Our News
THE LATEST FROM US
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Funding News!
Take A Part are pleased to share that we have been awarded £3K from D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust to support Cattedown's migrant and refugee populations to connect, access support and services and support new voices to be part of our wider community projects. We are really so pleased to be able to work with these new funders to us and are grateful to be giving creative connection opportunities moving forward as we come out of the pandemic.
And MORE great news! The Rank Foundation is supporting our organisational development via funding from their Development Fund to support board development and recruitment in 2021 with Getting On Board. We will use it to support our board and their new role as a trustees of the charity to manage growth and recruitment. Thank you Rank!
CECE project update
Our Creative Education Director Gem has been in school with brilliant artist Soraya Phillips continuing to deliver a viking art project as part of the wider Centre Of Excellence in Creative Education programme developed by High View School and supported by Take A Part. As the project has continued every child in year 5 and 6 has designed and created a 30cm tall Viking God or Goddess, creating a 90 strong army. The children have improved their mastery of art and design techniques including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials including pencil, fine line pens, watercolour paint, and cardboard. They have also created ideas for their sculpture using references and symbols to contextualise their designs, developed their artistic/visual vocabulary to discuss their work using terms such as design, motif, pattern, symmetry, two- and three-dimensional, sculpture, relief sculpture shape, form, colour, tone and proportion. They have also developed a range of specific skills connected to the project content. All of this amazingly creative work will be shared with CECE partner schools to inform their own upcoming artist projects, it's so exciting to see a Creative Education project being able to deliver right now, thanks and well done to all involved!
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Springtime Planting
JARSQUAD SEED ACTIVATION PACKS: KATIE OBORN
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Newest Take A Part team member and Coxside resident Katie Oborn shares info on the Coxside Residents' Arts Board and their very first funded project in collaboration with the awesome JarSquad.
Coxside Residents’ Arts Board (CRAB) has officially launched, with the help of Plymouth based arts project Take A Part (TAP).
CRAB aims to create opportunities for residents to improve the local environment through creativity and collaboration. CRAB has recently received its first funding from the Local Connections Fund, enabling the launch of this first community project for Coxside, in conjunction with JarSquad who aim to ‘create better connections between people, food, resources & skills in our local area.’
The project for Coxside residents involves growing beans and seeds. There are 150 seed sprouting packs available for the community and these can be easily grown in any home. Tamar Organics, Homedod’s and Pollenize CIC supplied the peas, beans and wildflower seeds. Pollenize CIC aims to combat pollinator decline through community power.
JarSquad consists of three independent creatives: Carmen Wong, an artist and researcher who works with food as a symbolic and social material. Rachel Dobbs makes artworks and educates communities through creative projects and Tess Wilmot is an organic gardener, sculptor and edible landscape specialist, she also runs foraging walks.
Rachel said: “At JarSquad, we're excited that people will be opening these packs, taking up the invitation to try out something new and get creative with food they can grow themselves. I'm also excited to see if these packs can help the community itself grow, by people sharing pictures of what they are up to and what they are finding out by growing seeds. I think that one of the best ways to get to know other people is by learning stuff together, sharing ideas and information. That's a really key part of what we do in JarSquad, and these packs we're making invite everyone in Coxside to join in this kind of activity.”
CRAB member Paolo Fiore illustrated the fun designs on the packs to help you get planting. This collaboration between CRAB, TAP and JarSquad, along with the Local Connection Fund, enables us to bring this seed growing activity into your homes this spring.
Rachel explained more about the Seed Activation Project: “I'm one of the co-animators or JarSquad, and we've been invited by CRAB to bring some extra creative thinking and ideas to Coxside through the Seed Activation Pack project. I've been working with Tess and Carmen to develop and design the activities we've included in the packs, and with Paolo to make everything look beautiful! We've been doing lots of experiments behind the scenes to find easy ways to grow things in the smallest of spaces, like window sills, and using things you can find around your house.”
Tess Wilmot has been involved with previous projects in Coxside including the revamping of the wildflower in Teats hill park. She said:
“Gardening is important as it helps us to connect with nature and the seasons. It can be empowering and healing as nothing is nicer than to bring in produce from the garden and have flowers in the house and food on the table. It is essential to grow more food locally and work together to create abundance.”
Tess added that gardening is all about experimenting and having fun and that she hoped that ‘this activity will encourage local residents to get excited about growing, especially those who are new to growing or think they can’t grow.’
Carmen said she hopes that people will ‘feel the magic of growing plants’ through the project and ‘get a chance to appreciate and observe’. Carmen has been liaising with Rebel Botanists for this project, a Plymouth based community group raising awareness in the decline of wild flowers,
“We're looking forward to more people coming out and about again when lockdown eases, and hope that this gives people a taste for what they can grow in future around the area.” Rachel Dobbs at JarSquad.
