Author: mike

METRO’s Nicola Jones shares the impact of creative arts projects on LGBTQ+ young people

Posted on November 2, 2021 by - Blogs

Nicola Jones from Metro charity

Nicola Jones from Metro Charity shares the impact of Creative Arts projects on LGBTQ+ young people

Nicola Jones from Metro charity

We teamed up with equality charity METRO to deliver a six-week zine-making project from January to March with young LGBTQ+ people aged 16 to 25. Following two successful in-venue projects, we are delivering this one virtually via Create Live!.

In these workshops, supported by Greater London Authority via Groundwork, the participants are working collaboratively under the guidance of our writer Linden McMahon to create a zine on the theme of ‘Pride and Protest’. This has given them space – across February’s LGBT+ History Month – to discuss the legacy of Pride and what it means to live as a queer person. It has also enabled them to connect, build skills, explore new ways to express themselves, and share their experiences through writing and visual media.

We spoke to Nicola Jones, METRO’s Youth Lead for Croydon and Southwark, to learn about how the pandemic has affected her work with LGBTQ+ young people and the therapeutic potential of creativity.

“I think people have the perception that all young people are fine with ‘LGBT stuff’ now. They’re all fluid, it’s all over Instagram and Tik Tok, but it absolutely depends on so many factors, like where you grew up, how your parents feel about it, the area you live in, do you appear visibly other, do you get harassed on the street, and so on.

Hear Nicola talk about how our workshops run in partnership with METRO are connecting LGBTQ+ young people during the pandemic

“The youth groups are amazing. We do a lot of sessions that are around exploring and affirming identity and representation to counter the lack of those things at school, in the media, and the wider world, so that young people don’t feel so alone and don’t internalise the idea that they’re not normal. I think young people who access our groups over a long period of time tend to be the most vulnerable ones.

“I am so grateful that Create makes these sessions possible. I could endlessly talk about how amazing it’s been.”

Nicola Jones, Metro Charity

“We do a lot of workshops with Create because creativity is a really great way to provide support. You can make a PowerPoint about mental health issues but young people get enough of that kind of education at school. It’s been so amazing to have external workshop providers come and give them experiences and perspectives that they wouldn’t have access to otherwise. I am so grateful that Create makes these sessions possible. I could endlessly talk about how amazing it’s been.

metro charity quote bubble

“We’re currently running a zine-making workshop series with Linden McMahon via Create Live!. It’s been very different going from such incredible engagement in real life to running workshops online. So many young people who were accessing our groups regularly are either completely fatigued with Zoom, as many of us are, or they don’t feel comfortable being on camera. So, we send them out a zine pack with magazines, nice paper and pens, and things like that so they have stuff to read at home, do collage, and submit something to the zine. We can’t overstate how important that is for a young person.

“The zine-making sessions have been so great because people can do photography or draw or write or work in any way they like to express themselves. It’s a way for them to be involved and engaged. It has a wider impact than the number of people in the actual session. Linden is also really amazing at creating a very supportive, safe, chilled, lovely vibe.

“Working on a creative thing in the same space as other people and sharing can be really powerful. There is another young person who is incredibly vulnerable, particularly during this pandemic. They created a zine during the week and they shared it with us. It was so incredible! I think having an outlet where some of that stuff can go is really important.”

METRO runs LGBTQ youth groups for under 25s in many London boroughs. Visit www.metrocharity.org.uk to find out more about their work. To find out more about METRO’s youth services visit metrocharity.org.uk/youth

Click here to read about our photography project with METRO led by Holly Revell.

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Workshops via Create Live! Connect SEN students

Posted on November 2, 2021 by - Blogs, News

sen students enjoy the creative explorers workshop

Workshops via Create Live! Connect SEN Students

sen students enjoy the creative explorers workshop

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused huge disruption to the education system throughout the UK. Students are not only worried about staying up to date with the curriculum, they are also concerned about being isolated from their friends in the longer term, owing to social distancing rules and classroom bubbles.

