Tag: Artists

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE: FOUR CREATE ARTISTS SHARE FAVOURITE CHILDREN’S BOOKS

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE: FOUR CREATE ARTISTS SHARE FAVOURITE CHILDREN’S BOOKS

We have partnered with The Reading Agency for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, designed to ignite children’s imaginations and foster creativity through the joy of reading.

This year’s Challenge theme is ‘Marvellous Makers’, encouraging children to explore new stories, join free library activities, and express creativity through various art forms. Our own professional Create artists have designed seven creative activities accompanying this year’s Challenge, from junk modelling to music, dance to drawing and painting.

We asked four of these inspirational artists – Alejandra Carles-Tolra, Beth Coleman, Rachel McGivern, and Paul Pickford – to share their favourite books and share how these stories inspire their creativity, showcasing the magical link between reading and artistic expression.

ALEJANDRA CARLES-TOLRA (PHOTOGRAPHER)

What is a book that inspires you?

Press Here, by Herve Tullet”

How has it inspired your creative practice?

“With my artistic practice, I encourage myself and others to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. What I love about this book is that it turns simple circles into something really fun and exciting.”

Why should children read it?

“It demonstrates how simple it can be to be creative and use your imagination. It shows that you can have fun with anything in life.”

www.alejandractr.com

BETH COLEMAN (DANCER)

What is a book that inspires you?

“Dr. Seuss: Oh, the Places you’ll Go!

How has it inspired your creative practice?

“I love the words and rhythm in this book. The language and illustrations conjure up amazing imagery in my head of this fun, outrageous and unpredictable story.

“It encourages me to think bigger when creating work, not take the obvious choice, and that any idea is worth exploring, even if it leads nowhere – I would have learnt something along the way which will be useful when I least expect it.

“I find it especially inspiring when I’m having a block. As an artist, this can feel scary but this book reminds me that it is completely normal and happens to everyone. Waiting just around the corner is a moment of brilliance (or an elephant on skates!) and I just need to trust I will find it when it’s right.”

Why should children read it?

“It’s easy to think that everybody else has it all figured out, especially when we feel like we don’t. But this book is a great reminder that life doesn’t follow a straight line, and there will be many twists and turns along the way. And who knows what magic awaits!”

‘You’re off to great places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So … get on your way!’ – Dr. Seuss

@bethcolemanuk

RACHEL MCGIVERN (VISUAL ARTIST)

What is a book that inspires you?

“I really love the book Beastly Tales from Here and There by Vikram Seth, which I was given a copy of as a child.”

How has it inspired your artistic practice?

“I ended up studying illustration at university because I was really inspired by seeing how illustrations can add excitement and interest to stories. 

“The copy of Beastly Tales from Here and There I own has small, beautiful ink illustrations of animals with funny expressions and a sense of playfulness. I always try to bring energy into the art I make, and love using materials like ink, paint, pencils and collage as they look handmade and unique.”

Why should children read it?

“The book is made up of funny short stories, which rhyme, with lots of cheeky animals and characters. 

Vikram Seth was inspired by fables from lots of different countries about animals – India, China, Greece, Ukraine – and he’s even made up his own stories about the Land of Gup. 

I think this book is a good reminder that we can be playful with storytelling, come up with our own versions of old stories and also use art and drawing to bring them to life.”

@rachmcgivern

PAUL PICKFORD (VISUAL ARTIST)

What is a book that inspires you?

“A book that inspired and inspires me is The Iron Man by Ted Hughes.”

How has it inspired your creative practice?

“It inspired my artistic practice by being full of cool, weird and mysterious imagery and ideas. Also, the copy that I first read at school had brilliant illustrations that didn’t show too much but worked with your imagination. For example, the artwork showed the size of the space/bat/angel/dragon without any detail of precisely what it looked like. A great example of what illustrations should do, working with the words and not replacing or repeating them. On reflection, early in the story The Iron Man makes himself, which would have fuelled my model making and sculpture ideas.”

Why should children read it?

“I think it will intrigue and inspire them and for the best reason – it’s fun!”

