|
|
Creativity Works Newsletter
January 2015 |
Read all about our current work - do get in touch for more info or help us spread the word.
Click on the links below to read more: 
|
|
|
Directors Blog
Looking ahead
|
January is always an exciting month for me. I love the blank canvass ahead and heed the words of the great poet, Robert Frost:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
There are indeed miles to go for us this year. We continue our work in mental health, expand our work with Elders and with adults with learning disabilities, explore innovative digital projects and scope new commissions and projects.
|
|
With huge excitement we will re-launch our co|Create programme of support and training for artists and lead on exploring new ways of working in socially engaged arts practice. In addition, we are creating exciting partnerships with Universities, health organisations and other cultural institutions alike. We enter a new three year partnership with Arts Council England in April, placing us as the only NPO in the whole of Bath and North East Somerset. There is much to be done!
We welcome our first intern this month, Amy, who joins us as a graduate from UWE and we look forward to recruiting our first apprentice in the near future. As an organisation we are passionate about giving young people a start and support in finding employment in the cultural and creative industries and will be heavily involved in employment schemes in the future alongside the LEP and FE Colleges.
On a personal note, some cultural events this year I am very much looking forward to are: 'Human Rights Human Wrongs' at The Photographers Gallery, 'Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage' at the Sherman Theatre and on tour, 'The Buried Giant' by Kazuo Ishiguro which is published in March and, as part of the 100 anniversary celebrations of Arthur Miller's birth, 'Death of a Salesman' at Stratford-upon-Avon. There is also, of course, the Rugby World Cup to be played in England in the summer and Rufus Norris takes the helm of the National Theatre. What a blockbuster year ahead!
As always, we would love to hear from you if you have ideas for collaboration, or you would like to volunteer to work with us.
Happy New Year!
Olly
(Director, Creativity Works)
|
|
New Year, New You?
Do your new years resolutions include being more creative? Or allowing more time for yourself? Check out our new and continuing creative courses.
Breathing Space - Fridays, 2.30 - 4.30pm, Keynsham.
A mixed arts and crafts group where members share ideas and develop techniques of creativity. Run by members with occasional visiting tutors. Download poster here.
Writing Space - Tuesdays, 1 - 4pm, Central Bath. A creative writing and poetry peer led group for people with some experience of writing who would like to meet others to share ideas and mutual support in the writing process. Occasional sessions facilitated by a writer to help the group continue developing ideas. Download poster here.
Creativity and the Potting Shed - Wednesdays, 11am - 1pm, Radstock. An opportunity to learn new skills and explore creativity within the garden and local environment through different mediums including constructing bird houses and willow weaving. Phone 01225 396042 to book on this course. Download poster here.
My Time My Space (all projects full)
Running in Peasedown Children's Centre, St. John - Monday mornings
Patchway Children's Centre Thursdays 9.45 - 11.45am
Cadbury Heath Children's Centre, Thursdays 1 - 3pm
To enrol in any of the above courses (except the current My Time My Space courses) please download the enrolment form here and send to [email protected].
We are always developing new courses so if you have ideas of any creative courses that you don't see here and that you know are needed, please do let us know.
Keep an eye on our website here, for up to date information on courses that are running or contact the office on 01761 438852.
Creativity Works' Mental Health Creative Support Service offers an opportunity to learn some creative skills, make new friends and is suitable for people who are in the process of recovery from ongoing mental health challenges, anxiety or depression to help build confidence, learn new skills and make friends. There are also spaces to attend Peer Support Creative Groups, which are managed by group members and have visiting art tutors.
|
|
Creative Coffee Event
Banish the January blues by connecting with other creatives to share inspiration and opportunities.
Creativity Works is inviting artists and creatives who are interested in socially engaged practice to meet up, connect with each other and share possibilities. It's also a chance to:
- find out what's going on in socially engaged art
- get feedback on projects
- discuss common issues and challenges with other artists
- input your ideas into Creativity Works' co|Create programme of support and development for socially engaged artists
Come along with any ideas or projects you'd like feedback on, topics to discuss or challenges you'd like advice on.
To confirm attendance, please email [email protected]
|
|
Lovely feedback from our work so far with elders
With our delivery of the Home Service project in B&NES and Bristol kicking off at the end of last year, we have had some great feedback from our sessions.
|
"I really enjoyed myself. It was something different."
- Audrey
"A lovely afternoon. Thank you - we appreciated it."
- Evelyn
Making Christmas decorations with an artist for Manor Care Home in Radstock.
|  |
If you would like to volunteer your time to help improve the lives of people in residential care homes in the local area, through the three year arts and elder care project, contact our office on: 01761 438 852 or email Ailsa on [email protected].
|
|
Watch out for Creativity Works courses on the new Wellbeing College website
Wellbeing College launched in Bath and North East Somerset
An innovative approach to helping people manage their own health and improve their wellbeing has been launched in Bath and North East Somerset on January 6.
|
The Wellbeing College provides courses to help people manage their physical and mental health.