Set against the wider backdrop of deteriorating mental health in children owing to the pandemic, we knew that it was critical for us to adapt our workshops to reach the most vulnerable students in schools.

Piloting a new Format

With this in mind, we ran our creative:explorers project with students with special education needs (SEN students) at John F Kennedy Special School in Newham during November and December 2020. With in classroom support from the staff, we delivered a series of visual art and music workshops via our online delivery mechanism, Create Live!.

“These workshops helped the students to develop increased communication skills by exploring new ways to interact with their peers.”

Zoe, staff member at John F Kennedy Special School

The workshops, which were led by our professional artist Chloe Cooper and musician Mike Poyser, used art and music to explore emotions through colours. They enabled the children to explore their creativity and self-expression, while building social skills, digital skills and self-esteem, enhancing their wellbeing.

creative explorers quote block

Our standard Create Live! format involves individual participants joining each workshop from their own space. For this project, however, three groups of SEN students joined from separate classrooms, in their bubbles, using Create Live! to connect safely and digitally. This was a first for Create, and it posed an interesting challenge.

Each room had its own computer screen and webcam, which allowed the students to see the workshop facilitators and the other classrooms. The staff at the school acted as intermediaries, supporting the children in their workshop tasks and muting or unmuting the microphone when needed.

“I structured the sessions so there were lots of little tasks to do, like jamming along to some drums, writing chants, brainstorming ideas, and so on,” explained Mike. “We gave the students space and time to be creative in their rooms with limited input from us at times and also spent time listening to each class’s ideas.”  

“IT CAN’T BE OVER-EMPHASISED HOW BIG A DIFFERENCE IT IS”

“Working in a classroom rather than on individual screens is a big difference and it can’t be over-emphasised how big a difference it is,” said Mike. “Running this session was a totally alien experience at first. Talking to classes from my house and being unable to get much instant feedback felt odd. But we all settled into ways of making it work. The support staff were absolutely brilliant, and we relied heavily on them to help implement our ideas.”

The possibility of seeing their friends while creating music and art together had a positive impact on the children.

“I particularly enjoyed watching the students working together during the music sessions and drawing their favourite things during the art workshops,” said staff member Zoe. “These workshops helped the students to develop increased communication skills by exploring new ways to interact with their peers. They also got the chance to gain greater knowledge of their feelings and how to express them, while developing the confidence to share their ideas. And those who are non-verbal could show their emotions in a much deeper way.”

Their joy was palpable on the sharing day which, owing to a new lockdown announcement in mid-December, unexpectedly became the final day and its biggest highlight. This session was like a mini party. The students danced to the songs they had created while holding their artwork up to the webcam for all to see. As one child enthused, “I enjoyed singing with my friends and sang on my own in front of the whole group.”

“The final sharing offered the participants a great opportunity to revisit what they’d worked on and bring it back to life – there was lots of dancing and smiling faces!” said our Project Manager, Hannah.

Thinking on our feet

Create Live

We are delighted with the success of this creative:explorers project and how the workshops enabled SEN students to connect with their friends, express themselves and feel joyful at such a difficult time.

The volatility and unpredictability of the pandemic has pushed us to think on our feet and change our approach at a moment’s notice, working closely with our partners to find solutions that work for them and – most importantly – our participants. It isn’t always easy, but we have been relishing this challenge!

Since the launch of Create Live! in April 2020, we have remained committed to finding new ways to run our workshops safely and effectively so we can continue to reach our participants when they need us the most. We have already run more than 620 workshops and are excited to see where Create Live! takes us next…

sen students enjoy the creative explorers workshop

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Meet Harry, a young carer

Posted on November 2, 2021 by - Stories

lambeth young carers inspired_arts-comic-making-workshop

Meet Harry, a young carer

lambeth young carers inspired_arts-comic-making-workshop

Nine-year-old Harry is a young carer who looks after his younger sister, who has autism, and his toddler younger brother.

On average, young carers like Harry provide 17 hours of care a week, which can have a significant effect on their schoolwork, ability to form friendships, and mental or physical health.