@pickford7076 @paulpickford7076

Our Patron Isy Suttie has also shared a favourite children’s book with us and why she thinks creativity is so important. You can head over to her interview here.

CONVERSATION WITH CREATE WRITER CHERYL MOSKOWITZ

CONVERSATION WITH CREATE WRITER CHERYL MOSKOWITZ

Image credits to Children’s Poetry Summit

To celebrate Create Week, we spoke to Create’s professional writer Cheryl Moskowitz about the profound impact of nurturing one’s creativity.

Cheryl has a background in writing, drama and psychology, and has been working as a Create artist for 20 years.

A recent study by Linearity revealed that 40% of people feel they need more tools or resources to tap into their creative potential. Our conversation with Cheryl unveils a different perspective, however, showcasing how unlocking your imagination is often about mindset rather than materials.

WHAT DOES CREATIVITY MEAN TO YOU?

We are at our most creative when we don’t have everything we need around us and so we find resourcefulness within ourselves.

Cheryl Moskowitz

“A child’s play is so creative, because they haven’t got a everything they need. And through play they can make the world that they have in their imaginations.

“I think we all have questions in our imaginations and we also have experiences that we’ve had that we need to play out again and again to work out why they were so disturbing or exciting or exhilarating. So, creativity is where you recreate a world or experience that you’re still working out, that you can’t let go of. And that for me is at its heart, a life force. It’s what we need to do. We need to be creative in order to live well. And so, creativity is at the heart of wellbeing.

“I know what creative activity does for me as a person and how my art is both something which is a way of getting to a deeper place of knowing myself for myself, and it’s also a way of communicating something more essential and important to others.”

WHAT ARE ARTIST SHARING DAYS?

Whilst a member of Create’s Creative Council, Cheryl pioneered the concept of Artist Sharing days. These innovative gatherings allow artists and project managers to collaborate, exchange insights, and refine their facilitation skills, fostering a deeper connection and understanding within our creative community.

“I suggested the Artist Sharings as a way to create a forum for [Create artists and project managers] to come together. The things we do as artists and facilitators are often so hard to define. There are no real training programmes out there that teach you how to be an artist, or teach you how to be a facilitator. We learn by participating and by being in the presence of someone who has an effect on us.

“Create has artists working with lots of different participants and bringing in lots of different ideas and ways of working, so it felt tantalising to come together and learn from each other. And I think some of the Create workshops that I’ve enjoyed doing most were the cross-artform ones, where we got to cross paths a little bit with one another. So it just seemed to me to be an obvious thing. We’re all such a rich resource we all want to expand our own way of thinking and working. And it’s a really wonderful thing.”

Meet Harriet, a young carer from Dorset

project manager ceramics workshop

Meet Harriet, a young carer from Dorset

During February 2023, Create artist Poppy Love-Oldham led a visual art project with young carers in Dorset. The project enabled the young carers to take a break from their caring responsibilities, have fun, learn new skills, build relationships and express themselves.

We spoke to Harriet, a young carer from Dorset who took part in the project.

EXPLORING ART

“I took part in the art project. The first day we learnt how to make different things out of clay; we made some flat shapes first where we could put stamps in. Then we made some 3D stuff afterwards, so I made a tealight. We also did some printing.

“I’d never learnt about most of these artforms before. I particularly enjoyed cyanotype where we cut out sections of paper and put it in the sun, then watched it change colour. I get to do art at school, but these were all new types of art for me. Poppy, the artist, helped us by explaining everything clearly.

DISCOVERING COMMUNITY

“If you’re stuck on something, someone else could have a different point of view… You can all say your opinion.”

“Although I was really apprehensive about meeting people, it was really nice to work together. We all got to create art and help each other. I was nervous that people would judge me or not listen, because I’d never been to a young carers project before. Everyone shared their opinions and supported one another – it was really nice! I learnt that if you’re stuck on something, someone else could have a different point of view and you can all say your opinion.”

taking a break

“Being creative helps you wind down.”

