Creative Health – how do you get your daily dose?!

This week is Creativity and Wellbeing Week!

As part of this annual celebration of creativity I was asked by Arts Development Company (in my role as Creative Health Lead) to share an example of everyday creativity in my own life, Something that supports my wellbeing.

I’m lucky that I often get to use my creative practice in my working roles…. but in my daily life I find benefit from quieter and perhaps less traditional creative activities such as gardening and cooking – both offer opportunities to be creative.

The other thing I’m utterly committed to is my ‘Mental Health Walk’, which I try to do as daily practice, and spend an hour breaking up the working day and walking around my neighbourhood.

The movement, the change of scene, all aiming to let my mind rest and wander.

On the days it needs more encouragement, I sometimes set myself a task… a distraction, and often this is photography.

Using my phone camera, I settle on a theme or idea and occupy my mind with the activity of noticing.

I love that I can’t get this wrong, that it’s just for me.

I love taking a series of photos and making really quick decisions about which one to keep and which to discard.

I love that I don’t even share these mini works of art, that for an hour I’m totally invested in getting right… the colour, the focus, the scale, the composition.

I am breaking with tradition today…. sharing the documentation of a recent journey.

I was inspired first my the sweet chestnut blossom, one of my favourite sights of the year, and often one I lament missing, this series is a photo-study on early Summer and new growth.

What inspires you to be creative in your daily life?

Creative Writing – Evaluation & Documentation Report

Click on the image for the evaluation and documentation report of this 10 week creative writing project.  The report includes both traditional style evaluation, as well as documentation of the work done on the course and examples of some of the writing generated.

So if you’ve ever wondered what happens in a community based writing class….. this could be just the insight you were after!

Intro to Creative Writing Poster_Gemma Contact_EDAS_FEB_2016

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Someone else’s Story – Scratch Performance

I’ll be performing at Lighthouse Poole on Thursday as part of Scratch the Surface – an evening of short works across genres.

Tickets are £5 available from the theatre and kick off is at 6pm.

Someone else’s story is based on the written testimony of an Iraqi woman, artist and refugee, I will attempt to retell her story, in my words and question what it means to be engaged in the act of speaking for another.

With thanks to Bournemouth Red Cross for their support.

Creative Writing Course

New creative writing course starting soon at EDAS in Poole open to people using EDAS service, as well as people who may not currently be in treatment, but are in recovery from addiction.

If you attend EDAS, please speak to Michelle about signing up. If you’re interested in attending the course, but aren’t currently in treatment, please contact me directly for more information and to book a place.

The course will be held in Poole, and will be an introduction to lots of exciting ideas in creative writing, sessions will be fun and you will be encouraged to work at your own pace.

This 10 week course has been kindly supported by Lit Up! and Arts Council England

Intro to Creative Writing Poster_Gemma Contact_EDAS_FEB_2016

PlayGroup

Theatre Classes for Grown-ups!

PlayGroup is a new theatre workshop group for adults, the workshops will be taught like short courses, each focusing on different aspects of theatre and performance.
An emphasis will be placed on supporting both your individual interests and the groups aims over the duration.

There are lots of benefits in regularly taking part in theatre workshops, some you might expect, like learning stagecraft and performing skills, others may surprise you as you develop your own creative skills and accomplish things you didn’t think possible.

  • Learn about acting and performing
  • Develop your confidence and speaking skills
  • Make new friends and have fun
  • Benefit from gentle activity and challenge your mind

The workshops will be taught at an ‘open’ level which means they will be suitable for people who may never have acted before through to people who already have experience in performing.

The sessions will place a focus on fun and learning at your own pace, and I promise that I never make anyone stand up in front of an audience who doesn’t want to!

Taster Workshop 

If you’d like to find out more before signing up, I am offering two opportunities to attend a free taster class.

When:

Either:

  • Monday 29th February – 7pm – 9pm
  • Thursday 3rd March – 10.30am – 12.30pm

If you can’t attend a taster, but would be interested in joining the classes, please get in touch and I will add you to a contact list for updates of future times and classes.

Where:

Old School House by the Sea, Gladstone Mews, Bournemouth, BH7 6BG

How to book and find out more:

Places are limited, so please get in touch to express your interest & reserve your place.

Email: gemmaalldredartist@gmail.com

Tel: 07957 68 95 68

 

Looking Forward to 2016

As we approach the end of 2015 I am already excited to jump into a year of exciting new projects and developments, including a creative writing project supported by Lit Up!, working with people with experience of addiction and in the Spring I will be lecturing at Arts University Bournemouth, working with Acting students to develop their skills and knowledge in applied theatre contexts.

I’m currently in the very early stages of speaking with agencies working with refugees and asylum seekers, with a view to making some early work based around this research to be performed at Lighthouse Poole in February.

Season’s Greetings and hope to see you in the New Year!

the questions are in…..

I recently challenged you all to come up with some questions, that we could ask of art, together.

There are some seriously deep thoughts amongst the responses,  which is great.  I guess people really do think art can answer those huge universal questions, as well as those day to day fearful observances which challenge our sense of self.

I’ve picked three questions, which I’m now setting my mind to responding to artistically.  As this is an online dialogue,  I’m starting to feel a little challenged by thinking about making something which is performance and able to work online, digitally, etc.  However I quite like that challenge as its something new to think about.

A process has begun, watch out for the ‘answers’. coming soon.

 

 

Question Art….

Art can often help us understand a bit more about life’s great questions… why are we here? How can I be happy? what will I have for tea next tuesday?!

I’m going to try and respond to some of these questions by creating 3 short works which will be made for online publication.

But I need your help…. I’d like you to suggest the questions! You can post to Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments below.

You have until 11pm on wednesday 4th November, be as silly or as serious as you like!

Go…..