Christmas can be an especially challenging time for young carers, as their responsibilities increase. In December 2020, we partnered with Lambeth Young Carers to give 12 young carers the chance to take a break from their responsibilities and have some festive fun, supported by Greater London Authority via Groundwork. They took part in a three day comic-making project with our visual artist Chloe Cooper. The project was delivered virtually, via Create Live!

We caught up with Harry after the workshop to learn about his life as a young carer and how this workshop helped improve his wellbeing.    

lambeth young carers inspired_arts comic-making workshop

“I have to look after two – Juliet, my sister who is autistic, and she needs help a lot; and my brother, Oliver because he’s a baby. When my sister goes to the toilet, she always needs someone to be with her to supervise her. 

“For my brother, I always have to try and distract him while my mum cooks. All the time. I always keep an eye on him. When I play games, I have to stop to help Oliver, then get back, then help Oliver, then get back, then help my mum, help my dad. It’s stressful.

“I always have to stop Juliet from carrying Oliver because she thinks he’s a doll and she starts to throw him all the way up to the ceiling and lets him fall to the floor. So when I hear him screaming, I go “oh boy!” and I have to run and walk and then Juliet goes “ai ai ai”. Then she puts him down.

Hear Harry and his mum talk about the first time he met Juliet, back when she was just a baby and he was a toddler.

“I really enjoyed the comic-making workshop. I especially enjoyed drawing my characters and helping everyone get ideas. I learned about characters, sound effects, speech bubbles, thought bubbles, captions, panels and backdrops. The workshop made me happy – I really want to say: ‘Oh guacamole!’ It’s my favourite line.

“I think projects like this are good for young carers because they refresh their minds. I can take a break just until 3 o’clock and then go back to helping mum or dad. I feel like I have taken a big break and I feel refreshed.”

All names have been changed to protect anonymity.

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Carers who took part in our project with Carers Trust share its impact

Posted on November 1, 2021 by - Stories

creative voices carers trust project artist amy leung

Carers who took part in our project with Carers Trust share its impact

In November and December 2020, we teamed up with Carers Trust to run six weeks of inspiring workshops with adult carers from across the UK.

creative voices artist amy leung
Create’s professional artist Amy Leung leading an art activity

The project, creative:voices, saw our professional artists run workshops in partnership with eight Carers Trust Network Partners in East Sussex, Enfield, Leeds, Lewisham, Sefton (Liverpool), Suffolk, Surrey and Tower Hamlets. Delivered via our Create Live! delivery mechanism over Zoom, these included creative writing, music, photography, and visual art.

There are almost seven million unpaid carers in the UK. 81% say they feel lonely or isolated as a result of their caring role; 72% say they have suffered stress or depression as a result of caring; and the proportion of carers who report experiencing poor mental health has increased by 10% during the pandemic.

creative:voices gave 51 unpaid adult carers the opportunity to take a break from their caring responsibilities, explore their creativity and self-expression and meet other carers, building a support network. It enabled them to build skills, boost their confidence and have fun. 94% said the project enhanced their creativity, teamwork skills and wellbeing; and 100% said they enjoyed working with our professional artists. 69% reported increased confidence as a result of taking part in the project.

creative voices music workshop online
One of the music workshops in action

This is what some of the participants said about taking part in creative:voices. All names have been changed to protect anonymity.

Jenny

Jenny explains how the workshops have helped her

Jenny (60+) cares for her father, who suffers from schizophrenia and is addicted to alcohol and gambling. She took part in the creative writing workshops.

“You can feel quite small when you’re a carer. You’re giving all your time and energy to somebody else. Your world can become narrower and narrower and more and more restricted so to have that opportunity to step outside of it and to meet other people who are in the same situation is so important.

“I can come into the start of the session sometimes feeling quite low but step out of them feeling boosted and exhilarated as if I’ve travelled to far-flung places. By the end of a short two hours, to have words on a page, unique words, that have come from within gives me a huge sense of achievement.”

Sally

Sally describes the challenges of being a carer, and the importance of finding balance

Sally (39) cares for her daughter who has Down syndrome, while also looking after her son who was born with a cleft lip and palate. She took part in the photography workshops.