I’ve found that being creative helps you wind down a little bit. If something is going on, it helps you escape. Taking part in this project has helped me meet other people like me and have a break from my caring responsibilities. I loved just being able to sit down, relax, and be creative.” 

*Names have been changed to protect participant anonymity.

MEET JACK, A YOUNG CARER FROM UXBRIDGE

MEET JACK, A YOUNG CARER FROM UXBRIDGE

We work with young carers across the UK, providing creative opportunities that enable them to find supportive communities and discover their potential. inspired:arts is one of our flagship projects, enabling young carers to experience a variety of creative artforms, build their confidence, enhance their wellbeing and express their feelings through art.

In February 2023, young carers from Uxbridge took part in a three-day photography project with professional artist Sam Ivin. During the project, participants got experimental with photography and connected with each other through creativity.

We spoke to Jack*, a young carer who took part in the project.

“With the help of (artist) Sam, we’ve been doing photography and learning how to create art from it. This has involved exploring different mediums, like polaroid pictures and masks. It’s been nice to have the opportunity to learn all of this from a professional artist. I’ve enjoyed that even when there’s a specific task we’re doing, we still get our own sense of freedom within it.

“BEING CREATIVE HAS HELPED MY MENTAL HEALTH”

Creativity has really helped with my mental health, especially doing art with other people. It’s helped me take my mind off of everything and focus on something else for a little while.”

“I’ve learnt that even if it takes time, I can actually do stuff and I shouldn’t be giving up as quickly as I sometimes do. We’ve been working as a group and helping each other. I’ve loved learning the group’s ideas and styles and then using them to influence my own. I’ve learnt that it’s so much easier to create art than I first thought, and it’s been really fun to get involved. I’ve also learnt that you don’t need the most expensive cameras to make good art.

“Being creative felt good because sometimes everything is stressful, especially as I have assessments coming up. It’s been nice to be able to do something else besides that. Creativity has really helped with my mental health, especially doing art with other people. It’s helped me take my mind off of everything and focus on something else for a little while.”

*Names have been changed to protect participant anonymity.

Meet Nadia, a young carer from Hackney

Meet Nadia, a young carer from Hackney

Young carers from Hackney participated in our inspired:arts visual art project with Create artist Liz Jackson. The project – delivered as part of our ongoing partnership with Jackson’s Bread – incorporated the theme of wellbeing into a series of visual arts activities, including collage and tie-dye.

inspired:arts gives young carers vital time to do something for themselves, connect with others and a chance to express themselves through creativity.

Young carer Nadia* (11) shared her experience taking part in the project.

MY LIFE AS A CARER

“I care for my two little brothers, as I am their older sister. I first started caring when I was eight years old. As much as it’s my parents’ responsibility, it’s sometimes my responsibility as well. My life as a young carer is different because I have more opportunities to do stuff, like go out on trips and meet new people. Being a young carer has helped me gain skills others my age may not have.

“During the Create project we’ve been creating collages and learning about wellbeing and how we should look after ourselves and our mental health. I enjoyed making the collages because there were a lot of images I found that really represented me, like space themed pictures and cats. We used tie-dye to make our own books, and we made some charms to add to our books. We were shown step-by-step how to make the book to be homemade.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATIVITY

I learnt a lot, and it was really nice working with the rest of the group because I made friends.

“It felt good to do art because I’m really creative. People always tell me I have a big imagination. The staff and teachers were there to help me when I needed them, and Liz [Create Artist] would help me if I was stuck, because some of the things I found tricky to complete. I learnt a lot, and it was really nice working with the rest of the group because I made friends.

“Being creative is important because not everyone has the chance or time when they’re at home. They might have siblings to look after. Opportunities like this give people the chance to let their mind rest. It gives young carers a chance to be free and be a child while they still can.

*Names have been changed to protect participant anonymity.

NURTURING TALENT APPLICATIONS 2025/26

Nurturing-Talent-2024/25

nurturing talent applications 2025/26

Nurturing Talent is Create’s training programme aimed at upskilling professional emerging artists in community workshop facilitation.

