CapeUK is an independent, not for profit organisation, committed to improving the lives of young people, preparing them to face the future with creativity and self belief. CapeUK work with early years settings, schools, youth centres and community organisations, as well as universities, the cultural and creative sector, and other organisations which share their aims.
CapeUK's ‘Early Years Creative Cookbook’ in partnership with Earlyarts and Calderdale Council’s Early Years Team, will inspire early years settings, professionals and practitioners across the country to engage in similar creative approaches. This is a free, practical, resource, to inspire early years teachers and staff, supporting them with planning, engaging artists and other external partners in creative learning activities. This publication brings together ‘recipes’ of creative development, drawn from a project instigated by Early Years Learning Consultants for Calderdale involving artists, children and staff from across six early years settings who worked with national organisations CapeUK and Earlyarts.
Each ‘recipe’ explores a different way of creative learning, with a different enquiry question in mind each time. For example, Ash Green Children’s Centre wanted to find a way to empower families to take an active role in children’s learning. Operating in an extremely deprived area, they wanted to help create an environment where children are encouraged to learn, and believed parents to be crucial in this. Their enquiry question was, “How can we empower our families to take an active role in our children’s learning?” The aim was to use drumming and drum circle techniques to build confidence, self-esteem and relationship building skills. The project was shown to have a positive effect on children and parents, with increased confidence and self-esteem, as well as parents claiming the sessions allowed them to relax and gave them more confidence. The sessions have also improved relationships between parents and staff.
The ‘recipes’ are divided into sections, making them easy to re-create or adapt, as well as explaining the results for both the children and the adults involved. The “top tips” section outlines experiences, and adds some reflective tips on how the project could be improved. Each ‘recipe’ ends with an explanation of the lasting effects on the early years settings and those involved, as well as any plans for the future they may have.
Madeleine Irwin, Creative Director, CapeUK says; “We believe this resource explores creative development – learning about the opportunities to nurture children’s creativity within early years pedagogy. The resource effectively demonstrates how these projects supported; personal, social and emotional development, physical development, communication and language, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design.
“CapeUK is dedicated and committed to supporting leaders of creative education, both regionally and nationally, we will continue to innovate, advocate and implement creative education to ensure young people have the skills and creative capacities to face the future.”
CapeUK’s ‘Early Years Creative Cookbook’ is available free on their website here
An earlier resource, ‘One Small Step for Early Years, One Giant Leap for Children’ contains more creative enquiry projects, and can also be found free on the website here
The ‘Shadows of the City’ project took place at Ripon Evolve, a centre for young people aged 16 to 19 who are not in education, training or employment. Engaging in a variety of activities, volunteering, community projects and skills, they work towards personalised programmes, which include qualifications that suit their individual needs.
In December 2012, 12 young people passed their Bronze Arts Award, with support from their Adviser Bev Skaife. Each young person was encouraged to select an art form unique to them, motivating them whilst developing their confidence, self esteem, and transferable skills. Also, the young people were encouraged to participate in a group event, developing their ability to work with others.
CapeUK is responsible for the strategic development and advocacy of the Arts Award in the Yorkshire, Humber and North/North East Lincolnshire regions (in partnership with the Arts Council and Trinity College London).
One of the major activities the young people took part in was a sellotape sculpture project. They took it in turns to fully sellotape each other, cut the sellotape off and then re-stick it to create translucent, life size figures. They then did this to other objects and began forming different poses with the sculptures. The sculptures were used for a week of candle lit visits to Ripon Museum called ‘Shadows of the City’. The sculptures were placed into different cells and areas of the museum to reflect the fragile nature of the workhouse inmates, as well as providing a beautiful and haunting visual impact for visitors to the museum.
The young people who took part were at different levels of ability and stages of the process. They were taught in a classroom session on a weekly basis, with opportunities to work on individual projects outside of the classroom, and with specialist artists in their chosen fields. The Adviser found this complex and challenging to orchestrate, but felt that the rewards of their individual achievements outweighed these challenges. The young people attended a variety of events in the area. Some students delivered lessons to their peers, while others worked in small groups, to pass on the skills they had learned. Additionally, the young people involved in the ‘Shadows of the City’ event gained an opportunity to work with older members of the community, who were volunteering at the workhouse museum. They also had an opportunity to show their work to primary and secondary school students who attended on education visits. This project has forged further links with all members of the local community and has been a major success in relation to community cohesion.
