Tag: Fenland

Evaluation Case Study: Art in the Fens

Posted on by Alice Cramer

This case study is part of our project evaluation for 2019/2020.

Art in the Fens with artist Kaitlin Ferguson was one of the first Creative Conversations in Isolation commissions. With Kaitlin, we trialled new ways to use digital creative activity to encourage connection with the green spaces on our doorsteps.

We’ve worked with Kaitlin before on the Brandon Tales and Trails event so this was an opportunity to respond to the changes we all faced in the pandemic through different creative activity. People were finding connections or reconnecting with nature on their daily walks during lockdown and Kaitlin’s project showed simple art projects and interesting techniques to make a creative response to the Fenland landscape.

Download the full Art in the Fens case study here.

Read the full 2019/20 evaluation report here.

An excerpt from the case study:

Kaitlin was commissioned to deliver four online ‘make along’ tutorials to be shared through IGTV on Instagram and promoted through new environmental partner networks that align with current strategic activity in Fenland.

Graphic showing participation and audience numbers. Facebook: 1016, Youtube: 158, Twitter: 2502, Instagram: 231.
Graphic showing participation and audience numbers.
Facebook: 1016, Youtube: 158, Twitter: 2502, Instagram: 231.

The videos were shared through our social media channels over four weeks. The launch of the project coincided with ‘Celebrate the Fens‘ Day on 20th June 2020, which was hosted by @FascinatingFens.

Pictured above: Two screenshots of Kaitlin’s video workshops – On the left, drawing plant materials from observation, and on the right using felt to create a textural representation of the soft strata of the Fenland landscape.

Download the full Art in the Fens case study here.

Read more about the Art in the Fens project and watch the short series of workshops by Kaitlin Ferguson here.

A Spell for Understanding by Fenland Young Carers

Posted on by Alice Cramer
Watch the Spell for Understanding video presented by Centre 33.

A SPELL FOR STANDING IN ANOTHER’S SHOES

Stir with a spoon and drink in the first light of dawn.

Take the sight of an owl on a long-distance flight

The sound of Gorillas, chest-beating at night

The companionship of one hundred dogs

The patience of badgers who cross roads in the fog

Inside this spell is the shape of our days

All that we are, not all that we say,

This spell must include all that is true,

So stir in a unicorn’s miracle horn,

the noble heart of a lion, the smile of a snake

A giraffe’s dream of the stars

And make no mistake,

Most important of all, hidden away,

a spider’s web, broken, and mended again.

Drink our potion, hear our spell, look us in the eye

Put on our shoes and walk by our side.

These screenshots from the video show the young carers taking part in art activities during these Zoom sessions with the artists.

We commissioned artist Hilary Cox Condron to collaborate with a group of young carers and Centre 33, Cambridgeshire charity supporting young people. Together they did creative activities and tried different artforms with guest artists Bel Greenwood, Dan Donovan and MarketPlace Creative Agent Colin Stevens. Their responses became a poem, expressive paintings and a short film that was shared as part of Young Carers Action Day on 16 March 2021.

Amanda at Centre 33 said about the project:

“The art project has been amazing and having the opportunity to work with some amazing talented people has been really inspiring for the Young Carers. We can’t thank Hilary, Colin, Bel and Dan enough for their great work in putting together the film clip for Young Carers Action Day. The reaction to the clip from parents and the Young Carers was “wonderful”. The clip has also been shown in school by some Young Carers Champions. Thank you to everyone involved.

The Young Carers wanted their voices heard about what it is like for them, what their life is like and what qualities they have which they carry forward into their day to day work.

The Young Carers produced some wonderful art work, drawing and painting. They got to look at animation, putting clips together with sound effects as well as working with a writer to put together a spell/poem to get their voices heard. Hilary, Colin, Bel and Dan were so good with the Young People, they engaged them, gave them confidence and really inspired them to continue with Art in its different forms. I am feeling so proud with what they have achieved, that they worked so hard and we’re really pleased with the end results – their engagement has been brilliant.

We have Young Carers that have grown in confidence thanks to everyone. Young Carers that at first wouldn’t have their cameras on as they were shy and then they completed sessions with the camera on and enjoyed showing their art pieces. We had a Young Carer that was so quiet she didn’t speak to them by the end of the sessions she was chatting most of the time in the session and putting across her views more in speech.