Artists joining the programme will work as supporting artists alongside Create’s professional artists to plan and deliver creative arts projects with different community groups. They will also attend seven professional training days, during which they will explore their own facilitation style, practise leading activities and deliver their own workshop in one of Create’s community settings.

Nurturing Talent 2022/23 graduate Autumn shares their experience on the programme.

Nurturing Talent will run between March 2025 and March 2026. Up-to six artists based in London and one artist based in Greater Manchester will be selected, who are interested in gaining hands-on workshop experience to apply their professional practice in a community setting. We are open to applications from animators, dancers, drama artists, filmmakers, musicians, photographers, visual artists and writers. The programme is a 25-day commitment.

Create is committed to delivering high-quality professional development that is accessible to everyone. The Nurturing Talent programme is offered free of charge with a bursary of £1,800 towards expenses.

Applications will be open from 1 October 2024 and will take place in three stages. We will first determine your eligibility to apply through the completion of a short form. Eligible candidates will then be invited to proceed to the application stage. The final stage will be an interview with the Chief Executive and a Senior Project Manager.

HOW TO APPLY – NURTURING TALENT APPLICATIONS 2025/26

Download the relevant brochure to learn more about the programme and the application process:

Nurturing Talent London

Nurturing Talent Greater Manchester

The first stage of the application is now closed. Candidates who are eligible to apply will be contacted directly to proceed to the application stage.

NB: Please only apply if you have been invited to.

If you are deemed eligible to apply for Nurturing Talent, you will be sent an application form by email. Please note applications must be submitted in either Word or PDF formats only.

We would also like you to submit an informal two-minute talking head video (keeping the file size as small as possible and under 2GB) answering the following questions:

1. Why do you want to work for Create?
2. Why do you want to be part of the Nurturing Talent programme?
3. What inspires you about your artform?
4. What experience do you have delivering/supporting workshops with vulnerable children and/or adults?

Please note that we are not looking at your film skills: the quality of the video will not be scored (even if your art form is film).

submission of applicaTIONS

Completed application forms can be emailed to jo@createarts.org.uk (please type Nurturing Talent 2025/26 in the subject field).

Please upload your video to WeTransfer; you will then have the choice of either putting jo@createarts.org.uk as recipient or copying a download link, which you can send by email along with your application form.

Your application form and talking head video must be submitted by 10am on 15 November 2024.

Applications submitted after this application period will not be considered.

Interviews will be held on 16 December 2024 and 17 December 2024.

Please note that to take part in the Nurturing Talent programme you must be able to attend in person training days in London on all the dates below. These are an essential part of the programme and are non-negotiable. Please inform us ASAP if you know you are unable to attend on any of these dates: 

Final rehearsal of 2024/25 cohort: Monday 17 March 2025
Induction: Monday 24 March 2025
Artist Sharing 1: Monday 12 May 2025
Workshop Development Module: Monday 8 September 2025
Artist Sharing 2: Monday 17 November 2025
Workshop Rehearsal Module: Monday 2 March 2026
Workshop Delivery Module: Monday 16 March 2026
Exit interview: Tuesday 24 March 2026

Thank you for taking the time to complete this application.

SOLVEIG HERZUM ~ NURTURING TALENT 2024/25

Find out about how the Nurturing Talent programme influenced Solveig’s facilitation skills as well as her own artistic development.

Find out more

MEET MIKE POYSER, CREATE ARTIST

Mike Poyser Count The Beat (2007)

meet mike poyser, create artist

Mike Poyser, professional musician and Create workshop leader, began learning to play the tuba aged 10. Since then, his passion and dedication to the music industry has led him to a tremendously successful and varied career. Working with Create for 18 years, Mike reflects on his experiences. 

The Sound of Dickens (2007)
Mike Poyser delivering The Sound of Dickens in 2007

Who is Mike Poyser?  

I’m a portfolio musician. I play the tuba and I run workshops. I’ve been working with Create for many years and it’s one of the organisations that has influenced me the most. Growing up, I wanted to be a scientist, but halfway through my science degree I realised I was much better at music. I pursued a double degree in physics and music at Imperial College and the Royal College of Music, and I’ve been on a journey to develop a musical career since. I’ve completed a masters in music and I’ve been a junior fellow at RCM. Now I do all-sorts!

