tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91196432539688126622024-03-14T03:12:27.503-07:00CLAIRE HICKEYvisual artist / maker / creative practitionerClaire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-6396824544211422772012-08-22T03:55:00.000-07:002015-03-18T03:17:49.959-07:00Arts Co-ordinator, Kingshurst Arts Space & Solihull Gallery<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsPIrzU9BlM/Tz62uRecORI/AAAAAAAAAPM/zSq5K7p8yTM/s1600/047.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsPIrzU9BlM/Tz62uRecORI/AAAAAAAAAPM/zSq5K7p8yTM/s320/047.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710202283633686802" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
For two years, I worked with Solihull Arts Team as an Arts Co-ordinator, primarily helping to run <a href="http://kingshurstartspace.com/">Kingshurst Arts Space</a>. This is a community art project making use of an empty shop on Kingshurst Parade, turning the shop into a space with free activities for all ages and offering local people opportunities to take part in longer term projects, community focused events and initiatives.<br />
<br />
I helped to devise the changing programme of activities throughout the year, supported artists with their sessions and oversaw the general day-to-day running of the space. I also set up and ran the Community Gardening session, the Arts Award group and developed an Early Years session with a local volunteer. It was a very rewarding role and I really feel the space (which is still running) made a difference in the community and continues to do so. <br />
<br />
My freelance work for Solihull Council also allowed me to plan and deliver gallery education in the only contemporary art space in the borough - Solihull Gallery. My duties included developing education packs and activity booklets for each exhibition, devising talks and workshops for visiting schools and promoting services to all the schools within the local area. Working closely with the schools, we hoped to develop the gallery education programme so that it became a regular income stream and basis for new school based art projects in the future.Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-38744451340995145442012-07-27T03:52:00.000-07:002015-03-18T03:24:47.517-07:00Artist in Residence, Bushbury Nursery School<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xeIKYAj1WxM/Tz182uNgYHI/AAAAAAAAANs/p32jpo6fp6E/s1600/DSCF5555.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xeIKYAj1WxM/Tz182uNgYHI/AAAAAAAAANs/p32jpo6fp6E/s320/DSCF5555.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709857182135115890" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
This residency started in April 2011 and was a day-a-week fixture for over a year. Working with the staff and a new headteacher, I set about to creatively consult on a number of issues and ideas about how the nursery could develop in the future. This led to projects that changed the spaces of the nursery both indoors and out, and also followed the children's own interests to create exciting learning experiences. Group visits to the local churchyard acted as a provocation for storytelling and mark-making; whilst experiments with light and shadow and then clay stimulated their imagination and expressive use of materials. Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-80667524155256277012012-03-17T03:43:00.000-07:002015-03-18T03:25:12.570-07:00Creative Clay, Solihull Libraries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bcG0n5_rf2s/VQhMSA28-mI/AAAAAAAAAWg/cCXfJybstV0/s1600/DSCF2227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bcG0n5_rf2s/VQhMSA28-mI/AAAAAAAAAWg/cCXfJybstV0/s1600/DSCF2227.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
As part of the Lifelong Learning season, I delivered Creative Clay workshops to under 5's and their families in various Libraries across Solihull. This was a good opportunity to deliver art based activities to a new audience group and work with a messy material within a traditionally 'clean' environment. I also facilitated adult sessions in other art processes across the Borough.Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-83208225254507052322011-12-01T11:03:00.000-08:002015-03-18T03:32:06.658-07:00Art Play, mac<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/TM8I8D5Vg3I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/JOjvYJWUWbA/s1600/pics+063.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/TM8I8D5Vg3I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/JOjvYJWUWbA/s320/pics+063.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534652294992593778" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a></div>
<br />
When the mac reopened, I worked with the Producing team to develop Early Years and family activities including Art Play which is now a successful class for 2-5 year olds. Visual art sessions were devised which used the mac's changing programme of events as inspiration and linked in with wider art forms such as performance and music. The activities focused on exploring different materials and offered various props as a provocation for process-based learning where the making was as important as any end-product that may be created.<br />
<br />
The mac also held an Early Years one day event for a large number of Early
Years providers in the Birmingham area in 2011. As part of this, there were
several creative activities for visiting families and carers to take