“I really enjoyed doing Arts Award. I developed my creative writing so I feel more confident in my art form. The moderation process didn’t make me feel uncomfortable, and it gave me good ideas for Silver, and I received really good feedback that helped me creatively.” Beccy, 17, Ripon Evolve Student
“Arts Award was a real eye opener to the creative side of education. We had 4 stages to complete. I made a 20 minute lesson on how to make a piece of music. It was a production lesson. It was so productive and enjoyable that it inspired me to go on to do music production at Leeds college of Music. Overall it was a great experience and I’m glad that I did it.” Shane, 18, Ripon Evolve Student
“The Award In The Arts allows young people to explore and demonstrate their creativity in ways that they had previously thought impossible. It is a fabulous way to engage and motivate young people to develop their skills in a positive and exciting manner.” Bev Skaife, Ripon Evolve Arts Adviser
“What an interesting group of young people all following their own art form. There is some excellent work there. It is very creative and there is good use of communication skills using both photos and DVDs. Fantastic sellotape bodies. The work also engages the young people with the community especially as these young people have often been so disaffected at school. ” Susie Barrett, Arts Moderator
The Art of Persuasion: campaigning to keep arts, culture and creativity alive
The nextArts Learning ConsortiumNetworked Learning Eventtakes place on Thursday 19th January 2012, 12:15-4pm, at a North West venue TBC.
Lizzie Crump from the renowned Cultural Learning Alliance (CLA) is joining us to give an update on national policy and practice. She will also be sharing some of the CLA’s tips for success when it comes to advocacy of the arts and culture in the fight to keep cultural learning central to the lives of children and young people.
This pertinent and timely theme will generate lots of useful ideas both at an individual and an organisational level during this current cultural cold climate. It will also help to shape your new-look ALC and its new campaigning role across the North West.
Also included is a useful link to the Cultural Learning Alliance for background reading, including the brilliant resource ImagineNation: A Case for Cultural Learning.
You can book either via the online booking form here or by calling 0161 237 9590before Thursday 12th January.
Please share this event with your contacts, using our new share tool at the top of this page.
ALC members are entitled to 2 free places at this event.
New special rate for students is £10
Non-members £50.
For more information please contact Aziza Mills T: 0161 237 9590 or E:Aziza.mills@capeuk.org
This light touch twilight networking session will include an opportunity to see M6 Theatre Company's 'One Little Word' a thought-provoking and creative piece of theatre devised for 3-6 year olds. With conflict resolution as its central theme, One Little Word aims to extend communication skills, enhance emotional well-being and enrich children's experiences of the world. This will be followed by a discussion about the piece, its use within early years settings and its impact.
Earlyarts supports professionals to nurture the amazing creative potential of all young children (0-6) by providing high quality resources that enable arts, cultural and early years professionals to discover their own creative potential. Membership is free for online resources, or members can upgrade to benefit from training, master classes and leadership coaching.
Share practice, learn skills, build ideas, find inspiration and make connections on a local level at an Earlyarts Event. Read what others say about Earlyarts training and events here.
These events focus on Professional Development, using “Outdoor Creative Learning” as our specific focus. It will be led by Phil Lowde, an Outdoor Creative Practitioner, Forest School Leader and Early Years Specialist, delivering Outdoor Learning & Play, Team Building, Problem Solving, School Grounds Design, Staff Training & Development and Forest Schools. In March we will be exploring “Growing & Gardening”, and how this can be creatively used with pupils.
CapeUK will be working with 16 families (potentially up to 60 participants) as part of the Sheffield creative family learning scheme which is happening 25-26 Aug and 1-2 Sept in Shirecliffe, Sheffield.
Week One: 25th & 26th August 2011 Introducing basic film making skills – on these first two days, there will be 4 artists running a carousel workshop system where families will work to build narrative, learn animation skills and construct sound stories and get to grips with the video cameras we are using. The focus will be on asking questions: Who are we as a family? What makes up our story? Where do we live? Each family borrows a camera and takes it home for the week.
Week Two: 1st & 2nd September 2011 1st September will be a downloading of material and editing day and 2nd September will be a celebration and screening of the films we have made, with Oscars, popcorn and a red carpet.
Sophie Hunter, Project Coordinator says; “The aim of the project is to provide families with an opportunity to learn to make films, and have lots of fun being creative together. This project aims to connect families and children from 3 of the primary schools which feed into Parkwood Academy – Longley, Watercliffe and Pye Bank. Often projects are focussed on just adults or just children – but in this one, we’re hoping that all family members will enjoy the experience of working on something together, learning from each other, and sharing their finished films with the other families involved.”