“Being a carer is harder than any job I’ve ever had. You don’t get a break, so there’s no time for me. I’m shattered by the end of the evening.

“This project is brilliant. I really enjoyed it. Projects like this remind you of what you used to like, before this life that you didn’t ever expect came along.

“It was really nice to do something for me, and something I can take with me in everyday life. We take so many photos of family and friends for Instagram, and I look at everyone else’s and think ‘gosh I wish I could do something like that’, and I realise actually I can do that. That has been the biggest positive for my self-confidence.

“I liked that we had time to come back and really look at each other’s work and talk through our vision. Through the week I was like ‘I didn’t think of that, that’s really clever’. Then because I saw their vision, I started seeing it through the week in my photos, and I found moments when I would smile to myself during the week and say ‘Ooh this is nice’.”

creative voices artwork 2020
A participant’s picture from the photography workshops – see below for more

stacey

Stacey talks about what the workshops have meant to her

Stacey (34) cares for her seven-year-old son, who has autism and ADHD. She took part in the music workshops.

“When you’ve got a child with autism, the demands are quite a lot higher. It’s constant. It does take quite a toll on your emotions and things like that. But I do find it very rewarding as well.

“Music for me has always been important, but during my caring role I’ve kind of put it to one side, thinking it wasn’t important enough to pursue. I made myself sign up for the workshops thinking it will be nice to do something for me, and I’m glad I did it. It reawakened a part of me that’s been lying dormant for too long.

“The workshops have been really experimental, creative and innovative. People have been able to join in and access the workshops even if they aren’t musicians or haven’t played an instrument before. It has been really inclusive for everybody. It’s also amazing that we could do it all together, in this strange COVID world.

“The biggest thing is that it’s good for your wellbeing. Being creative in this way has really helped me from a mental health and a physical health perspective. My kids have seen a part of me that I’d never shown them before, and now they’re more creative with their music as a result of that. I get a buzz from playing, and I also get a buzz from seeing them enjoy me playing music to them as well.”

May

May describes her life as a carer

May (60+) is the oldest child from a large family, and she has spent most of her life caring for various family members. She came to the UK from Africa “when Idi Amin threw everyone out” at the age of 21. She took part in the visual art workshops.

“I think as a carer, you get side-tracked and forget yourself. You’re so busy looking after everybody else. I came to realise this when I had a heart attack 13 years ago. I had to stop and re-evaluate my whole situation. I still look after people but I have boundaries in place now. Even if you mark out two hours, it’s two hours that are dedicated to you. It’s a way for you to look after your own health.

“I’ve never been online. My daughter does everything for me so this workshop encouraged me to do some independent learning as well, which is brilliant. It actually pushes you to wake up and do something, because otherwise you go from week to week doing nothing. You just get bored.

“The workshop with Create has inspired me a lot and taught me about artists I’ve never heard of. It gave me the push to explore. I feel like an artist again – an artist reborn!”

Speak With My Voice exhibition showcases artwork by marginalised adults in Deptford

Posted on November 1, 2021 by - Blogs, News

Speak With My Voice 2020 gallery
Speak With My Voice 2020 gallery

Our 12-week Speak With My Voice project in London is being celebrated with a captivating exhibition of work produced by participants.

The exhibition, which shows photography and writing created by vulnerable adults in Lewisham, is on display at Deptford Lounge from 16 December until the New Year – and the public can see the work for free.

All the artwork has been produced by members of Deptford Reach, a day centre serving local people who are vulnerable through homelessness, mental ill-health, loneliness, social exclusion and severe poverty.

Speak With My Voice 2020
A Speak With My Voice participant, lining up his shot

“It helps me with my mind”

During the project, which was funded by Deptford Challenge Trust, the participants were guided by two of our professional artists – photographer Alicia Clarke and writer James Baldwin. Together they explored a variety of photographic techniques (including reportage and still-life) and writing styles (including monologues and short stories), enabling them to express themselves and find their voice.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of the workshops,” said one of the participants. “I like to do different things with my mind, like using the camera, writing and all that. I enjoy coming here to do it because it gives me something to do instead of sitting down indoors all day doing nothing. It helps me with my mind doing different things.”