If you would like a Seed Activation Pack please contact katie@effordtakeapart.org.uk. Packs will be available from April 1st onwards.
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Support for the sector
OPPORTUNITIES, SUPPORT AND NEWS THIS WEEK
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'Mind The Gap' Learning Circles for artists: Somerset Art Works
Somerset Art Works are inviting 30 artists to come on a journey and be part of 6 weekly session Learning Circle* that will echo the transitioning from winter into the growing season. Created by artist, facilitator and qualified coach Fiona Winning with Somerset Art Works, ‘‘Mind the Gap’ will provide a mutual learning space to share knowledge and find ideas that recharge the batteries, connect to bigger thinking, to help artists move forward with their creative practice. For more information click here.
Project and Events Coordinator: BEAF Arts Company Ltd
BEAF Arts Company are looking for an energetic and communicative individual who is passionate about developing creative projects which give voice to vulnerable and marginalised communities. The role of Projects and Events Coordinator will support the vital work The Outsider's Project delivers for the local community and beyond. The key role of the post is to co-ordinate the programme of co-created activities and events and develop new initiative for the current and future groups. The model of the Outsider Project is based on co-creation, supporting the health and well-being of communities through creative programmes in an area of multiple deprivation in the conurbation of Bournemouth. Designed to develop authentic voices, the project is based on the realisation to get new voices heard there needs to be different approaches to engaging communities. To read more or make application follow this link.
Creative Engagement Manager: TTA The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre
The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre seek a Creative Engagement Manager to join their small, busy team. leading on developing and delivering programmes and activities for Schools, Young People, Families, and courses for Adults. The programme aims to empower young people and enrich Taunton communities with creative experiences and meaningful participation in arts and culture, including; Take Part programme, courses for Adults and meaningful engagement with schools, impacting on the lives of young people in education settings. You can find out more about the opportunity here.
Sound Artist: Burn The Curtain
Burn the Curtain are seeking a South West Region Sound artist for their new outdoor Promenade museum project ‘The Imaginarium of Us’ Working closely with the team the selected artist will create new music and sound to support the Imaginarium events. The work is to be delivered between April and September, a passion for community work and outdoor arts is welcomed but not essential for the role. Follow this link for more.
Expressions of interest, Community Engagement Programme: Somerset Art Works
Somerset Art Works is planning for their community engagement programme this year, which will include both face to face and online artist workshops with a wide range of participants in a variety of settings. They are looking to engage artists experienced in co-creation and socially engaged practice, across a wide range of art forms. The types of projects the role will connect with include; developing social enterprises, working with the community, growing projects, working with young people, wellbeing creative sessions, online workshops, workshops with schools and colleges. Click here for further detail and more information.
Community Consultation Tender: Trinity Community Arts
Trinity is looking for an experienced individual or organisation to manage and deliver a Community Consultation in 2021. Trinity is committed to ensuring their plans are shaped by the communities they work with. This consultation is part of their latest capital works phase, funded by Architectural Heritage Fund to update their 2012 feasibility study in light of the effects of the pandemic on their social enterprise model, the music sector, audiences and communities who they support. Working with local residents, existing user groups and community partners, this consultation process will help to shape future plans for building redevelopment as well as the activities people want to see. Trinity are looking for candidates with strong communication and project management skills. This project requires an adaptable approach and a commitment to inclusive engagement and decision making. For more on the role and how to apply follow this link.
Call out, rebranding plus website design and development: CVAN
The Contemporary Visual Arts Network (CVAN) are seeking a forward thinking, creative team or individual/s to work with to help better represent CVAN and realise their ambitions of launching a new website by September 2021. CVAN represents and supports a diverse and vibrant visual arts ecology, embracing a broad range of artistic and curatorial practice across the nine English regions. Each region is managed by a small team, who run their own regional agendas, coming together regularly with the national team and working towards the national strategy. Now in its 8th year, CVAN requires a brand and website that better represents the work that it does, and those it supports. The branding will need to work across the National offering, but also be adopted by the nine regions in which it works. Find out more here.
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In Conversation
ART AND ENERGY COLLECTIVE: MOTHS TO A FLAME
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Artist Collective Art and Energy share their Moths to a flame project with us and discuss a little about how the collective came together and how they work.
Moths to a Flame is a mass participation art installation travelling to Glasgow in November for the United Nations Climate Conference, COP26. We’re engaging thousands of people in creative activity and conversation inspired by our energy systems, relationship with nature, and the climate emergency…. we would love for you, your friends, family and community to be a part of it, working together to build a huge new artwork for this global event!