Excellent Project, amazing people I look forward to the next one.”

Thanks to Emily, Erin, Pheobe, Lennon, Paige, Kezia, Amber and Sophie

Supported by Centre 33 Amanda Cawthorne and Richard Cross

Creative Producer: Hilary Cox Condron

Film maker: Colin Stevens – Theatricx

Guest artists: Dan Donovan and Bel Greenwood

Work with us as a Freelance Producer

Posted on by Alice Cramer

MarketPlace Freelance Producer

Contract: Freelance, fixed term.

Timescale: May to September 2021

Project fee: £5,400 (equivalent of £180 per day for 30 days)

Location: We envisage a combination of remote online working and, government restrictions-permitting, delivery in locations in Fenland and the Forest Heath area of West Suffolk.

Deadline: Please apply by 10am, Friday 9 April 2021.

The Project

We have commissioned Dance Theatre Company Casson & Friends for a community engagement and audience development project as part of our programme for 2021.

Originally scheduled for 2020, this project was postponed due to Covid-19. As a result, we have an opportunity to learn from the ways Casson & Friends have developed their work in response to the pandemic, and produce a participatory choreography and dance project with local communities in Fenland and the Forest Heath area of West Suffolk. 

The Producer will work with the MarketPlace team and Casson & Friends to manage the following planning and delivery schedule phases:

1) Planning – logistics, creative planning, engaging community members and artists

2) Creation – the activity itself, practical engagement with the community, live performance and filming

3) Post-Production – premiere and promotion of any filmed elements, follow up activity, signposting and evaluation

Interested? To find out more download the full brief here.

Writing the Landscape and a touch of FenScaping…

Posted on by Lorna O'Brien
FenScapers- Writers inspired by landscape. A groups of people with umbrellas to protect from the bright sun, make their way through “Madeleine’s Patch” – an open field of natural wild Fenland flowers.

The FenScapers writing group are currently preparing to launch their first venture into the world of podcasts. Reading their own writing with original music composed by Chris Ellis.

Originally called ‘Writing the Landscape’, the group has continued to meet online throughout 2020 and has explored poetry, short stories and dialogues, sharing their thoughts and experiences of nature during the first Lockdown and the ongoing pandemic situation.

During 2020 many people rediscovered a connection with the landscape and environment around them. Daily walks and gardening began to become the “new norm” for many people. It was this that inspired the writing group

As part of our Creative Conversations in Isolation commissions programme, writer Bel Greenwood facilitated an online space for people to share their discoveries through writing and to be inspired by the Fenland landscape. Using her wide range of experience, Bel encouraged writers of all levels to find and celebrate their voice.

“Fen. One New Year’s Day, in deep frost, teasels shining in the watery light of early morning, I scrunched my way along the bank, revelling in the crispness of the air, the sunlight filtering through the rising mist.” Paul
“Dear Robin. If I’d only sat up and taken the time to smell the damp earth and appreciated the beauty of my garden instead of considering my work a trial to endure, things could have been different.” Jacqui Fairfax

The writers are continuing to explore their ‘writing voices’ and are considering where the body of work that they create will lead them. MarketPlace has been pleased to watch the writing group develop their writing skills but also their ability to think about how to reach out to others across the region.

You can read some of the writing on the groups new blogsite – Leaping The Lockdown – which is all about nature, our relationship with it and the changes the writers have noticed in themselves and the world around them.

VISIT Leaping the Lockdown

Read an article about the project in The Local View, online magazine for Cambridgeshire

Art and the Fens with Kaitlin Ferguson

Posted on by Lorna O'Brien

As part of our Creative Conversations in Isolation commissions programme, we commissioned artist Kaitlin Ferguson to make a series of ‘make along’ videos showing simple creative ideas to try at home, all inspired by the unique landscape and environment of the Fenland region.

We were delighted to support the first “Celebrate the Fens” Day on 20th June 2020, which was hosted by @FascinatingFens by sharing the first video.