Tell us about the all-sorts.

I teach the tuba. I run workshops with Create, the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal College of Music. And I work as a performer, arranger and writer. Last month, I recorded a new video game soundtrack. I was playing some experimental music at the Barbican Centre on the tuba and also on the bones of a horse. I’m about to go on tour with a rock band across Europe, and with a pop star and a DJ later this year. It’s intensely busy but I love all of the different challenges and adventures.

A lot of the music education highlights I’ve had have been working for Create.

mike poyser

Such an exciting career! What are some of your biggest highlights?

Being on stage for the Aretha Franklin prom last year was just something else. It was a real pinch-me moment! A lot of the music education highlights I’ve had have been working for Create. Seeing young people get stuck in and go “I want to do that on the back of what we’ve done” is quite special. I was pulled into my first Create workshop last-minute, halfway through a music and maths project called Count The Beat. It was a huge grounding for me, in terms of learning my trade and how to work with different people across the spectrum of society. Because of that, I’ve developed my own craft from there into a huge chunk of my career.

Mike Poyser Count The Beat (2007)
Create artist Mike Poyser on math themed music project Count The Beat in 2007

What is working with Create like?

From a logistics point of view, Create is unique and brilliant. Working with them feels so organised and supportive. Every project is evaluated thoroughly. All of these smaller but important things have ultimately helped me grow and develop as a musician and as a practitioner. I’ve never received any training or development work from any of the other organisations I work with, whereas Create offers this as part of the package. It’s phenomenal!

For example, I took part in Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership training with Create in October 2021. It was an amazing course. To have these issues presented in such a clear way by this programme, with my time funded by Create, I felt very lucky to be involved. The training gave me the space to start thinking about how we can gain some ownership of these problems. I loved the idea that the young people could write songs about their environmental worries, and then look at the little things they can do to help.

That sounds great. We hear you’ve incorporated your love of maths into your work with Create too?

I’ve loved presenting my passion for numbers and how it can help young people with finance. As the cost of living crisis deepens, Create’s change:matters project has become more relevant than ever. [The crisis] is in the news and if you don’t know much about finance, and you don’t understand the terminology, it can be really stressful.

In the last year of change:matters workshops, it feels like the young carers have been more focused on the financial element than the creative part. Everyone is so desperate to learn how to navigate through the crisis as best they can. The project has been amazing and seeing it develop alongside this financial disaster that’s going on has been really interesting. But it’s also a sad reflection of where we are.

To see [Create] develop and change, remould and rebrand over the years, has been one of the joys of my career.

mike poyser

Why do you think that the creative arts are so important for the participants that Create works with?

Ultimately, creativity is an outlet. Whether you’re writing a song about spreadsheets, or about some of the most intimate emotions you’re experiencing in life, it’s a wonderful thing. It’s an important tool, which enables you to reflect on how you’re feeling.

I think it’s remarkable what Create has achieved in 20 years of existence. The way it’s navigated a really complicated political, social and economic landscape in this country is very impressive. To see it develop and change, remould and rebrand over the years, has been one of the joys of my career.

YOUNG PEOPLE TACKLE DISABILITY PREJUDICE AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS AT MANCHESTER LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2022

creative connection Manchester and Salford

YOUNG PEOPLE TACKLE DISABILITY PREJUDICE AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS AT MANCHESTER LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2022

On Friday 21 October 2022, creative:connection brought together children with and without disabilities in Manchester and Salford for an inspiring environment-themed music showcase at Manchester Central Library, as part of Manchester Literature Festival.

“SEEING THE WAY THEY INTERACT THROUGHOUT THE WEEK TRANSFORM… FOR ME, THAT’S WHERE THE MAGIC IS.”

Mike Poyser, create musician

Did you know that four in 10 parents of children with disabilities reported that their child ‘rarely’ or ‘never’ has the opportunity to socialise with non-disabled children?

