Creative Employment Programme

Welcome to our August newsletter with news about what is coming up and what has been happening in the various projects in the last month.

Suffolk Artlink – Trustee Recruitment

We are looking for dynamic individuals to join our board of Trustees.

This is an exciting time to join Suffolk Artlink, as we celebrate our achievements of the last 10 years and look forward to creating a vision for the future.

We are looking for Trustees who have a range of relevant experience including:
–    A strong interest in the arts and the benefits of taking part in creative activities
–    A reflective approach
–    A strong belief in social inclusion
–    Strong links with relevant networks within Suffolk and nationally (particularly health and wellbeing networks)
–    Strong connections to the people we work with and/or organisations who represent them

Individuals who are interested in this opportunity are invited to write a short letter including information on their background and why they would like to join the Board. Suitable applicants will be invited to have an informal conversation with the Co-Directors and current Chair. There will also be the opportunity to meet with the whole Board before joining as a Trustee.

Suffolk Artlink will also be recruiting a new Chair for the Board.  The role of the Chair includes acting as a link between the organisation and the Board as well as steering the long term strategy.  Please indicate in your letter whether you are interested in this role.
Deadline:  Letters of interest by Mon 14th September
Suffolk Artlink is an equal opportunities organisation. We value diversity and welcome interest from all backgrounds.

Suffolk Artlink Annual Review

Thanks to Caravan Studio and Micropress Printers Ltd we now have our annual review which takes a look at our work over the previous year.

From April 2014 to March 2015 we managed 12 projects, worked with 2,218 people including family carers, people with learning disabilities, older people and young people at risk of exclusion and in hospitals and hospices.

We employed 54 freelance artists to deliver our work, which took place in all 7 districts across Suffolk and beyond.

To view our annual review go to our gallery http://www.suffolkartlink.org.uk/gallery/annual-reports/

suffolk artlink annual review

Clown Round

We are delighted to welcome Carrie Phoenix as a new member of our team, she is covering maternity leave for Clown Round. Carrie comes with a wealth of experience and will be a great addition to the project. We also wish Gabby Cox, who has gone on maternity leave, all the best with the new addition to her family.

If you would like to get in touch about Clown Round email Carrie on [email protected] or get in touch via Suffolk Artlink.

JumpstART!

JumpstART Lowestoft ran their first Explore Day at The Bethel on the 30th July.

Eight students took part in an exploration of ‘Making Spaces’ which involved creating an installation based on their ideas and interests and developing those ideas using different materials, lights and sound. The students came up with some inventive ideas ranging from a dance floor, allotment, cafe and maze.

It was great to meet some new faces and hear their feedback about the session

‘I had fun doing this..its amazing don’t you think?  I made a stage with bunting..I am going to start dancing on it!’

Jumpstart in Bury St Edmunds is also under way with the exciting new Making Spaces module. An Explore Day took place on Tuesday 11th August at The St Johns Centre with artist Carrie Phoenix, and a second day with artist Kate Warner is taking place on Monday 17th August. Students will be working with various materials, light and sound to make art installations.

The new modules will be starting at the beginning of September and running every Tuesday in Bury St Edmunds and every Thursday in Lowestoft for 15 weeks. We are now taking applications for the module so contact Charlie on [email protected] for a form for the Bury St Edmunds module and Fran on [email protected] for a form for Lowestoft module.

There will also be an exhibition of the JumpstART! Studio project student’s artwork at the Creative Minds conference at Dance East in October. For more information about the conference see the bottom of this newsletter.

Jumpstart aug 2015 Jumpstart 2

Rock Up

The Rock Up Summer School took place during the first week of August and provided the young people at Colville House Youth Club with the opportunity to learn and perform some of their favourite songs.

DJ Sophie Tott also joined us, as did Dan Dan the Trumpet Man – only this time he brought a synthesiser as well – and together we made some beautiful music.

By the end of the sessions they had performed as a band, learnt new songs, tried out new instruments, discussed and developed their styles, sang new material, recorded themselves playing, played along with other musicians, and generally worked really, really hard.

The senior Youth Worker, who attended the afternoon and early evening sessions as part of our skill sharing programme, commented:

“The sessions became more technical and the young people were taught harder sequences, stretching their skill base. This has been a fantastic few days for the young people, in that they have overcome fears, progressed in their ability and tried and succeeded at new things.”

Where We Meet – in Stowmarket

Later this month, Julie Heathcote will deliver a reminiscence session to residents at Cedrus House Residential Home, in preparation for the Where We Meet project starting in September.