Speak With My Voice 2020 gallery
The Speak With My Voice exhibition at Deptford Lounge

Taking Part in creative projects is incredibly beneficial

We have run our Speak With My Voice project in partnership with Deptford Reach since Create was founded in 2003.

“This important project gives vulnerable adults the opportunity to work creatively with our professional artists and one another,” explained our Founding Chief Executive, Nicky Goulder. “They use photography and creative writing to break down barriers, build relationships and trust, reduce isolation, enhance self-confidence and self-esteem, and have fun. Never has this work been more important, at a time when everyone has experienced increased isolation, and it has been a privilege to enable these participants to express themselves and enhance their wellbeing over the past few months. I hope everyone enjoys the exhibition, which demonstrates their talent so powerfully.”

Jordan McTigue, Lead Manager at Deptford Reach, said: “This year has seen our work at Deptford Reach look quite different. While we usually operate as a day centre, we are now providing a floating support service to ensure vulnerable people in the community are not further isolated by the pandemic. Taking part in creative projects is something we know is incredibly beneficial, and well received, towards mental wellbeing, and we’re really pleased that this exhibition with Create is taking place at the heart of the community.”

Speak With My Voice 2020
Speak With My Voice participants developing their photography skills

“We had so much fun!”

Create photographer Alicia Clarke said: “It has been my pleasure to facilitate photography workshops with attendees of Deptford Reach. Taking inspiration from some famous photographers’ work, and discussing the meaning behind images, were key parts of our workshops, and it was so inspiring to see the world interpreted through the eyes of the participants. There were lots of diverse interests within the group and I feel that everyone found ways to express themselves, and to enjoy the work of their peers. We had so much fun!”

Create writer James Baldwin said: “The group chose to focus on screenwriting and adaptation, speech writing and rhetoric, monologues for theatre, poetry and song, and short stories. Across this display you’ll find the pieces of work that each writer feels represents their voice best. Like a photograph captures a single moment in time, the writer’s writing captures them on that day, in that mood, with those thoughts. A literary snapshot documenting unusual times.”

Scroll down to see more examples of the participants’ work.

To support Create today, giving us the chance to deliver more projects like Speak With My Voice, please click this button: 

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Supporting artists during a pandemic

Posted on November 1, 2021 by - Blogs, News

supporting artists during a pandemic
supporting artists during a pandemic

SUPPORTING ARTISTS DURING A PANDEMIC

2020 has been an exceptionally difficult year for professional artists. Across the board, the UK’s cultural sector has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic. At Create we’re supporting artists during the pandemic. 

Culture brings us together, whether that’s listening to a classical concert, wandering around a packed gallery or dancing the night away at a gig. But the pandemic has forced many cultural institutions to close and remain closed. Those that have been able to open have had to cope with dramatically reduced capacity and uncertain last-minute lockdowns.

For those of us whose lives are enhanced and expanded by the arts, this has been a profound loss. For many artists it has been a disaster, stripping them of their livelihoods, their entire income, their vocation and their wellbeing. Some have been able to diversify and take their practices online, but this has not been an option for every artform.  

Thanks to the pandemic, the cultural industry, which contributes £11bn a year to the economy and supports 363,700 jobs*, has suffered potentially irreparable damage.

How Create supports Artists

create live

At Create, we’ve always platformed and supported artists. We value the importance of the creative arts in our collective lives and are passionate about their transformative and long-lasting impact.

All our artists are freelance professional practitioners in their specialist field (eg: dance, filmmaking; music, sculpture), who combine a passion for their artform with a love of people. Through our carefully-tailored programmes, our artists are able to expand their own artistic horizons, exploring new ideas and developing ambitious projects that benefit both our participants and their own artistic practice.

When the first lockdown was announced and we could no longer meet in person, we knew that our work couldn’t stop – it had never been more vital – which is why we adapted at break-neck speed. For our participants and professional artists, Create’s workshops offer a lifeline.