Did you know that two-thirds of the British public feel uncomfortable when talking to disabled people?

creative:connection is our award-winning project tackling disability prejudice. The project brings children from special and mainstream schools together through collaborative creativity to encourage increased understanding about people with disabilities. Now in it’s seventh year, creative:connection in Manchester and Salford brought together 61 young people from four schools – Brentwood High School and Community College, Chatsworth High School, Loreto High School and New Park Academy – to connect over a shared concern – the climate emergency. Participants took part in four days of creative music workshops with Create musicians Bethan Roberts, Holly Marland, Matt Dunn and Mike Poyser, before coming together for a public Showcase during Manchester Literature Festival.

creative connection Manchester and Salford
Participant performing a solo.

“STOP CLIMATE CHANGE, ACTION PLEASE!”

Participants wrote, composed and rehearsed original pieces of music, paying homage to what they love about our planet, as well as addressing the issues it faces. One original piece entitled “Blah Blah Blah”, which samples Greta Thunberg’s famous speech, ends with a powerful chant. The performers left the audience feeling moved as they demanded “Stop climate change, save the bees! Stop climate change, action please!”

creative:connection Manchester and Salford tackling disability prejudice and the climate
creative:connection Manchester and Salford

Create musician Mike Poyser said “I think it’s really important that we look at things that are positive, rather than scaremongering. This week we’ve looked at how we really like animals, clean water, clean oceans and clean seas. We’ve decided we don’t like littering and we like recycling. Things like that are really important for children because it enables them to go and do those things. There’s very little point in panicking and saying we need to stop using so many fossil fuels, because there’s not much a child can do about that, but we can pick up litter, and we can ride our bikes to school.”  

a safe space to connect

creative:connection brings children from different backgrounds together, providing a safe space for them to work collaboratively, explore their creativity, build relationships and grow in confidence.

“I CAN DO MORE THAN I COULD BEFORE, DUE TO WORKING WITH OTHERS.”

creative:connection participant


The project seeks to break down barriers between disabled and non-disabled children. As lead musician on the project, Mike saw these relationships develop first-hand. He said “Watching the schools get used to working together is one of the main points of the whole project. The students try to help and support each other and that’s the joy of it all. If we had a project where we just made some nice music it wouldn’t be quite so exciting as seeing the way they interact throughout the week transform. For me, that’s where the magic is.”

creative connection Manchester and Salford
Participant playing the bongos during showcase.

Miriam Wild, Children and Young People’s Programme Producer at Manchester Literature Festival, said “For the past [few] years we’ve been working in partnership to deliver a festival event and it’s been amazing. We are always absolutely blown away by what Create manage to achieve in just a week with the four schools that they work with. It’s a great addition to our programme. Inclusive work is really important to us and [this project] truly is that.”  

“I FEEL HAPPIER DUE TO THE HAPPY ENVIRONMENT.”

creative:connection Participant

TAKING CREATIVITY HOME

Liam*, a student from New Park Academy, a school for children with social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties, shared his experience on the project. “I find it fun being creative, making a song and playing it. I’ve learned on the project that I’m very talented at playing guitar. Sadie [Chatsworth lead] gave me a guitar. It felt amazing because now I’ve got one, I’ve got a book to learn [from] and I can play all I want. I see a lot of potential in the guitar. The Chatsworth group are really talented people too. I’ve learnt that not only a few people are talented.”

Nicky Goulder, Create Founding CEO, said: “It has been so uplifting to see these incredible young people work together to create and then present such a powerful Showcase. The participants threw themselves into the project with open minds and enthusiasm, and the results are incredible. Hearing them create music about the issues our planet faces was deeply moving and a reminder that young voices can have such power. They are the future. A huge congratulations on their achievement, and thank you to Manchester Central Library, Manchester Literature Festival, and our project funders, The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation and The Tana Trust.”  

*Name changed to protect anonymity.

creative connection Manchester and Salford

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MEET RENATA, A CREATE ARTIST

participants on a community matters project with artist Renata Minoldo

meet Create artist, renata

Renata Minoldo is a London-based artist and educator who has been delivering creative projects with Create since 2018. We spoke to Renata about her practice, working with different community groups and the importance of creativity.

