In December, we joined Culture Matson partners to share the fantastic work being created and delivered by and for the residents of Matson, with visitors from Arts Council England.
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The Everyman Theatre Education and Community team has been involved in running Arts Award for many years, from Discover through to Gold level. And most recently, they have taken Arts Award Discover to new audiences by integrating the awards into 2 creative community projects. The first of these was a collaboration between a local artist and a theatre company commissioned by The Everyman called “Displaced Child”.
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For the third year running The Quarry Chapel, Cam has worked with members of the community to create a giant outdoor 3d Advent calendar, which is on show throughout the run up to Christmas.
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We are delighted to announce that our Art of Libraries toolkit is now available to download.
The toolkit is packed with creative and practical ideas to support artists and library staff to work together to make an irresistible creative programme for children and young people.
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Like many arts organisations, Forest of Dean-based community arts charity Wyldwood Arts has gradually been reintroducing face-to-face provision this year. In this blog post we hear from Associate Producer Liz Bell about the experience of delivering a community banner-making project in a post-pandemic rural environment.
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20 local GCSE and A’Level students from Rednock and KLB schools in Cam & Dursley will be showcasing experimental pieces during Tyndale Arts Week. They created the work during a nine week programme called ‘Love Art? Create your Future! run by artist and educator Abi Nicol.
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The new programme is scheduled for this autumn and we’re looking for young people ready to explore their next steps. Sessions begin on zoom on the 2nd November so get in touch if you would like to find out more!
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Many library staff have been involved in the Art of Libraries programme – both in local libraries and in supporting teams. In this blog we hear from Jill Barker - who was involved with Create Gloucestershire as the development manager on the original Art of Libraries programme and reflects on the pilot. We’ll also hear from Curtis Fulcher who has recently joined the team as the development manager after Jill's retirement, as he brings us up to speed with new developments across the library service and a look to the future of creativity in libraries.
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Brave Bold Drama, an award-winning theatre & community arts company created by Paul Lawless & Gill Simmons was one of the commissions. They brought their project ‘The Company of International Artists’ to children in Gloucestershire. We talked to them about the project, working with Gloucestershire Libraries and what they learnt changing their work from a live experience to a blended model of delivery - incorporating creative packs (delivered by post!), video downloads as well live online content.
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We came together in April 2021 to ask each other, and explore collectively; How Can Creativity Power Communities in Gloucestershire?
As an artist/collaborator I joined the Dream Switch in April, with my “CG brain” only slightly engaged, ready to embrace the experiment that we had created. I work with CG on creative communication and the network, so this event was a timely breathing space for me, and for the others.
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In 2021 Gloucester Libraries commissioned two artists to test new and innovative ways for libraries to engage virtually with families whilst they were closed. Rizpah Amadasun was one of the artists selected. She created interactive story workshops online where families were guided through building their own fairy-tale. We talked to her about her experience of working with Gloucestershire Libraries in a new digital format…
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During the pandemic Glos libraries have been working with Can’t Sit Still amongst others to develop and adapt their show ‘Play-Along Plink and Boo’ which was originally planned as in library performances with live audiences, to digital interactive theatre performances for children and their families to enjoy from home.
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Stand-up poet, give-up musician and lo-fi theatre maker Jonny Fluffypunk has been dragging his art around the country and occasionally beyond for over 20 years. Fiercely DIY, resolutely home-made and by turns funny, wistful and oddly moving, Jonny's work is both a celebration of the beauty in the mundane and an elaborate cry for help.
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As a legacy to the Art of Libraries test pilot we ran in partnership with 6 Gloucestershire based libraries between 2017-2020, Glos libraries will soon be launching the Art of Libraries toolkit.
The toolkit shares a plethora of both creative and practical ideas to support artists and library staff to work together to co-create an irresistible creative programme for children and young people. The aim is to inspire and encourage them to be creative and try something new - from music to drama, storytelling, circus or animation to name a few of the sessions on offer.
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Creative Age is an arts-based, social community project for people living with dementia and their carers who still live independently. Participants take part in focused creative group sessions facilitated by experienced artists, exploring imaginatively with collective story-making, seated movement, dance, music, visual stimuli and poetry, with content driven by the participants’ interests. Before the pandemic, creative sessions were followed by socialising over tea and cake, hosted and coordinated by Bethesda Church and committed volunteers (who also support the artist-led sessions).
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Anne Careless from Tewkesbury Library recalls her Arts Award journey, and how the team delivered the Make-aways alongside Discover at Home.
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Through the chaos of last year we saw an opportunity. What if we could deliver Arts Award digitally and engage families creatively while they were at home? Wouldn’t that be a great resource for now but also long term, giving us the ability to reach young people who might not otherwise have access? We all agreed it was.
This is how we came together to collectively explore and test out new ways to deliver it.
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We are delighted to share the news that Create Gloucestershire has been selected to be a Kickstart Gateway organisation working with 13 Gloucestershire organisations for the new government Kickstart Scheme.
As a Gateway organisation Create Gloucestershire will support 13 organisations in the arts, cultural and education sector to recruit 31 young people in Gloucestershire giving them the chance to build their confidence and skills in the workplace, and to gain experience that will improve their chances of going on to find long-term, sustainable work.
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Leadership Conversation No.7
Vicci Livingstone Thompson is CEO of Inclusion Gloucestershire - a charity and user led organisation run for and by disabled people. Her strong leadership style and passion for collaborative working and co-production is evident. Vicci talks to Louise Emerson about her own life experience, the challenges and opportunities that have arisen through the Covid pandemic and a sustainable future for Inclusion Glos.
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Over the last year (both pre and post covid!) Ruth Davey has been running mindful photography courses across Gloucestershire to improve the mental health of the participants. This mindful approach to photography uses a blend of photography, mindfulness and being in nature to slow down, reduce stress and relieve anxiety and depression.
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