Here are some of the ways that we have supported our artists:

Create live!

Having worked with our artists to research, safeguard and pilot a new way of working via Zoom, we used emergency funding from Arts Council England to develop and deliver a series of programmes that offered creative work for our artists and workshops for our participants struggling with lockdown across the UK.

arts council england logo

This summer – via Create Live! – we delivered more workshops than ever before, meaning more work for our artists and more inspirational projects that have empowered, upskilled and connected our participants, reducing isolation and enhancing wellbeing.

Here, our professional photographer Alejandra Carles-Tolra talks about delivering a project with Kingston Young Carers via Create Live!.

Nurturing Talent

holly khan dancing with a participant

Nurturing Talent, our programme for emerging artists, offers an opportunity for early-career artists who wish to combine a professional artistic practice with creative workshop delivery in community settings.

We provide a £1,500 bursary and opportunities to develop their facilitation skills alongside our experienced professional artists with different community groups. The programme involves four tailored training days, two artist sharing days, and the opportunity to design and deliver a workshop collaboratively.

Launched in 2016, this programme has still been running during the pandemic, empowering and upskilling six passionate and talented artists across dance, drama, filmmaking, music, and visual art. Find out more.

“I will leave this year a more technical musician, a more experienced facilitator and, most importantly, with an absolute dedication to helping the vulnerable and disadvantaged members of society.”

holly khan, nurturing talent artist

Artist Sharing/training Days

When lockdown first happened, we provided free training in Zoom workshop delivery to upskill our artists to this new way of working. Each has then had the chance to trial a workshop with the Create team ahead of going “live” in the community.

We also provide our artists and project team with free six-monthly skill-building, training and networking opportunities at Artist Sharing events that take place annually in May and November. With external speakers and artist-led workshops, the days focus on topics such as working in prisons and safeguarding, helping to upskill, inform and inspire. The most recent workshop in 2020 focused on Wellbeing, both that of our participants and the artists themselves.

“It’s nice to have a relationship with an organisation. I started off on Nurturing Talent, learning from the lead facilitators. Now, I can look back at my initial learning at Create and see my growth and development to lead facilitator within the organisation.”

Create artist Jack Pryor

Our commitment to artists

2020 has been an incredibly challenging year for artists but it seems that there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel, with a vaccine on the horizon. There is now hope that the industry can recover, and artists can continue doing what they love. In the meantime, and into the future, we will continue to support our artists through our projects – both Create Live! and in-venue – and ongoing training, and to reach out to a new generation of creatives through our Nurturing Talent programme.

*Centre for Economics and Business Research 2019

supporting artists during a pandemic

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Empowering lives online – the ongoing success of Create Live!

Posted on November 1, 2021 by - Blogs, News

create live

Empowering lives online – the ongoing success of Create Live!

Eight months ago, when the pandemic first struck, we overhauled our whole way of working in just 14 days. We took our venue-based workshops online to enable us to reach participants who were facing months of unrelenting isolation, loneliness and hardship. Create Live! our online arts workshops platform was born.

It was an unprecedented challenge for the Create team, but we knew how important creativity would be for the wellbeing of the people we work with during this fraught time.

More summer workshops than ever

create live

Using funding provided by Arts Council England, we worked with our professional artists to repurpose our workshops so they could be delivered online. This was a huge team effort and, through hard work and determination, we built relationships with new services and community partners. This summer – via Create Live! – we delivered more workshops across the UK than ever before, which have empowered, upskilled and connected our participants, reducing isolation and enhancing wellbeing.

create live stats
Figures correct as of 13 November 2020

“The workshop has woken me up”

The feedback we’ve received has chimed with how truly impactful creativity can be for people’s lives.

