Welcome – from Jo…
Hello everyone!
Thank you for taking the time to read our Newsletter. You can find out what our Community of Creatives have been up to over the last couple of months, and what’s coming up.
It’s been another busy term and things continue to evolve. As always, it’s inspiring to see where our participants take the Creative ideas we have on offer. We have been settling into our new venues and are currently running our groups from: Glossop Central Methodist Church; Whitfield Community Centre; Elim Christian Centre; and The Place @Glossopdale School. We have been warmly welcomed by all and want to say thank you to each venue for their support to our groups. It really is appreciated. Lots of positives are coming out of developing our links with the wider Glossop Community.
We secured the funding for a new group which began in December: Arts Award. This is a Nationally Accredited Qualification and is for 11 – 16 year olds. We have been enjoying getting to know the group and are excited to see where the young people go with their Art Projects. This takes our total number of weekly groups to 15, plus 1 fortnightly group, and 1 monthly group!
Another Journalling Course began in January and the participants are really getting into the sessions and building their own unique, inspiring and uplifting journals. GAP Makes is continuing to develop after re-starting back in November. Thank you to everyone who has given their time to this. We hope you enjoy the next term’s Creative Offerings at all our sessions!
Jo & The GAP TEAM
Group News
Arts for Wellbeing, Arts & Minds, & Space to Create
We started off the term getting back to basics with some pencil, paper, and experimental drawings. But the drawings to come out of this process were by no means basic – they were very interesting and unusual. Activities included taking our pencil for a walk, as we followed areas of interest across the spaces we were in. We also explored ‘drawing from the inside out’ using two pencils – a challenge to the norm of drawing an outline of an object first. Some ‘silly drawings’ made for lots of entertainment and individual style.
In the last few weeks, we have begun felt making. This is an ancient technique which transforms fleece from sheep through felting into many practical items like clothing, but also creative art pieces too. This process has proved a very mesmerising and hypnotic at sessions. Some participants have been translating their drawing and painting into a felted artwork, whilst others have worked spontaneously. The simple repetitive nature of this craft has created an energy of calm.
Hands on Art
Hands on Art have been creating paintings of Winter snowflakes and looking at tartan and Scotty dogs for Burns night. We explored Chinese New Year celebrations. It’s the Year of the Horse.
This half term we sadly lost two of our Hands on Art group members, Shirley and Christine, we have such fond and happy memories of you both.
Club Night
after a January break, Club Night was back to celebrate love in all its forms with a Valentine’s theme! 😍 A big thank as always to Brook Tavern for hosting us and making us feel so welcome.
Mind The GAP & Junior GAP
All the young people have enjoyed exploring doodling techniques and then having a go at wet felting this term. It’s been great to see everyone getting involved, having a go and producing some lovely results. The Friday group has been quiet of late, with lots of our participants moving onto new school places – this is exciting for them and we wish them well. Not long after, we suddenly had a flurry of new referrals though, and have 6 new starters! It’s great to welcome new people and to give them the space and time to be creative.
Creative Carers
Our second 12-week Creative Carers Course started in January and we welcomed 8 new participants. Everyone is enjoying the chance to make and create – the feedback is so positive and people are really embracing the idea of taking time out for them. Self-care is so important and we have been looking at ways that we can make time whenever we can, even if just for a few minutes at a time.
Community News
Work with Schools
Elle will be working in Glossopdale School this term. We offer local schools courses of 6 x 1 hour sessions of Arts for Wellbeing, based on the 5 ways: Connect, Give, Keep Active, Keep Learning, Take Notice.
Fundraising
At Christmas, Faye who runs the fabulous Allotment Bride Florist, allotmentbrideflorist.co.uk, ran her annual Storytime with Santa and made GAP her chosen Charity. Faye has donated £1000 to us! We are so grateful for this kind donation Faye, thank you!
On Saturday 31 January, Elle lead a team of GAP staff and volunteers in a fantastic Community Event: ART & PositiviTEA! The event was a great success. People dropped in throughout the afternoon to get Creative and find out more about our Charity and how Art can help with the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. A big thank you to Elle, Clare, Catherine, Rhoda, Lindsay, Gail and Barbara. As well as spreading the word about what we do, we raised £300.
Reminders
Sessions this term will run: Monday 23 Feb – Friday 27 March
£1 MINIMUM CONTIRBUTION PER SESSION
Our income from weekly subs has dipped again. We need everyone’s ongoing support to keep offering all all that we do. We ask for a minimum contribution towards all running costs which is significantly higher than this. We continually fundraise for the rest. Please support your group by remembering to make your £1 contribution each week. If you feel you can afford to give more, this would be greatly appreciated.
Upcoming Events
Come and see us:
Friday 27 March 12.30 – 3pm – GAP Makes SALE @ The Market Hall
Saturday May 9th – Derbyshire MAKES – Weaving in the Square
30 & 31 May – Glossop Heritage Weekend
17th – 23rd March – ND Celebration Week
30th March – World Bi-polar Day