Creative Curiosity

Celebrating a collection of creative voices from the rural communities of North Pembrokeshire

This pioneering project by SPAN ARTS and its partners, Preseli Cares and PAVS (Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services), harnessed the power of creativity through artist-led workshops to address the inequalities experienced by the rural and Welsh speaking communities of North Pembrokeshire including Carers, Young people and those Over 50. Using the arts as a vehicle to support creative, community curiosity these workshops offered an accessible platform to share in what is missing in their lives and what changes need to be made.

The Creative Curiosity project led by SPAN Arts was funded by the Arts Council of Wales, Arts Health, and Wellbeing fund. The project delivered in partnership with Hwyl Dda Health Board connected with the aims of Preseli Cares, a wider ‘Community-led care’ project delivered by Cwmpas, which worked to explore how communities can develop solutions to their own care and support needs.

Creative Curiosity harnessed the power of the arts to spark community curiosity and inspired communities to co-produce solutions to social care issues at a community level through a programme of artist-led workshops developed and delivered by SPAN Arts. Collage, textiles and animation, workshops took place with carers, people aged over 50 and young people in rural North Pembrokeshire.

The project used the arts as a vehicle for community creative expression and well-being whilst creating a visual evidence base evidence base for a social model of service provision, to inform local policy and lobby for long-term systemic change. SPAN also commissioned Cwmpas to capture the wider impact of the Creative Curiosity project through Ripple Effect Mapping.

The visual evidence base has been exhibited in the community and the artwork and film have been displayed in the Head office premises of Hywel Dda.

Visual Arts for Carers

Our Visual Arts for Carers sessions led by artists Di Ford and Fran Evans used collage as a catalyst for conversation, The group co-created a series of beautiful pieces of art that covered topics from transport to access, health care and loneliness to create a stunning oversized collage.

The piece is interactive and spans over 2 meters wide. Not only is the artwork a visual feast for the eyes, but it also conveys many powerful messages that the group felt needed to be addressed.

Textiles for People over 50

Artists Nia Lewis and Imogen Mills invited participants to bring along their mending projects or simply to explore the decorative possibilities of traditional and contemporary mending techniques. Participants were absorbed by the rhythmic and often mindful processes while the gently supportive atmosphere fostered discussion of home, care, community and wellbeing.

Thoughts, quotes and stories relating to these themes were captured in stitch on a pair of embroidered table cloths. The workshops provided a space to pause, be creative and sometimes practical while considering themes that affect the present and future of care and support in the rural communities of North Pembrokeshire.

Digital Art for Young People

Artists Gemma Green-Hope and Hannah Rounding lead a series of digital art workshops for young people. Through a series of activities using apps for smartphones and tablets, they explored themes such as identity, home, community and care. The pop up workshops in various locations were an opportunity for lively conversation and creative play. 

The apps used are all free and accessible, enabling the young people to continue to create in the future. The animated artworks created in these workshops have been edited into a short film to be shared with the community.

The Creative Curiosity Celebration

The Creative Curiosity Celebration marked the coming together of the work made as part of the Creative Curiosities workshops.

The exhibition showcased the beautiful Textile, Digital and Visual Artworks developed through these workshops and celebrate the creative recounting of the communities built into the works.

The Creative Curiosity Celebration event was held in the Canolfan Hermon Community Centre, Hermon. People could drop in to explore the exhibition celebrating the Textile Art & Visual Art workshops, watch the digital art from the Young Peoples workshop and enjoy a free refreshment, chat about the project and join in the feedback discussions.

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