If you live in or near the Fens, take a walk, follow Kaitlin’s suggestions and when you’ve got something to share post it online with the hashtag #ArtAndTheFens. We’ll be hosting pictures and artworks in the growing Fascinating Fens online gallery.

If you don’t live in or near the Fens, then explore the landscape near you, take a walk, look out your window or find some lovely landscape pictures online and ‘make along’ with Kaitlin.

Week 1 – Make Your Own Recording Card

Subtitled by Stagetext www.stagetext.org

Download Kaitlin’s helpful guide to creating your own recording cards here (100 KB)

Week 2 – Make Your Own Mini Sketchbooks and Line Drawings

Subtitled by Stagetext www.stagetext.org

Download her helpful guide to creating your own pocket sketchbook. (2.61 MB)

Week 3 – Make Your Own Anthotype Print

Subtitled by Stagetext www.stagetext.org

Download her helpful guide to making your own anthotype print (393 KB)

Week 4 – Make Your Own Soft Strata

Subtitled by Stagetext www.stagetext.org

Download Kaitlin’s handy guide to creating your own ‘soft strata’ with textiles (1.46 MB)

Image reads "Featured on #ArtOfCovidChat podcast series. Click here to listen."

Listen to Kaitlin’s podcast episode from the series #ArtOfCovidChat here where she discusses the challenges and triumphs through lockdown with publisher and illustrator Ric Savage.

Art Journaling with Marian Savill and Barleycorn Cafe

Posted on by Lorna O'Brien

During lockdown in May, we worked with artist, Marian Savill to make four short ‘make along’ online workshops to help you create your own Art Journal with materials you have around the house. As Marian says, ‘ANYONE can do it!’

Marian had been running Art Journaling workshops with the Meet Up Mondays group at The Barleycorn Cafe in Mildenhall. This video series offered an online alternative when the workshops were stopped due to Covid-19.

The workshops were posted in a Facebook event here, and on the Barleycorn Facebook page every Monday at 10am. Afterwards participants were encouraged to invite friends and share photos of their creations via social media, tagging the Barleycorn Cafe, Mildenhall and MarketPlace.

Make your own Art Journal along with Marian, watch the Introduction to get started.

Marian’s Introduction to Art Journaling

Monday 27th April

Marian introduces the artform she ‘loves loves loves’ to share with everyone, Art Journaling.

Subtitled by Stagetext www.stagetext.org

Week 1 – Making your own Art Journal

Monday 4th May

Marian presents the first of her Art Journal creative workshops – explaining how to get started with the making of a journal from a surprising variety of papers, envelopes, magazines and much more.

Subtitled by Stagetext www.stagetext.org

Download Marian’s helpful guide to making your own Art Journal (1.2 MB)

Week 2 – Backgrounds

Monday 11th May

Marian presents her second workshop in her mission to get everyone art journaling! This week we take a look at backgrounds and how we can use different mediums to create colour and texture.

Subtitled by Stagetext www.stagetext.org

Download her helpful guide for creating your own background here. (1.82 MB)

Marian shares some extra examples of backgrounds she has created in her journals. Designed to inspire you to get creating your own backgrounds!

Week 3 – Using Text

Monday 18th May

Marian Savill continues her workshop series, this time looking at TEXT – letters, words, fonts, calligraphy, poems, books, magazines, newspapers…

Subtitled by Stagetext www.stagetext.org

Download Marian’s helpful guide to using text in your Art Journal (1.2 MB)

Need some inspiration to get started? Download Marian’s handy printable prompt sheet. (474 KB)

Week 4 – Fripperies

Monday 25th May

For her fourth and final workshop in her Art Journaling series, Marian talks about FRIPPERIES – decorating, embellishing and bringing your pages to life with artistic flair and little tricks that will make your journal a unique reflection of your thoughts.

Subtitled by Stagetext www.stagetext.org

Download Marian’s helpful guide to using decorating and embellishing your journal here. (1.87 MB)

Download Marian’s printable template sheet here, which includes personalisable labels, tags and mini envelopes. (462 KB)

Image reads "Featured on #ArtOfCovidChat podcast series. Click here to listen."

Listen to Marian’s podcast episode from the series #ArtOfCovidChat here where she discusses the challenges and triumphs through lockdown with fellow artist Genevieve Rudd.

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