Meanwhile, poet Dean Parkin and community artist Caitlin Howells have been busy planning the creative sessions that will help to bring together a group of Year 5 pupils from the adjoining Cedars Park Primary school with the residents.

Using the school’s sensory garden as one of the venues for Where We Meet, we can look forward to a lot of thought weaving, stone writing and flag waving.

Forget-me-not Visitors

Following on from a successful pilot project the Forget-me-not Visitors will be taking to the Constable Suite in Ipswich Hospital again this Autumn. The artists are looking forward to getting back on the ward and sharing songs, fun and giggles with all.

Suffolk at Play

The Suffolk at Play Cube has moved from Felixstowe Academy to Felixstowe Museum; you can see find out more about opening times etc, by clicking here: http://felixstowemuseum.org/?page_id=1413

Suffolk at Play 3

The Cube will spend the summer at the Museum, after which it will be moving on to Lowestoft.

Suffolk at Play 1

And speaking of Lowestoft – we’ve finished the sessions, edited the videos and prepared a booklet of memories and stories.

We’ll go back to the Academy in the autumn for a celebration event, when participants will each receive a copy of their films and the publication.

Suffolk at Play 2

Before we left, we asked the group to tell us a bit about what they thought of the experience. One adult participant wrote:-

“I have had one of the most hardworking, enjoyable, entertaining learning experiences I have ever had. Working with the young people was lovely, they are so pleasant and helpful and so well mannered. I shall miss you, your team and the youngsters very much.”

An Academy student commented: –

“I feel honoured that I was chosen to participate in this project and take part in the activities that were supplied. It was fun and I learnt a lot and some history about past generations and how they lived in comparison to now.”

Later this month, Julie Heathcote will be delivering an introductory session to the Over 60’s group in Stradbroke, in preparation for the project starting there in September.

To catch up on all the sessions, do visit our blog site at http://suffolkatplay.primaryblogger.co.uk/

Creative Employment Programme

There are 4 opportunities open at the moment including 2 in Ipswich and 2 in Stowmarket.

New Wolsey Theatre (Ipswich) x 2 paid apprenticeships open to 16 – 24 year olds

Technical Theatre Apprentice
The technical theatre apprentice will gain knowledge, experience and practical ability within the theatrical environment across all strands of backstage work, taking an active role in all areas and assisting the Technical Manager as required.

Theatre Stage Management Apprentice
The theatre stage management apprentice will gain knowledge, experience and practical ability within stage management and backstage work, taking an active role in all areas, assisting the Company Stage Manager.

The Mix (Stowmarket) x 2 paid internships open to 18 – 24 year olds

Creative Youth Worker Intern
The creative youth worker intern will assist the Lead Youth Worker in planning and delivering creative activities for young people, enabling The Mix and its partners to engage with young people at an exceptional standard. We are looking for an intern who can utilise their creative background to engage and inspire young people.

Marketing & Communications Intern
The marketing and communications intern will assist the team in the development of The Mix’s marketing Strategy and online presence by engaging The Mix’s social media community. This will involve designing and copywriting for promotional.

For more information about how to apply see our CEP page here.

Creative Minds Conference

Creative Minds Conference

Creative Minds are organising a one day conference in Ipswich about quality in learning disability led arts, managed and presented by people with learning disabilities. The conference is on Wednesday 28th October 2015 at Jerwood DanceHouse, Foundry Lane, Ipswich, IP4 1DW and costs £35 each.

The conference is for artists and performers with learning disabilities, arts organisations, art critics, arts funders, venue programmers, people from universities and anyone interested in learning disability led arts.

For more information go to http://www.creativemindsproject.org.uk/events/creative-minds-east/

outside in

Outside In: Surgery Day

Although this is not connected with Suffolk Artlink, we thought some of you may be interested in this opportunity.

Founded by Pallant House Gallery in 2006, Outside In provides a platform for artists who define themselves as facing barriers to the art world due to health, disability, social circumstance or isolation. (www.outsidein.org.uk)

Artists who fit the Outside In criteria can create an online gallery, showcasing their artwork, whatever its form. At the Surgery Day we can support you to photograph and upload your artwork, help you write your artist statement and sign you up for your online gallery.

Date: Friday 18 September 2015
Time: 9:30am – 4pm
Venue: COOP Education Centre Ipswich
Address: 11 Fore Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1JW

To book your 1 hour one-to-one session please contact Hannah Whitlock Call: 01243 770 845 or Email: [email protected]

Places are limited. Please bring support with you if required.

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