BREEZE 2013

BREEZE IS BACK for 2013 and i have only had chance to facilitate two workshops at the annual young peoples festival in Leeds! I delivered 'Recycled Jewellery Workshops' which were very popular - with girls and boys leaving with all sorts of upcycled accessories!

If you would like to attend the upcoming BREEZE or MINI BREEZE festivals check out the website below! There is so much to do!
http://www.breezeleeds.org/pg/2/Breeze_on_Tour

Digital Cultures Presentation, Newcastle

I had the fantastic opportunity of presenting my ideas around the iPad engAGE project to the Digital Cultures Group as part of the TWAM network. This was really interesting and due to the conversations and debates evolving from the group it inspired other ideas for digital work with older people.

If you would like to be involved in the next networking event contact John Coburn with an expression of interest at:
john.coburn@twmuseums.org.uk

Young People PASSED their Arts Award!!

After 5 months of workshops, visits, writing and personal development the young people from TARGET in Redcar were moderated for their BRONZE Arts Award and passed with flying colours, as part of the 'Moving On' Initiative directed by Tees Valley Arts.

It was a pleasure to be the Host Artist on this project and support the young people from beginning to end. The final event exhibiting their creative outcomes and presentation ceremony really brought a sense of pride and empowered the young people significantly.

These are a couple of the final Glass Pieces, created with Artist Rachel Gretton:

Colour Your Life, Arts on Prescription

'Colour your life aims to provide free access to artistic and creative activities promoting positive mental health and well-being'.

Check out their Promo Film which has just been released this week at:
http://vimeo.com/72759470

For the last 3 months i have been working on a Wednesday at The Lodge in Blackhill and Consett Park...and have recently changed over to the Tuesday sessions in Stanley (Venue changed). I have facilitated many Creative Techniques from Batik to Quilting and Printing. Being part of their creative journey over a long period you begin to see how the arts dramatically contribute to positive mental health and change lives. We recently did an evaluation and one piece of feedback read: 'If i didn't come here, i wouldn't leave the house'. Colour Your Life really do provide an essential service.

Here are a few of the outcomes from a variety of the workshops! The colours are fantastic!

iPad engAGE on Creative Dementia Arts Network..

In the next couple of weeks iPad engAGE will be on the Creative Dementia Arts Network and you will be able to find it at:
http://www.creativedementia.org/

I will also be delivering an interactive workshop at their National Conference on the 8th of April which i am really looking forward to! Keep Posted via their website to sign up for this fantastic conference!

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR UPDATES....

iPad engAGE on Crowd Funder NEEDS YOU!!!

 

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ipadengage/ 

The iPad engAGE Pilot Project which was undertaken from July 2012 to April 2013 was life changing for many of the participants who were part of its curious and digitally engaging journey. The most effective creative apps on the iPad became apparent, responding to the level of dementia in each setting. At the end of this Pilot Four Exhibitions were developed in the settings which really highlighted how digital creativity had inspired and changed the paradigm of dementia from negative to positive.

The main aim of iPad engAGE is to empower and provide new opportunities for this hard to reach group, allowing them to experience creative excellence supported through an iPad.

iPad engAGE hopes to raise £2,000 to purchase four additional iPads. These iPads will be used to explore creativity and the outcomes will be exhibited. The iPads will engage individuals with dementia, health staff and loved ones, inspiring a wider community.
By producing an exhibition it will give the participants a sense of pride and acheivement, allowing them to explore the links between digital media and physical outcomes. From my previous experience individuals benefit from Apps which relate closely to everyday tasks, this exhibition will bring the creations to life.

The four iPads will be used in facilitated iPad engAGE workshops alongside a supported loan system. During this time individuals will have the chance to explore and build on their creative confidence to create pieces for the final Exhibition. The iPads will also provide iPad Creativity Training for Health Staff and Artists to raise awareness of the importance of Digital Arts in Dementia Care.

The iPad engAGE workshops will be facilitated over approximately a year. The exhibition will then combine various Art Forms and levels of Dementia, with input off care staff, families and friends.

THE EXHIBITION
What will the Exhibition do?
o Promotes Digital Arts as an art form for older people
o Dementia awareness to the wider community
o A sense of self worth for individuals
o Confidence
o Pride!!
o Creates a digital age
o Provides an end goal and point of focus

If we raise even more than our target the iPad engAGE Exhibition will then tour, promoting this type of work as a platform for individuals with dementia.

Any sponsor would be much appreciated and contribute to this Generation! Its now time to give back to those who taught us....

If the target is NOT reached, you will receive all of your monies back….

If you would like access to any of the final iPad engAGE Evaluations, feel free to get in touch at: Claireford88@hotmail.com

(The full version of the film above can be found at: http://www.ipadengage.blogspot.co.uk/p/news.html)