Suffolk at Play

Welcome to our October 2015 Newsletter

Suffolk at Play

We had our first intergenerational session at Stradbroke. It was lovely to welcome the adults to Stradbroke High School School. We spent a happy couple of hours talking about old teddies and tricycles – and then having a go at some of the games we’d brought along.

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Our project officer Candida also spent a wonderful morning, rooting around in the attic at Laxfield Museum, searching out some old games and other bits and pieces for them to look at over the next few weeks. She was particularly drawn to the slightly threadbare, splitting-at-the-seams stuff toys … they have obviously been much loved and played with.

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Meanwhile in Lowestoft, it was great to see the students at East Point Academy again – and so early in the morning, too!

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We gathered at 8 o’clock, for croissant and orange juice. It was lovely that some parents were able to join us for breakfast, after which we attended a special assembly, attended by about 120 Year 9 students and their teachers.

We showed the DVD of animations, and then the young people involved in the project came up to receive their copies of the animations, the booklet and a certificate – congratulations to everyone involved.

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Then it was a trip across town, to the library and the regular meeting of the Literary Locusts who were taking part in our second celebration event of the morning. My thanks to the library staff for helping to organise this event, and all the adults who attended and were so enthusiastic about the work.

The Cube will now remain at the library for the autumn, so hopefully lots of people will go along to see the DVD – don’t forget to leave us a postcard telling us about your favourite place to play.

If you cannot make it to Lowestoft Library then you can watch the film and read the booklet of memories on our Suffolk at Play page here.

Interchange

Interchange is a project for Young Adult Carers (YAC’s) living in Suffolk.  The project  will give the young adults the opportunity to collaborate with a professional artist of their choice. Based at the University Campus Suffolk, they will work together to explore the chosen artform and to create work which will be showcased at the end of the project.

We are now in the process of shortlisting for the lead artist’s role. Interviews with the group of YAC’s will take place later in November.

interact 1Interact

In September the interactive dance performance for people living with dementia ‘A little bit of light’ toured to 7 settings across Suffolk; these included care homes, day services, a hospital and community venues. We had a wonderful response from each group, feedback included ‘I really feel like I’ve been to fairy land’, ‘It was very special for all of us’, ‘I’ve never seen anything like it – absolutely beautiful!’, ‘Wonderful, it really takes you away from yourself’.

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A huge thank you to Glass House Dance Company for their amazing work creating a truly beautiful piece. Glass House Dance Company: www.glasshousedance.co.uk

Clown Round

After a well-deserved rest at the end of the summer, the Clown Doctors have donned their noses once again and have been winding things up ready for all sorts of clowning adventures this autumn.

Clown Round has been zipping across the east of England again this month, however it’s not all been about gallivanting around the hospital wards this September! The whole Clown Doctor family met in Ipswich at the East of England Cooperative Society, Education centre for a rigorous training session (‘Play day’!) earlier in the month. Amongst thumb tip exercises and Clown character development, Clowns practiced silly walks and role play before a Deaf Awareness workshop in the afternoon. The Clown Doctors were joined by Jeni Draper and Emily from the brilliant Fingersmiths, who initiated naming games, finger sculpture exercises and taught everyone the basics in signing.

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One particular highlight of the ‘Play day’ was Dr Fillie Fidget’s husband presenting Clown Round with a cheque for a whopping £1000, given by Jamie Gould on behalf of the Freemasons based at Angel Lodge 51. The money was raised from a ‘Ladies Night’ fundraising event.

After the excitement of all being together in one space, all the Clown Doctors were pretty tired, one more than most though. Prior to attending the ‘Play day’, Vicki Weitz, aka Dr Haystack had only just returned from completing a sheer feat of determination in Finland, running solidly for 26.2hrs! At 11am on September 5th 2015, she ran along a 250 metre pedestrian street in Kuopio, Finland as part of ANTI Festival. She kept going until 1.20pm on Sunday 6th September.

“Running shows us that life is an experience to be felt, not always to be understood, it allows us to experience life as it is, without borders of reason.” Vicki Weitz.

With all the Clown Doctors bouncing after such a fun filled month, make sure to keep an eye out for them singing new songs, doing new magic tricks and make sure to ask for their new signing name while they pass through the wards this autumn.

Creative Employment Programme

There are opportunities in Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich and Stowmarket open to applications.

Neon Street are looking for a Live Events Assistant Apprentice,
Museum of East Anglian Life are looking for a Project Support Intern,
Eastern Enterprise Hub are looking for a Programme and Admin Intern,
and Punch Studios are looking for an Assistant Studio Manager Intern.

For more details visit our CEP page here.

jumpstart

JumpstART!

The students have been coming up with some amazing box ‘world’ creations’ as they explore ideas and materials in preparation for developing their 3D installations.

There is an underwater world with lights, a train station in a briefcase complete with  track spilling out onto the floor, ‘My back garden’  with trees, flowers and twisting footpath, a sensory world of peace and serenity- and in contrast a superhero planet in a suitcase full of aliens.

We will be making a trip to the Sainsbury Centre in Norwich to look at Magnificent Obsessions. An exhibition of artists collections which inspire their work. More information can be found on the Sainsbury Centre website. Its well worth a look.

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Creative Minds Conference

Don’t forget about the conference on Wednesday 28th October in Ipswich about quality in learning disability led arts, managed and presented by people with learning disabilities.

For more information about the conference and Creative Minds please visit www.creativemindsproject.org.uk/events/creative-minds-east

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