High Peak Community Arts

Youth and Community Arts for the High Peak

Space to Explore – how we got here

We have planned and delivered a neurodiversity project led by and for neurodivergent adults, with accessibility built in. We considered how to make it accessible as possible by creating floor plans, the use of colour cards with moods on them, as well as information cards and videos explaining neurodiversity. We did a baseline questionnaire at the beginning of the project to assess what participants’ need in order to access the project, as well as what they wanted to achieve by the end of the project.

We delivered art projects on Tuesdays that express the thoughts and experiences of the participants, helping them to set life goals and improve confidence and wellbeing. The projects ranged from a series of mixed media projects focussing on participants’ special interests, to digital projects like photography and 3D rendering that expressed their experiences of monotropism.  As a result we produced zines, unique stand alone pieces, blog posts, information cards on the key themes, and accompanying videos.

The outcomes so far have been not only the beautiful artwork, but tangible benefits to the participants, and pointers from our steering group about how to make it even better. Participants gave continuous feedback about what they liked about the project, many saying they enjoyed the social aspect, the extra support from the workers, and producing high quality end products:

‘I enjoyed that, I went home and proper chilled after that’
‘Gave me the confidence to continue my creative writing, and make something of it.”
‘Gordon made me feel really listened to… included… genuinely it made me really happy and wanting to come back every week’.
‘I feel all woo…a double paged spread sounds really professional’
‘I enjoy it, it gets me out the house…’

The feedback from the steering group and feedback forms lead to creating subcategories of art projects, and set clear individual goals. This allows us to help participants to achieve personal goals through going to the sessions, and match participants to the artists in the field they want to work in. This has informed what we want from artists applying to deliver sessions in the coming year.

Artist call out for Space to Explore

We are looking for experienced community artists to lead creative activities on the Space to Explore project, possibly linking to the Cabinet of Curiosities theme.
Click here to download the full brief and application instructions.

You will lead a project from inception, deliver the sessions, and see the project develop into high quality art pieces and meaningful experiences. As lead on the project, you will develop your project ideas with us and get support from trained mental health support staff and volunteers when delivering sessions.

You will support neurodivergent adults in their creative abilities, as well as provide a safe space for them to be themselves and work towards their long-term goals.  We are especially interested in people who work and deliver sessions in the artforms detailed in the steering group section listed above. There are also opportunities for developing connections with leading arts organisations, artists, poets and creatives.

Click here for more on the process of the project, from Space to Explore project worker, Elinor.

Deadline for applications: 10th January

Shortlisting 14th January

Interviews, if needed, 21st January

Projects to begin early in 2025, running to at least summer 2026.

 

Send any questions to elinor@highpeakarts.org

SMART

SMART (Serious Makers of ARTs) launched in October half term thanks to a new grant from Northern Rail Community Improvement Fund.
The SMART scheme aims to support young people’s ambitions to enter the arts sector with a creative training scheme for age 13 – 25s, especially aimed at those interested in non-traditional routes into careers.

We began with a Creative Training Camp between 29 th – 31 st October, where participants learned the basics of planning and running a workshop, had one-to-ones with experienced creative professionals and stretched their creativity in Virtual Reality creative apps. Sessions were run by Trixi Bold, a community dance practitioner with 18 years experience of dance teaching and leadership training; Gareth Carbery, multi-intrumentalist and music producer with 25 years experience of collaboration and education; and Joseph Doubtfire, visual artist and specialist in VR applications for 3D sculpting. Trixi said “I always love running leadership training, it’s so important for young people’s development as artists or other creative practitioners”. Progression from these sessions will be supported by HPCA Creative Programme Manager, Sophie Mackreth, with over 20 years experience of producing community and youth arts programmes.

Nine people aged from across the age range signed up in October, and they will get future opportunities to test their skills as a young volunteer on other HPCA projects, access mentoring and apply for paid work on the youth programme. Two members are now joining the Derbyshire Makes steering group – watch this space for more news on that Sophie said “this approach is particularly suited for neurodivergent young people, or anyone who faces a barrier to accessing routes such college and university. These settings and the reliance on unpaid work experience have traditionally excluded many creative people from entering the creative industries.”

Anyone wanting to sign up should go to www.highpeakarts.org/SMART, or contact sophie@highpeakarts.org for more information. Sessions are at Victoria Hall in Glossop, but there is some transport support available.

Alison Bowry at HPCA – 1990 to 2024

Alison Bowry started working for High Peak Community Arts in 1990 and has tirelessly spearheaded the organisation’s work in both disability arts and creative health. Early projects included youth and community drama, such as The Heart of the Stone – a Buxton
community play in 1990 – and The Water is Pink and Other Colours – a New Mills project involving multiple groups in creating work to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the founding of the town. But her real legacy with the organisation will be in two long running projects, where she was able to develop arts practice alongside participants and create beautiful lasting artworks for the whole High Peak to enjoy.

Arts Exchange ran from 1997 to 2007, matching artists with local people with disabilities. These one-to-one projects sometimes developed into group projects, and often participants went on to practice the artforms independently as artists themselves.

Throughout Arts Exchange Alison recognised the powerful benefits of arts participation on mental health and wellbeing. The acclaimed Project eARTh began in 2010 to develop this work and reach as many people experiencing mental distress as possible. Although this work is currently paused and seeking funding, its success is undisputed.

In New Mills alone the public can see work in High Lea Park, here in Spring Bank Arts and on the Sett Valley Trail – across the High Peak you will stumble across lasting artworks on train platforms, in doctor’s surgeries and local beauty spots. Over the 14 years of the project, hundreds of people have felt the benefit of learning creative skills, making friendships and collaborating on artwork for the community. That impact lives on. None of this would have been possible without the passion and energy that Alison has brought to High Peak Community Arts – she is second to none an inspiring person to work alongside for the organisation, it’s workers, trustees, volunteers and most of all the participants she has always championed above everything.