part in, of which I helped to plan and deliver. Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-39518339816475771452011-09-07T05:50:00.000-07:002015-03-18T03:37:42.810-07:00Make & Take, mac<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/THlIskB9yRI/AAAAAAAAAI4/Bd23fpNzBek/s1600/DSCF3636.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/THlIskB9yRI/AAAAAAAAAI4/Bd23fpNzBek/s320/DSCF3636.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510515549487876370" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
<br />
In addition to my Art Tutor role, I also delivered Make and Take sessions at mac once a month which were based on the current exhibitions. These simple, free, drop-in activities for any age and ability formed part of the gallery's education programme and enabled people to use art to explore different themes found within the exhibited artwork.Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-30702829396114680452011-07-26T03:54:00.000-07:002015-03-18T03:42:11.275-07:0075, Sharmans Cross Junior School<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pc-mQVWjHWM/Tz1_nBmxNxI/AAAAAAAAAOM/jb06dVhUUrY/s1600/DSCF5626.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pc-mQVWjHWM/Tz1_nBmxNxI/AAAAAAAAAOM/jb06dVhUUrY/s320/DSCF5626.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709860210998327058" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
As part of the artist collective <b>HIVE</b>, I was invited to deliver a series of creative workshops for Arts Week at Sharman’s Cross School, Solihull. The school was celebrating its 75th Anniversary and we worked with Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 developing ideas that linked to the schools history and the experiences of school for pupils past and present. Engaging our art practice techniques and collaborative processes, we facilitated the production of responsive pieces which were showcased in a celebratory exhibition and open evening. I worked with Year 3 looking at the school site, the history of the local area and how/where the children feel they belong in their wider community. This resulted in works that decorated a favourite place in the school for them, the playground gazebo.Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-35490515374942354892011-07-03T05:46:00.000-07:002015-03-18T03:45:41.765-07:00Arts Assistant, Solihull Gallery & Arts Complex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xFfoZ_NHoE0/VQhOMIzRtvI/AAAAAAAAAWs/Tp1Csl7V_Mo/s1600/lots%2B126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xFfoZ_NHoE0/VQhOMIzRtvI/AAAAAAAAAWs/Tp1Csl7V_Mo/s1600/lots%2B126.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In 2009, the Arts Development Officer at Solihull Council was looking for new
volunteers to help out with different aspects of the gallery. As I was interested in working within a gallery and arts education
department I offered my services and between us we developed this into a
one day a week internship. My main tasks were to co-ordinate an
exhibition for artists with Autism and Asperger Syndrome across all age
ranges and to develop an education pack for the gallery to send out to
local schools. <br />
<br />
The internship then developed into a paid, casual post where I worked one day a week. In this role, I researched future opportunities for the complex including touring exhibitions and developing the arts programme. I also took responsibility for the e-newsletter and database of artists, as well as designing posters and press releases for one day events within the borough, helping select and co-ordinate our first arts and crafts fair and assisting with gallery exhibitions. Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-63845336985413484702011-03-12T03:34:00.000-08:002015-03-18T03:51:40.201-07:00Victoriana, Bright Space & Worlds End Infant School<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--vHw1xQJCKY/Tz1yFqEe4oI/AAAAAAAAAMs/Z-vgMh8UsPA/s1600/Victorian%2BTea%2BParty%2B2002.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--vHw1xQJCKY/Tz1yFqEe4oI/AAAAAAAAAMs/Z-vgMh8UsPA/s320/Victorian%2BTea%2BParty%2B2002.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709845344093659778" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
This was a fantastic project where I worked with two Year 1 classes at Worlds End Infant School on a Bright Space project. Initially, the idea was to explore maths concepts through food but it developed into something really exciting when the theme of Victorian cookery was chosen. I programmed a week-long timetable of activity from cooking sessions to learning Victorian songs and decorating tablecloths and bunting. At the end of the week, we had a celebratory costumed Victorian Tea Party which family and friends were invited to and everyone got to sample the fidget pie, piccalilli, marzipan fruits and Victoria sponge cake we had made. I also designed and printed a set of food postcards to document the project which were distributed amongst all the children to act as a lasting legacy for the school.Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-74689129008823295312011-02-05T07:19:00.000-08:002015-03-18T03:53:38.447-07:00Watch This Space 7, engage<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J4CkEXzEWA8/VQiQMyyU38I/AAAAAAAAAW8/raCkw1KCOdw/s1600/pics%2B149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J4CkEXzEWA8/VQiQMyyU38I/AAAAAAAAAW8/raCkw1KCOdw/s1600/pics%2B149.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
