the project offers.  A group of 12 individuals who wish to support their mental health through creativity are supported by the Fresh Art@ team to come together each week in one of 3 Bath museums involved in the project. 

 

During the 2 hour sessions, we explore the rich heritage of our city through the museum collections, taking inspiration to create artwork with guidance and support from socially engaged artist Barbara Disney.

 

For the first 4 weeks, we have been meeting at No.1 Royal Crescent where we have been welcomed by the knowledgeable staff there.  Polly has been working alongside us, sharing stories of the house and showing us all sorts of interesting artefacts that give clues as to how people would have lived between 1776-1796.

 

We decided to explore the house from the bottom to the top, starting downstairs in the servants quarters and kitchens and working our way up through the house, where the objects and curiosities that we found became more and more decadent and ornate the further up the house we went!

 

Barbara brings a wealth of quality art materials to each session and participants are encouraged to experiment and play with different processes.  Already, there is huge variety in the work being produced and it has been interesting to see different responses to the collections.  We have been working with inktense pencils, paints, charcoal, inks and began to experiment with some print-making processes, printing our drawings onto fabric.

 

This week, we will be moving to The Holburne Museum where we will spend another 4 weeks exploring and creating before visiting our final venue, The American Museum and Gardens.

 

Participants have the opportunity to donate their work to the Fresh Art@ collection at the end of the project, which is exhibited within the clinical spaces of AWP to enliven and inspire.

 

Alongside the community sessions, we have also been delivering Fresh Art@ sessions on Sycamore ward, the acute inpatient unit in Bath.  The sessions have been guided by printmaker Miranda Wells, with knowledgeable museum staff bringing objects from the museum's handling collections to provide inspiration and create conversation.

 

We have been printing designs onto fabric, with the aim of creating a collaborative weave including everybody's work.  We have seen some incredible designs come to fruition so far and are looking forward to the piece developing as the sessions go on, watch this space!

 

Be sure to check out the public exhibition of work from Fresh Art@ at The Roper Gallery, Bath Artists Studios, from 23rd - 31st May.

Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself (and your artistic medium)

 

What project are you currently working on with Creativity Works?

What book or exhibition has inspired you recently? 

What's been your biggest professional, personal or creative achievement to date?

What advice would you give an emerging socially engaged artist?

Make sure you're prepared. Put yourself out there and always be on the lookout for opportunities, sometimes in unusual places!

Where to find out more about Miranda:

Website / portfolio: www.mirandaalice.com

Instagram: @pandapots

Twitter:    @Miranda__Alice

Some of the photos that Stacey took during the Walkshop that caught her eye...

Stacey Pottinger, our Projects & Office Assistant, shares her experience of the recent co|Create Walkshop we ran with Artist Christina Sanders in January. We hope it inspires you to get outside and to slowly explore what's around you.

"As a first-time attendee of a Creative Inspiration workshop, I felt quite nervous beforehand. I wondered about how it might work as well as how I might fit in with the other attendees. I genuinely need not have worried; the group was friendly and the walkshop leader (Christina) created a very calm and relaxed feeling.

The links between walking, creativity and identity (both of place and person) was fascinating to hear about. I have always found that going for a walk has helped me solve seemingly insurmountable challenges, and has sparked both creative thinking and interesting conversation, but hearing the science behind why this happens is fascinating.

Of the four exercises we undertook I most enjoyed the opportunity to walk slowly, and the final exercise where we had the opportunity to get lost. I found that I could take in more of the world around me, and I noticed things which I previously hadn't, even in places I had previously visited. Not only did I take away the photos, video and writing which I created during the session, I also took away the knowledge that can use walking as a practice in itself to support the development of ideas, to spark creative projects, and as a tool to be more mindful and involved in my surroundings."