Watch the video interview or read the excerpt below.

“I’m a visual artist and educator. My practice is not about a specific technique, it’s more about exploring senses, feelings and emotions and gathering people together for them to connect with themselves first, then with others.”

renata minoldo, create artist

working with create

“I have been a Create artist since 2018, so that’s four years now. I met a lot of people online first. Now we have our own sharings and socials and that’s been amazing because I feel like part of a group. It’s really nice. As Create project managers get to know me better, I have more freedom which I really appreciate. I get to do more risky things or use very specific techniques that are out of the norm.

“I have learnt a lot from facilitating Create projects. For example, I have learnt how to read groups better. Recently we did an online project with adult carers in Enfield. After sensing a certain energy in the room, I decided to start every session doing some tapping, some self-massage, and a little bit of breathing and grounding into the space. After that, the participants kept asking for it in each session. They were so into it, so I think I’ve learnt to read the groups I work with better.

the benefits of creativity

“Creativity is everything. It is such a big part of my life. It is happiness. It’s in everyday life when you open your fridge and you decide what to cook with whatever you have. Creativity is innate to us. When we are children we don’t have so many boundaries regarding what’s creative and what isn’t. We can express ourselves freely. Over time we get a little more stuck in our own safety box, but creativity is such an important thing. It is absolutely related to our wellbeing. Being able to express ourselves creatively brings us joy.

“Creativity gives people a voice, but to get into that voice takes time, so I’m happy when I see someone can let go of their own judgements about themselves. I think that’s the first step. Everyone is an artist and we are all different, there is no right or wrong way to do things.”

Find out more about Create’s professional artists by clicking here.

JOIN OUR ARTIST POOL

Holly Khan: from Nurturing Talent to Board of Trustees

Holly Khan facilitating a workshop

Holly Khan: From Nurturing Talent to Board of Trustees

Holly Khan facilitating a workshop

Holly Khan is a professional musician and facilitator. In October 2021, we appointed her a Trustee of Create.

Holly balances her time between music composition and running workshops with a wide range of people, including our Create participants. She first came into contact with us through our emerging artist development programme, Nurturing Talent. We invited Holly to take part in Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership training this year, along with eight other Create colleagues.

We spoke to Holly about her journey with Create, her work with other organisations – including her own social enterprise, Heartstrings – and her passion for championing climate action.

Your journey with us began with Nurturing Talent. How do you feel about the programme now, in hindsight?

I found it incredibly useful. I already had a lot of the skills and tools, but Nurturing Talent gave me the connections and confidence to establish myself as a facilitator. Working across the year with such a vast demographic of participants, from SEND young people to older people living with dementia, really empowers you to feel like you can walk into any room and lead a workshop. After just a few months on Nurturing Talent, I started to feel confident in applying for paid positions, and I’ve never looked back. Now, 50% of my income is facilitation and 50% is composition. That really wouldn’t have been the case if I hadn’t done Nurturing Talent.

Holly Khan

Can you tell me about the social enterprise you’ve set up?

It started years ago in my brain; it started more tangibly about a-year-and-a-half ago. I applied for/was recruited by an organisation called Year Here. You get put on the front line of social injustice, you work in different areas, you research, you prototype, and you end up making your own social enterprise. On my cohort of people there was someone who has worked as a coder for NASA, there was a financial editor. I was there as a composer and I had massive imposter syndrome.

I am still working on it, but Heartstrings is running. It’s a creatively conscious childcare service. We provide workshops for six-month-olds to six-year-olds, and we focus on music, movement and mindfulness, to develop milestones and encourage empathy. We do this by employing refugees – refugee artists and care experts – to lead these workshops. There’s a unique cultural exchange in every workshop because we share songs and stories from around the globe. It’s a subsidised model so more affluent families pay more and lower income families pay less so there’s a social economic mix of people in the room. The vision is to expand all over London and regionally as well.

“I’m very lucky to do not only what I love but multiple things I love.”