On behalf of Solihull Gallery I attended this professional development programme for Gallery Educators run by engage. This involved three training days at Iniva, Modern Art Oxford and Ikon Gallery and a three day placement at a partner school followed by a small gallery education project. I visited Lode Heath School, a secondary school in Solihull, in order to observe how they use art and galleries to enrich their curriculum and impact students learning. I then arranged a visit to Solihull Gallery for Year 10 pupils to view the Pak-Keung Wan exhibition and take part in an art workshop that linked their current topics with his work. A follow-up school visit was also planned where I built on the work the students had done at the gallery and created new links to future projects.Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-43823029573790249932011-01-05T07:21:00.000-08:002015-03-18T13:43:27.244-07:00Reveal 2 Art & Autism, Solihull Gallery<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdPsgY34OAA/Tz1uMky9KpI/AAAAAAAAALw/zQ8R3hLLYvY/s1600/DSCF4384.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdPsgY34OAA/Tz1uMky9KpI/AAAAAAAAALw/zQ8R3hLLYvY/s320/DSCF4384.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709841064890542738" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
After the success of the pilot Reveal: Art & Autism at Solihull Gallery, I helped develop and curate the project Reveal 2: Exploring the Link Between Art & Autism in 2011. This focussed on three key strands; an exhibition of artwork from regional practising artists, an educational programme for children at local special schools and a book that documented the project and showcased work from national artists with autistic spectrum condition and Aspergers syndrome. As part of this, I was commissioned to deliver a number of art workshops at several special schools in the Solihull area and a masterclass in the Gallery. The workshops consisted of exploring the theme of Identity through art, allowing a select group of pupils to use a range of materials to express aspects of their personality, likes and dislikes, and ideas for their perfect day; themes inspired by the work of the exhibiting artists. Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-10388750504942225012011-01-05T07:20:00.001-08:002015-03-18T03:57:36.715-07:00Happy Ever After Days, mac<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/TSShFQrAzFI/AAAAAAAAALU/6zQzV_u3cvU/s1600/DSCF4268.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/TSShFQrAzFI/AAAAAAAAALU/6zQzV_u3cvU/s320/DSCF4268.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558744951828827218" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Inspired by the Lost Happy Endings production at mac, myself and other artists were invited to devise ideas for visual and performing art workshops that would be part of their family days. My two workshops used text from the storybook itself as a starting point "<span style="font-style: italic;">The Happy Endings had flown back to the forest like homing pigeons and were hanging from the ancient silver birch</span>". Families created their own happy endings real or imagined using a wide range of materials to represent and share their stories with each other and hang them on our own tree.Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-91718857116910871132010-07-02T05:45:00.000-07:002015-03-18T03:59:38.069-07:00The Moving Edible Garden, Bright Space & Marlborough Junior School<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/THk8gsTrlSI/AAAAAAAAAHw/iqKausZTvK4/s1600/DSCF3450.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/THk8gsTrlSI/AAAAAAAAAHw/iqKausZTvK4/s320/DSCF3450.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510502151411701026" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
<br />
This was an amazing project to be part of. I worked as the lead artist and gardener with Marlborough Junior School and Bright Space and the aim was to explore the question "How can we maintain a healthier lifestyle?". Working with a class in Year 4, I developed an idea for an edible garden where everything could be eaten - much like a healthy version of Willy Wonka's tasting room! We had 10 sessions at an allotment plot to grow our own fruit, flowers, herbs and vegetables and had loads of fun activities along the way to engage the children in their learning. The children became Pest Police for the day, wearing superhero costumes and police helmets and patrolled the plots looking for pests. They also had tasting sessions and made scarecrows. At the end there was a big party with healthy food made from what we'd grown. They also performed a dance they had developed with a dance artist and took part in a cookery day with a professional chef. It was a great experience for all involved, and I wrote a book about the project which can be viewed and bought at <a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1452433">blurb.com</a>Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-27727287591752610402010-05-06T11:38:00.000-07:002015-03-18T04:04:06.206-07:00Family Learning, Alumwell Nursery & Millfields Nursery<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/S23LTQ_rzXI/AAAAAAAAAGI/zwKF4E9fKlw/s1600-h/DSCF2691.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/S23LTQ_rzXI/AAAAAAAAAGI/zwKF4E9fKlw/s320/DSCF2691.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435223857146088818" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
As part of my artist residency at Millfields Nursery, I planned and delivered family learning projects for parents, carers and their children. The first project was based on Memory Boxes and lasted 5 weeks. Together, adult and child decorated papier mache boxes with family photographs, made puppet people and 3D maps of their area, and painted plaster casts of the children's hands. I also supplied them with a little notebook each to take home with them to document different aspects of home life with pictures, stories and words.<br />
<br />