‘It’s in Our Nature’ Showcase

We had a fantastic afternoon on 29 th September at Spring Bank Arts with the ‘Final Showcase’ for ‘It’s In Our Nature’ – celebrating all the work done in the past year by Project eARTh, Tall Tales and Film Cuts Club. We filled the Mackie Hall with visual arts, poetry and live performance; and showed films on a continuous reel in the Ingham’s Room, with plenty of tea, coffee and biscuits in the lobby. The place was buzzing with approx.150 visitors during the afternoon and 17 children performing excerpts from the Tall Tales’ Summer Show, ‘The Murderous Circus’. Here´s more photos from the day.

Sign up for October Half Term – SMART – Creative Training Camp

We are celebrating winning a grant from Northern Rail Community Improvement Fund!

This funding will support young people’s ambitions to enter the arts sector with the launch of SMART (Serious Makers of ARTs) a creative training scheme for age 13 – 25s, especially aimed at those interested in non-traditional routes into careers.

SMART will launch with a Creative Training Camp between 29th – 31st October, where participants will learn the basics of planning and running a workshop, have one-to-ones with experienced creative professionals and stretch their creativity in Virtual Reality creative apps. 

Sign up here:

 

Sessions will be run by Trixi Bold, a community dance practitioner with 18 years experience of dance teaching and leadership training; Gareth Carbery, multi-intrumentalist and music producer with 25 years experience of collaboration and education; and Joseph Doubtfire, visual artist and specialist in VR applications for 3D sculpting.  Trixi said “I always love running leadership training, it’s so important for young people’s development as artists or other creative practitioners”.  Progression from these sessions will be supported by HPCA Creative Programme Manager, Sophie Mackreth, with over 20 years experience of producing community and youth arts programmes.

For those who sign up there will be future opportunities to test their skills as a young volunteer on other HPCA projects, access mentoring and apply for paid work on the youth programme.

Sophie said “this approach is particularly suited for neurodivergent young people, or anyone who faces a barrier to accessing routes such college and university.  These settings and the reliance on unpaid work experience have traditionally excluded many creative people from entering the creative industries.”

Murderous Circus – brought the house down!

Anyone who has seen a Tall Tales show before will know that the young members of High Peak Community Arts had a whirlwind ready to bring to Buxton, and on 13th August we played two shows of Murderous Circus on 13th August to sold-out and almost-sold-out audiences.

More than 40 young people aged 8 – 16 joined the Summer School, working on the original story and script which has been written since the Easter holidays.  Murderous Circus featured their songs, dance and drama, with pre-filmed clips and animations projected into the Big Top – assembled in the Buxton Community School 6th Form Dance Studio.  Not everyone is born to be on stage, so some worked back stage, specialising in props and costumes – everything made from scratch from the beginning of August.

One audience member said “Where do you get the stories from?  It’s kind of chaotic, but in a way that most theatre just isn’t.  It’s brilliant!”

This year’s Tall Tales was part-funded by The People’s Projects which HPCA won in June 2023 in a public vote with ITV.  The young people involved began working with Benn Turton on the theme of ‘Wellbeing & Nature’ in intergenerational workshops in February half term and Easter holidays.  Those holiday workshop generated more than 20 different story ideas and began to weave them into one narrative.  Benn returned to evening sessions in Fairfield and Gamesley to flesh out the script and get feedback from new young people who have joined the project since Easter.  The group also spent evening sessions starting the music and songs with Gareth Carbery and Rizzy Stephenson, learning dance moves with Trixi Bold, making taster animations with Mark Turton and designing the poster with Andrea Joseph.

In the August Summer School they meet members from across the High Peak and put it all together into one stunning show.  If you’ve ever wondered how a cat-dragon is born, or where the source of all life springs, take a look at the pics, and watch this space for video coming soon! 

Another audience member (aged 3 1/2) said “Wow!”

Youth programme manager, Sophie Mackreth said “we love offering a wide range of arts to young people who are at the start of their creative journeys in life – the Summer School is designed to be inclusive of disabilities, neurodiversity and family resources, that’s why all our projects are free at the point of access.  As a result the audience will hear the voice and creativity of the next generation unlike anything they’ve seen before!”

After the show a parent said “Just wanted to say thankyou to all organisers and volunteers, my daughter had a great time and we were so pleased how she spoke like she did!”

Young participant, Jess said “I’ve come because you get to do loads of stuff you haven’t done before”, and Zoe agrees “yes, it’s having new experiences”.  Another participant, Orissa, who has done the project for 3 years says “It’s fun, with my friends and I enjoy the dancing – Everyone should watch because we’ve put hard work into it.  The show is intriguing!  So have a look and find out more!”

 

Sophie says, “We’re so lucky to have long-term funding from Arts Council England and The National Foundation for Youth Music which both support multiple elements of the youth programme.  For the Tall Tales Summer School we also rely on local funder The Bingham Trust and the long term partnership of Buxton Community School whose staff welcome us enthusiastically each year”

 

It certainly was a night to remember!

 

It’s in our Nature – Final Showcase – 29th September

It’s getting nearer to the big day! Do join us from 2pm – 6pm at Spring Bank Arts to enjoy and celebrate all our participants’ splendid achievements over the past year. In addition to the films, live performances and great variety of visual arts to see, there will be the gorgeous new ‘It’s in our Nature – A Journal For Any Year’, plus the Route 61 Poetry book for sale. We have now picked up the boxes of journals – they look splendid! Here is a sneak peak….