Frank (12) is a young carer. He has been caring for his mum who has osteoporosis and sleep apnoea since he was eight. Frank took part in our music workshops via Create Live! in June:

“It has probably been the highlight of my quarantine.” he said. “I enjoyed meeting new people. In quarantine, I don’t normally get to see my friends. Just seeing other people and knowing they’re all other young carers made me feel like it’s not just me.”

create live

Ajay took part in our Zoom photography workshops with adult carers in June and July:

“I’ve learnt that I can be more imaginative and more creative with myself,” he said. “The project is helping me to deal with all the stuff I’m dealing with.”

create live photography

Of course, for a variety of reasons, not everyone can access the internet, and one of our big challenges was how to reach our older participants when they needed us most. In response, we’ve been delivering one of our music projects over the telephone, with great success:

Margo (78) took part in a phone workshop in May. “It’s made a hell of a difference to me,” she said. “The workshop has woken me up. I was beginning to get tired with nothing to do, no one to talk to.”

We have also received fantastic responses from our community partners, including MYTime Young Carers, which is based in Dorset. “The feedback we received from the participants and their families was exceptional,” said Krista Sharp, MYTime Chief Executive. “After the project, one mother wrote to me to say: ‘It all brought a tear to my eye. The creativity and ideas produced in ONLY three days, without specialist photography equipment and all far apart, was just AMAZING! I think all the children will feel now that they have had a very special collaboration with others. I think you have sparked a new interest in the children for some that shall last a lifetime.’”

Our commitment during lockdown

artlinks age uk havering

The second lockdown will be challenging for so many people. But with Create Live! running smoothly we’re primed to continue delivering our projects across the UK, bringing people together through online arts workshops. 

Between now and the end of the year, we have already scheduled 15 projects to be delivered through Create Live! – with many more to follow in early 2021.

We adapt Create Live! to suit each participant group’s specific needs. For example, as part of creative:explorers, in December and January we will be working with special educational needs children in Stratford, delivering our workshops digitally while the students are in school. We will connect three separate classrooms through Create Live! and bring the children from separate bubbles together to make music and visual art together.

During November and December, we are also teaming up with Carers Trust to deliver art, writing, music and photography workshops with adult carers in Claydon, Eastbourne, Enfield, Guildford, Leeds, Liverpool and the London Boroughs of Lewisham and Tower Hamlets. The magic of Create Live! enables us to bring these geographically distant groups together, to share experiences, build skills and reduce isolation.

Our commitment to the incredible people we work with up and down the country – the young and adult carers, frail older people, disabled children and adults, young refugees and many more – is to continue bringing creativity into their lives. We are passionate about connecting people and using the power of the creative arts to empower lives, build skills and promote wellbeing.

create live photography

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Prisoners’ Inside Stories scoop five Koestler Awards

Posted on November 1, 2021 by - News

artwork by prisoners as part of inside stories

Prisoners Scoop Five Koestler Awards

artwork by prisoners as part of inside stories

Tales from the Other Side, a wonderful collection of short stories written, recorded, illustrated and set to music by a group of prisoners during our Inside Stories project, has been recognised with five Koestler Awards.

The prizes are awarded by Koestler Arts, a charity dedicated to awarding, exhibiting and selling artwork by prisoners, detainees and secure patients. 

“I really enjoyed it because it was for my little girl. It taught me how to think outside the box and use my imagination.”

participant

Our Inside Stories project gives prisoners the opportunity to produce illustrated stories and music for their children. Working under the guidance of our professional writer, visual artist and musicians, they work in pairs to write, record and illustrate original stories, which they then set to music in groups. The project enables them to build creativity, teamwork, communication and arts skills that they can use with their children during prison visits and on release, enhancing connectivity and wellbeing.

Following their fathers’ performance in the prison during a special family visit, the children receive a copy of the professionally produced storybook and CD, helping to maintain the bond between parent and child, and enabling them to have a very personal part of their Dad at home. The Ministry of Justice has found that sustaining family ties makes it easier for prisoners to reintegrate into society and increases their chance of finding a job and stable accommodation on release.

I’m delighted to share The Nightmare Warrior, which won a Bronze Mixed Media Koestler Award:

artwork by prisoners as part of inside stories

“This project has helped my partner, children and parents feel more relaxed and positive about my time in prison.”