This was a very successful pilot and was extended to share the learning with Alumwell Nursery. It also inspired a new family learning project at Millfields with a focus on the different ways that adults and children can work together creatively at home, in the garden and out and about using recycled materials, story spaces and big and small play. Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-6755103465707361432010-04-27T06:32:00.000-07:002015-03-18T04:06:47.387-07:00Artist in Residence, Millfields Nursery School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RLVs0qREpo8/VQiS5R7NBQI/AAAAAAAAAXI/ucOldG7XWc4/s1600/DSCF2324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RLVs0qREpo8/VQiS5R7NBQI/AAAAAAAAAXI/ucOldG7XWc4/s1600/DSCF2324.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This was a year long residency that I started just after Easter 2009 with the aim to support the creative learning of the children and over time involve parents and carers so that they are aware of all the developments the children are making. I began the project inspired by the children's own interests and significant times at the nursery. When their new playground was opened, we looked at Environmental Art focussing on colour and pattern, big and small. Following their interest in playing families we looked at things relating to people including investigating what's inside our bodies, how we move and how we live. The use of different materials each session enriched these experiences and provided opportunities for the children to communicate their thoughts and ideas.Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-2558458291801739352010-04-20T10:48:00.000-07:002015-03-18T04:11:59.938-07:00Art Technician<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/ShwPqRmdixI/AAAAAAAAACI/v6sSZW_1M4A/s1600-h/100_0293.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/ShwPqRmdixI/AAAAAAAAACI/v6sSZW_1M4A/s320/100_0293.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340160477108210450" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
At the beginning of my career in the Arts, I worked part-time as an Art Technician in a busy secondary comprehensive school. This enabled me to develop my professional practice by gaining experience of working in an educational setting whilst attending many training courses. My main tasks involved managing the Art Department's three rooms and ceramics studio, supporting the teachers with their lessons, maintaining stock, creating displays and exhibitions of student's work and assisting pupils with their use of materials. I also ran a weekly Art Club for pupils to drop in and try different art techniques. </div>
</div>
Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-38676355891901621972009-12-19T03:54:00.000-08:002015-03-18T04:13:34.640-07:00Gifted and Talented Art Club<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/S23IoiX4A7I/AAAAAAAAAFo/P_i9Z6ttcrw/s1600-h/Best2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/S23IoiX4A7I/AAAAAAAAAFo/P_i9Z6ttcrw/s320/Best2.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435220924053324722" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
<br />
A group of KS3 and KS4 pupils were selected to take part in a Gifted and Talented After School Art Club where I was a Art Technician with the aim of improving their art skills and designing the school Christmas card. I facilitated several one hour sessions over the half term before Christmas 2009 with this group. I used drama games to allow the group to get to know one another and creative consultation methods to find out more in-depth ideas we could use in the designs. The three main areas of investigation were "What is art?", "What does school mean to you and the local community?" and "What does Christmas mean to you?" As they were creating designs that would be seen by the community and other schools I wanted them to focus on positive messages. This enabled the pupils to think about how ideas and feelings can be represented through art.Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-5159979019395462982009-08-15T10:00:00.000-07:002015-03-18T04:18:30.207-07:00Craftshop, Playtrain<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/SsX1V7kH8qI/AAAAAAAAAFI/oMwZLazKulg/s1600-h/Becky+Irwin.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/SsX1V7kH8qI/AAAAAAAAAFI/oMwZLazKulg/s320/Becky+Irwin.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387982286333932194" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
The Craftshop project organised by Playtrain, aimed to introduce contemporary and traditional craft and <span class="textItemBlock" id="lblPageContent">explore innovative approaches, processes and materials across a range of art form</span>s to young people with mental health issues at Birmingham Children's Hospital and associated sites. I facilitated three seperate sessions with different wards focussing on creating pieces of wearable art made out of paper. The pieces were then included in a public exhibition "All About Me" at the end of the project which showcased the work created during all the craft workshops the children had participated in.<br />
<br />Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-37469636040313106022009-04-30T11:12:00.000-07:002015-03-18T04:22:58.319-07:00Cre8us Creative Partners in Learning<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/Sh0SSOUf5jI/AAAAAAAAAEI/nQlOwR9QsRo/s1600-h/DSCF1991.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/Sh0SSOUf5jI/AAAAAAAAAEI/nQlOwR9QsRo/s320/DSCF1991.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340444837422294578" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
<br />
