Read my news and updates

Hello Reader,

Welcome to my third e-newsletter of the year. It's still raining but I have seen glimpses of sunlight and felt the warmth on my back this March. As I've mentioned before, this email, is my way of keeping in touch, without you having to scroll through the Metaverse.

I want to share highlights, share my artistic journey, and make space to acknowledge and applaud those I encounter along the way. I invite you to grab a biscuit or two, make yourself a cuppa and take a look. You might discover overlapping opportunities, learn something new or, depending on age and wisdom, find my news nostalgic. Either way, it would be delightful to share, support, and stay connected.

Snapshot

Pause. Step outside. Take a walk. Come back.

This month has been dedicated to getting things in order. I've welcomed a fantastic Creative Assistant and organized my thoughts to effectively share and expand on my ideas. Some of my projects are legacy ideas, while others are just taking shape, and a few are already well-established but require a shift or change to revitalise them.

In addition, I've focused on preparation and planning, assessing capacity, energy, and levels of enthusiasm. Ultimately, it's been about prioritizing. To enhance efficiency, I aim to be more strategic. As a freelancer, wearing multiple hats is part of the job. What's crucial is finding ways to sustain a career without burning out and, perhaps more importantly, enjoying the journey.

March Moments

🎨 Dive into SEEN, a vibrant podcast spotlighting South West artists. Join me as we unravel the joys and collaborations shaping the local creative scene. Join Charlie in a captivating 50-minute conversation with Meier Williams, a multi-talented artist with over 30 years of experience in the creative industry. As a painter, drawer, costume maker, photographer, and equine artist, Meier brings a wealth of insight to the table. She discusses grappling with self-doubt, the profound importance of believing in your creative process, and the art of reinvention.
 

🎙️You can find SEEN on Spotify or on my website

Milestones

🎉 Reinventing the School Play

This month, I teamed up with Charlotte Kransmo, another artist in the city. Inspired by my recent directing experience with the Playhouse Play 'Genius' at Theatre Royal Plymouth, I discussed an idea with Charlotte. Having directed the same age group (8-11-year-olds) in a previous Playhouse Play, she was enthusiastic about collaborating.

Last July marked the conclusion of a four-year art-based project engaging over 2500 young people, called With Flying Colours. Myself and Charlotte were both part of this project. We were two of 104 employed Arts Professionals that worked across 15 schools. You can watch the inspiring video created by Fotonow below, showcasing the impact of projects like this on artists, schools, and young people. It was a privilege to be interviewed alongside one of the Year 5 students from Woodfield Primary, Morgan.

🎉 The idea? Together, myself and Charlotte are developing a resource pack tailored for Key Stage 2 for Plymouth's primary schools. This project serves as a legacy, drawing from our experiences as practitioners and informed by the WFC Evaluation Report penned by Lizzie Hilton. While we're still in the early stages, we're excited about its potential, sustainable framework, and continuing to foster co-creation in schools.

Take Away

Exploring various ways to stay active has become essential. I've realised the importance of embracing new training methods to maintain fitness and health and ease boredom. Recently, I challenged myself to hike another section of the South West Coast Path, covering 10 and a half miles from Basset Cove Car Park to St. Agnes, accompanied by my mum and her 14-year-old dog, Barny, who proved to be a trooper despite his age, all under a sliver of fantastic sunshine!

Another effective method for me is using the Conqueror App. Currently, I'm virtually running the Florida Keys and swimming the English Channel, all while based in Plymouth. It's incredibly motivating to see yourself move along the map towards the end. (And get a sent a medal when you've finish!)

If you were to explore a completely different form of exercise, what would it be?

MOVEMENT DIRECTOR / KINESPHERIC PRACTITIONER / CHOREOGRAPHER / PERFORMER