Participant

Since 2012, work made during our prison projects across the UK has been recognised with 100 Koestler Awards, recognising the creativity, imagination and talent of dozens of prisoners. We are incredibly proud of them all.

Nicky Goulder, Founding Chief Executive

artwork by prisoners as part of inside stories

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Biffy Clyro support Create through downloads of latest single

Posted on November 1, 2021 by - News

biffy clyro

Biffy Clyro support Create through downloads of latest single

biffy clyro

One of the UK’s biggest rock bands, Biffy Clyro, have chosen us as the beneficiary of digital download proceeds from their latest single, Space.

Biffy Clyro have created a new video, using Space as the soundtrack, in response to the recent controversy over the UK government advertisement that suggested a ballet dancer should retrain in cyber security. The “Fatima” advert drew criticism on social media at a time of heightened concern for the arts industry, as revenue and jobs are being lost to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Watch the video below.

“We are delighted to be able to support Create in the amazing work they do. The arts and creators have a crucial role to play in all our lives and, now more than ever, that should not be overlooked.”

Biffy Clyro

“There’s always a space for the arts”

The band developed this project to reinforce the importance of the arts, spread awareness of the issue and show their support for fellow creatives. The new video features a lookalike ballet dancer, demoralised at her lack of opportunities in the industry she has dedicated her life to, and transforms the band’s “There’s always a space in my heart” lyric into “There’s always a space for the arts”.

Biffy Clyro have chosen Create as the beneficiary charity from digital downloads of the single – as well as an accompanying T-shirt.

You can buy both items here.

“Our work has never been more vital”

biffy clyro t-shirt

Our Founding Chief Executive, Nicky Goulder, said: “We are thrilled that Biffy Clyro has chosen Create to benefit from this project. The arts are crucial to people’s emotional wellbeing, creativity and connectivity; and they play a vital role in the country’s economy. Everyone should have access to the power of the creative arts, and this is only possible if our artists and creatives are supported and valued.

“Every Create project is delivered by skilled, professional artists who empower, upskill and connect disadvantaged and vulnerable children and adults across the UK. Our work has never been more vital. We bring the power of the creative arts to those who lack access to them and – through sales of this single and T-shirt – we will be able to use the skill, talent and passion of our incredible professional artists to enhance even more lives. Thank you for your support!”

Please support the project by downloading Space and buying the T-shirt here.

To give a direct donation to Create, click the button below.

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Create hosts exclusive virtual gala to celebrate its 17th anniversary

Posted on November 1, 2021 by - News

create virtual gala

Create hosts exclusive virtual gala to celebrate its 17th anniversary

create virtual gala

On Thursday 8 October 2020 we celebrated our 17th anniversary with a glittering Virtual Gala.

During the exclusive online event, guests were treated to conversations between our Founding CEO, Nicky Goulder, and two very special guests: internationally acclaimed percussionist and Create Patron Dame Evelyn Glennie, and our newly-appointed Youth Ambassador, young carer Abi.

Dame evelyn glennie talks about her life

Guests received a wine and cheese hamper to enjoy at their leisure as Dame Evelyn shared reminiscences about her career – including leading a drumming group of 1,000 volunteers at the London Olympics Opening Ceremony in 2012 – and her thoughts on the importance of creativity and listening. During the conversation, she showcased some of the weird and wonderful instruments that she has collected over the years and her extraordinary talent for improvisation.

Guests also heard from 15-year-old Abi, who spoke about her life as a young carer and the skills she has gained through our workshops, which she has attended since she was eight. She shared that we enabled her to fulfil her lifetime dream of attending the Lord Mayor’s Show by joining our walking float in 2018, and how being creative has shaped her as a person. She then wowed the audience with A Day in My Life, a film she made for us earlier in the year.

create virtual gala abi

Abi’s film

The Virtual Gala has already raised an incredible £51,651, net of costs, with gifts still arriving. We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has generously donated. These funds will support creative:vision, our ambitious plan to double the reach of our work with disadvantaged and vulnerable children and adults across the UK, empowering, upskilling and reducing the isolation of increasing numbers of participants at a time when our programme has never been more vital.  

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