Cre8us was the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Creative Partnerships branch. From January until April 2009, I attended a training course delivered by Cre8us that enabled practitioners to work with schools on creative learning projects. The course covered many aspects of the specialist projects that Creative Partnerships delivered and included the opportunity to work with a school on a mini-project following the CP framework. In a group with two other creative practitioners, I planned and delivered a project at St Mary and St Benedict's Primary School in Coventry working with a mixed Year 1 and Year 2 class. Their focus was on exploring creative ways of learning maths and numeracy and making it fun and accessible for the children. Our idea evolved into The Kingdom of Numbers; inspired by fairytales, the three kingdoms allowed the children to explore elements of the 2, 5 and 10 times table through role-play, collections and stories.Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-30858458221824802452008-09-28T19:00:00.000-07:002015-03-18T04:24:38.945-07:00In the Light Garden, Artsfest<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/Sh0LDjOIDdI/AAAAAAAAADw/OImnr6LvvBw/s1600-h/Artsfest.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/Sh0LDjOIDdI/AAAAAAAAADw/OImnr6LvvBw/s320/Artsfest.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340436888753278418" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>For Artsfest 2008, I worked with a group of artists from the Flying Start course to deliver a creative workshop called In the Light Garden. It was a great opportunity to put all our practice from the course into action, working as a team to meet deadlines, buy materials and deliver some exciting art activities. We had a really good spot in a marquee in Victoria Square next to professional organisations such as Craftspace, Playtrain and New Art Gallery Walsall and were visited by lots of families. Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-85996134401106122142008-08-28T11:08:00.000-07:002015-03-18T04:25:30.332-07:00Mystery Island<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/Sh0Fh36mqNI/AAAAAAAAADo/56gj0qmJKqc/s1600-h/Beach.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/Sh0Fh36mqNI/AAAAAAAAADo/56gj0qmJKqc/s320/Beach.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340430812634851538" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
During the start of the summer holidays in 2008 I assisted a friend with a summer school project she was delivering for Highgate Education Action Zone. It involved planning 5 different sessions for primary school children as part of a larger scheme to help them with their transition to secondary school. The theme was Mystery Island so we planned lots of art activities inspired by the idea of creating a desert island. The children made tropical birds, jellyfish, papier mache sandcastles, pirate hats and palm trees. The weather was very hot and sunny adding to the holiday feel and the children enjoyed the activities, making new friends along the way.Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-69778356246258162562008-08-20T11:04:00.000-07:002015-03-18T04:27:35.022-07:00Changing Spaces<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/Sh0DKkLJPeI/AAAAAAAAADQ/OCbBqv6tewk/s1600-h/Changing+Spaces3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/Sh0DKkLJPeI/AAAAAAAAADQ/OCbBqv6tewk/s320/Changing+Spaces3.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340428213175270882" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
<br />
My interest in early years work led me to apply to be a trainee on the Changing Spaces project co-ordinated by Leighswood School in Walsall. Over the course of several months, a creative space evolved in Forest Arts Centre for visiting children from nearby Children's Centres to explore. Working with several other professional artists, the space was changed to create new experiences each time and to inspire the Children Centre staff to try out new ideas and take risks within their own settings in order to promote the creative learning of the children. Later in the course of the project, the artists visited several of the settings individually to work with the staff on changing the spaces of the nurseries themselves responding to more personal and individual needs.Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119643253968812662.post-49810984426302017402008-04-20T11:03:00.000-07:002015-03-18T04:29:05.163-07:00Flying Start<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/Sh0B6oWgIwI/AAAAAAAAADI/drXZJKvaw7M/s1600-h/Cultural+passports+2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v0I3Wsyq_q8/Sh0B6oWgIwI/AAAAAAAAADI/drXZJKvaw7M/s320/Cultural+passports+2.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340426839907115778" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></div>
<br />
Flying Start was an accredited professional development scheme for artists who wanted to work in community and participatory arts and gain experience in planning and delivering creative workshops. Set up and run by Birmingham City Council, it provided the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of workshop and project delivery via placements and support sessions. I was part of the September 2007 intake along with 20 other visual and performance artists.<br />
<br />
My main placement was with Lorna Rose at Lillian de Lissa nursery school. Working in an open-ended and child initiated way, Lorna would help early years children on their creative learning journeys provoking some amazing experiences along the way. This became a highlight of the course for me and inspired me to follow in her footsteps with future early years work and process-led learning.Claire Hickeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15981618638798340730noreply@blogger.com