Holly Khan

How does composition fit into this mix?

I’m very lucky to do not only what I love but multiple things I love. My first love is connecting through music. That’s in composition and in facilitation. I never like music for the technical aspects. I learnt very early on, when I was about 18, that if you’re not practising for eight hours a day then you’re not going to get super far as a classical musician or a session musician, so I said: ‘That path isn’t for me.’

I try to compose for things that have a social mission. I’ve written music for plays that raise awareness about undiagnosed heart conditions (Ticker by Tom Machell is currently at the Turbine Theatre raising money for CRY charity); and I wrote a piece called Their Voices, which was part of the Global Health Film Festival in the Barbican, about children in Iceland seeing their landscapes disintegrate. It was about climate change. And this last week I composed for Amal Meets Alice, which was commissioned for The Story Museum. Amal is a refugee puppet, based on a real Syrian girl. Handspring Puppet Company – the people who made War Horse – and Good Chance – the people who made The Jungle – have created her and she’s walking through cities from Syria. She was just in Oxford, and I was composing for that performance. It was amazing. Seeing 20,000 people turn up and support this cause. Everywhere she goes is an arts festival. And then yesterday I just closed an audio installation commissioned by Let’s Do London, the GLA, Mayor of London and Battersea Arts Centre. My piece was a provocation, that more could and should be done about women’s safety in light of Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard. That was really great to do.

HOLLY AND JOHN dancing crop wide

How did you find the Climate Reality training, and how do you think it will affect your work?

It was very eye-opening. It was very disturbing. The most disturbing thing to me is not only that these things are happening, but they’re not being reported. Having said that though, it was very hopeful. I really enjoyed learning about the ways to be hopeful; and how hope is a practice, how you don’t have to be a scientist to be able to take steps in solving the climate crisis: you can be an artist, you can be a musician. That was really important to hear. Because you can feel helpless.

How can we make it easy for people to buy into this movement? I’m half-Guyanese and half-British, and Guyana is incredibly affected by the climate crisis. When I look at my landscape in London, when I look out of the window, nothing has changed because of the climate crisis. So it’s really hard for people to connect to the fact that human beings in other parts of the world are having their houses ripped apart by flooding or fires. Having that understanding and thinking of the world as a borderless place is something I want to take forward and use as a practice, to get people to think about where they’re from, not just where they wake up, but where their ancestors are from, where their friends and family are from.

You’re championing this issue on our Board of Trustees. How do you think Create can take this issue forward?

First and foremost, it’s really exciting. It’s very common with a board of Trustees that I’m not only the youngest, I’m also currently the only person of colour and I’m a woman. These things all intersect. So my ideas about the climate crisis, and how I want to present that, all intersect with this historically not being a place where people like me would be able to do that. I’m very pleased to be that voice.

At Create, we’ve spoken a lot about how over the next 5-10 years we’re going to reduce waste, not only practices of recycling, but how in travel and transportation, in deliveries, in materials, we can make a difference and an impact. But also what I think I’m most excited about is how we can raise awareness thematically. Create interacts with hundreds of participants. How can we use the climate crisis as a theme to inspire people to take action? The environment is something that older people, young people, anyone can relate to, so what if we use this as a theme for the workshops and use that as a trajectory of change?

How does it feel being part of the Create Board?

It sounds like such a simple thing, but actually feeling represented and being represented is so important. What I’m most proud of is that anyone coming through Nurturing Talent, or any participant, young girls who experience racism, can see that it’s possible to get into these rooms. And not only get into these rooms but have a voice and use it.

How do you feel about your journey with Create, now that you reflect on it?

I feel very lucky. There aren’t many times in a freelance, self-employed or creative person’s life where there are tangible stepping stones. A lot of the time it’s side to side, you finish a job and you’re back to square one. But with Create there has been this amazing trajectory for me where everything I’ve done has added up and has become a ladder for me to climb. That is amazing. I would never have anticipated when I started Nurturing Talent that it would open all these doors and bring me to where I am now. It is down to the organisation trusting me and believing in me, and I want this to be a lifelong relationship.

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