There are lots of ways to get involved, and the best part is that, thanks to the Plymouth Energy Community and the Plymouth City Council Climate Challenge Crowdfunder, most are free! Between May and July we will be holding lots of events both online and out and about in the Plymouth community.
- Transform plastic milk bottles into model moths, and record your audio whisper of hope. We’re aiming for 20,000 moths to hang in a stunning mass-participation UV illuminated art-installation, complete with a thought-provoking soundscape. You might like to host your own mini-installation and then send them to us to take up to Glasgow.
- Get your school or community group involved, find out more about moths in your area and get creative - We have sponsorship from Babcock International to loan moth watching and crafting kits to 20 Plymouth primary schools. Sign up here!
- Join us for an online moth watching session and hear more about the vital work that organisations like Plymouth Energy Community are doing to reduce fuel poverty.
- Write a poem inspired by moths and energy, then submit it to the Moths to a Flame poetry Slam in July.
- Read ‘The Moth’s Whisper’ illustrated story book, then decorate and bring to life your own Augmented Reality moth.
Details of these activities and lots more can be found here.
The Moths to a Flame project was born in Plymouth, but we’re now reaching people all over the country and even overseas… it is a truly inclusive project as we believe everyone should be able to share their whisper of hope for the future… individually we go unheard, but together we can create a roar for change!
The Art and Energy Collective is a group of artists, tinkerers, technologists and communicators. We work together to use our skills through creativity to raise awareness of the impact that our energy systems have on the planet. It's so easy to overlook the intangible energy that we rely on every time we switch on a light, send an email, or cook our dinner. In particular we celebrate the good things, championing renewable energy options and all those little actions that we take to conserve energy. We’re delivering the Moths to a Flame project in collaboration with lots of amazing partners, including Plymouth Energy Community.
In 2019 we were chatting to our friends at PEC about the news that the United Nations Climate Conference, COP26, was coming to the UK for the first time ever. However, as it would be hosted nearly 500 miles away in Glasgow we were unsure of how relevant that felt to us down in Plymouth.. and yet of course it is important for all of us; World leaders meeting to discus how best to work together to reduce the impact that we are having on our planet, making declarations of action in light of the Climate Emergency, enacting policy changes that will affect us all in our daily lives and shape the world that our children will inherit.
Moths to a Flame has grown massively over the last year. For many people the Climate Emergency is such a huge and overwhelming issue, generating a sense of panic, guilt and anxiety. Moths to a Flame offers an optimistic creative experience enabling conversation around the little things that we can do together to make a difference. We invite you, your family, friends, community, school… everyone! Please share your activities and hopes with us on social media using #MothsToAFlame.
You can find out more about Moths to a Flame here and Art and Energy here.
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Connecting with communities
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We've been checking out who's connect with communities and audiences right now, and seeing what great work and projects are taking place. This week's highlights include;
Seed, the Arts Council England funded Creative People and Places project for Sedgemoor, commissioned five local artists to develop creative activities that engaged, supported and creatively connected people in Sedgemoor during the Covid-19 lockdown. Projects included; documenting the Thursday night ‘clap for carers’ celebrations and its associated sound, moments of stillness, getting creative within your home, completing sketchbooks to form part of a digital exhibition, and the creation of choreography. The project took place mostly last year but is well worth a look at as a reflection of using creativity to keep connecting with people, even as we come out of the current lockdown and restrictions ease. You can read about the project (which was called 'Creative Lives Under lockdown') here.
Theatre company Kneehigh are hoping that people will see the bay of St Austell differently this spring. In celebration of 40 years of the company, they are inviting people to enjoy 40 wonder encounters; from parading lanterns and drive-by puppetry to projection installations and epic sand drawings. They're encouraging people to keep a look out and share what #RandomActs they spot, spreading unexpected joy at this still rather uncertain time. Sounds like great fun and worth keeping an eye out for! Read more about it here.
Plymouth community space The Plot has put a call out for artists to submit work for an external exhibition on Palace Square. People are encouraged to make and photograph a piece or take it in to the before April 5th to be included. You can read a bit more about it here, sounds like a fun opportunity for budding artists to get work out there.
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This week's article reflects on 12 months of covid and how hard hit live events for the cultural and arts sector have been, asking some of those frontline leaders (CEO's/directors) how they feel, how they have responded and what might be next.
"My advice to myself would have been to prepare for a cross-country marathon and not a sprint – coming out of the pandemic will be as challenging as working through it. Once the virus is under control, I think the venue industry will bounce back quite quickly. We’ll continue in a changed work environment with a greater acceptance of remote administration and the accompanying role of technology."
The article is a great insight into a whole range of venues and organisations that work with live events from across the UK, their reflections and insight provide a very real and very interesting picture of where people are at right now. Check out the full piece here.
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