The government's Measuring National Wellbeing programme highlighted the factors most strongly associated with personal wellbeing are health, employment and relationship status.
Now a Wellbeing College has been set up to bring together organisations across B&NES to provide people with the opportunity to manage their own health and wellbeing in a move which is the first of its kind in the UK.
| 
|
Creativity Works are one of the organisations which will be providing courses for the Wellbeing College. For more information read more here on Sirona's website.
To visit the new Wellbeing College website click here.
|
|
New version of the Hope Guide out now
Aimed at people who are socially isolated, are affected by mental health issues, substance misuse or homelessness, the Hope Guide provides information on groups and activities in Bath and NE Somerset.
A thousand Hope Guides of edition 3 were distributed widely across Bath and NE Somerset, via voluntary and statutory organisations, including every GP surgery. Due to demand 1500 copies of the third edition came out last May, and now here is the revised 4th edition.
|
Social prescribing
The Hope Guide supports GP's and other professionals to link patients with non-medical sources of community support. This enables people to use their time meaningfully and develop peer support, complimenting and reducing demands on professional support.
Mental health Services in B&NES
The Hope Guide also provides up to date information on mental health services available in Bath and NE Somerset.
Download the latest version of the Hope Guide here.
|  |
See the New Hope website for more information:
|
|
Profile: An insight into working with Creativity Works
A Focus on: Kate - our new co|Create Manager
|
Job title: co|Create Programme Manager.
Basically I'm working to provide continuing professional development (training/ networking/ support/ opportunities to learn and experiment) for socially engaged artists and potential socially engaged artists. Phew!
When did you start working for Creativity Works?
13th of October. Luckily, I like the number 13.
What is your professional background?
I trained as a journalist in my home country of New Zealand, then worked in radio and print media. When my tolerance for mainstream media wore paper thin, I went to Ghana in West Africa to work as a socially engaged journalist for three years. I then worked, variously, as a campaigner and editor/journalist in the UK for Amnesty International and Save the Children, including spending 6 months in Mozambique as
| 
|
an information officer. Ten years ago I returned to my passion of theatre and retrained, doing an MA in Applied Theatre at Exeter University. I decided instead of sitting watching groups of young people making theatre about important issues, I wanted to be on the workshop floor with them, facilitating the process. In the following few years I worked for: Bournemouth Theatre in Education, Wimborne Community Theatre, and a New Zealand applied theatre company contracted by the health authorities to explore issues around youth suicides over cyberbullying. I also worked for lots of smaller organisations - devising, writing, acting and directing plays that brought debates alive. Since then I went back to physical theatre school at London International School of Performing Arts (including acrobatic sessions at the ripe old age of 47). I've also trained as a teacher, taught cultural context and artform practice at the Arts University Bournemouth, and worked as a theatre producer for Creative Ecology Wiltshire.
What does a typical day look like for Kate at Creativity Works?
That's very hard to say as I've only been here a few weeks. Some days I sit at my computer all day, doing lots of reading, research and wrestling with ideas and trying to plan practical activities. Another day I could be at a workshop or out and about meeting people. I expect I'll be up and about more once I've got courses up and running...
...continued on our website. Read the full article here.
|
|
VACANCY: Apprentice Communications and Administration Assistant at Creativity Works
An exciting opportunity has arisen to be the first point of contact for the public and to provide admin support for the team. Tasks will include: - Helping to improve and maintain office systems;
- Overseeing office practice and ensure compliance with legal requirements;
- Answering the telephone, taking messages and welcoming visitors;
- Helping to prepare for workshops/events as appropriate;
- Assisting with updating and distributing event information, and maintenance of in-house displays;
- Assisting with website and social media accounts.
Closing Date For Applications: 18/01/15
For more details and information on how to apply click here.
|
|
Other News...
|
Mosaic's coffee and chat morning.
Mosaic is a group for people from ethnic minorities with mental health issues.
This is an opportunity for people to find out what Mosaic is all about and what activities are held for the members.
| 
| |
Artist call out
Momentum is the theme of Somerset Art Works' creative programme between 2015 - 2017. They want to invite artists, curators and artist-led groups working with us to create new work exploring aspects of the theme through contemporary visual arts and craft.
For more information visit: http://bit.ly/17AgrLr
| 
|
Scriptwriting competition
Somerset Film is delighted to announce our first ever Scriptwriting Competition for writers from Somerset. Closing date this Friday.
For more information visit: http://bit.ly/1Ikbsvx | 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | | Simply click through Give as You Live every time you shop online to raise money for Creativity Works |
|
|
Registered Charity No. 1075812 Company No. 3768255 Creativity Works for Everyone is a company limited by guarantee registered in England
|
|
|
|
|
|