The Shirecliffe project is one of four CapeUK Creative Families Schemes; they aim to build on CapeUK’s experience of family learning and develop services that have previously been supported through the regional management of the Creative Partnerships programme.
Rosie Marcus, CapeUK Director; “CapeUK’s Creative Families Schemes build on our experiences, associates and expertise of family learning – to continue championing creativity in the lives and learning of children and young people and those who support them. The mix of activities encourage interaction within families and interaction between families –working together, parents supporting children and children supporting parents.”
If you are interested in being part of the project please call Sophie on 07803 611631
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Distributed 19/08/2011
Photo Call - For more information please contact Jo Jessop, Communications Manager on 0845 450 3700 or jo.jessop@capeuk.org
The White House has named CAPE Chicago Executive Director Amy Rasmussen a "Champion of Change".
As a Champion of Change in arts education, Amy was invited to Washington for a "round table" policy discussion on July 19. The President's office named nine arts education Champions nationwide. The group met with representatives from the President's Office of Public Engagement and Domestic Policy office, the US Department of Education, The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, Americans for the Arts, the Arts Education Partnership and the Creative Consortium. The lively discussion included Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, who joined in for part of the conversation. She pledged the President's support for arts education and applauded all efforts.
An impressive group of celebrities also participated as representatives of the Creative Consortium. Actors Tim Daly, Minnie Driver, Rosanna Arquette, and Omar Epps listened to discussions around a variety of arts education policy issues and pledged public support for improving and increasing arts education.
Each week the White House names a group of Champions in different policy areas, such as Rural Issues, HIV prevention, Green Energy, Immigration, Transportation and much more… The goal of the program is to recognise those who are making a difference across America. Read about the program at whitehouse.gov/champions.
In addition to participating in the meeting, the White House staff interviewed and photographed each Champion. Amy was asked to write a blog post for the whitehouse.gov website, which is now available on the site.
Amy's recognition as a Champion of Change illustrates the impact CAPE Chicago has in the arts education field across the USA.
As we come to the end of the Creative Partnerships programme and begin to look forward, we would like to take the opportunity to gather knowledge on a wide pool of creative professionals’ skills and experience, which we can call upon in the future. We’ve created an expression of interest form and a reference form for you to forward to two referees (link below). If you are interested in working with CapeUK in the future we encourage you to complete the parts of the form which are relevant to your practice and experience.
You’ll be aware, we don’t currently have funding for the delivery of creative and cultural activities in schools. However, we are constantly seeking opportunities and want to scope out the breadth of expertise, so we can be responsive to opportunities that come our way – often at very short notice.
Submission Dates
Taking stock – Expression of interest forms will be collated and reviewed on a quarterly basis. Deadlines are 30 September 2011 – 30 December 2011 – 30 March 2012 – 29 June 2012 Please send to takingstock@capeuk.org
Forms
Below are is a ‘form’ and ‘plain’ word versions of the forms. The form version is easier/quicker to complete but we've supplied a plain version if it’s not compatible with your computer.
Free Creative Events for all the Family! With fantastic local artists selected by CapeUK
This Summer/Autumn CapeUK will be running 4 Creative Families Schemes in Huddersfield, Leeds, Brigshaw and Sheffield.
To continue to champion creativity in the lives and learning of children and young people and those who support them, CapeUK Creative Families Schemes will build on CapeUK’s experience of family learning and develop services that have previously been supported through our regional management of the Creative Partnerships programme.
Responding to a particular locality, CapeUK Creative Families will focus on family engagement, seeking to provide fun activities that engage adults and children ‘each at their own level’ in a shared endeavour. Each scheme will have a mix of activities that encourage interaction within families and interaction between families – working together, parents supporting children and children supporting parents.
Over 400 professionals, from across the regions, with an investment in arts and creativity in education will descend on Wentworth Castle Gardens next week to focus on the future of the arts, culture and creative learning during these difficult times. Fears that government funding reductions and policy changes could mean that creative learning is side-lined make this a particularly timely event.
Flourish is CapeUK’s one day festival of teaching and learning. It will offer a space for arts and education professionals to experience, discover and be inspired by the impact of arts, culture and creativity on children and young people’s lives. Delegates can choose to attend either Tuesday 28 or Wednesday 29 June at Wentworth Castle Gardens.
Growing out of practice in schools from across the region and beyond, Flourish will celebrate achievements and explore how we can ensure the values and power of creativity remain at the heart of the curriculum in these times of change. We will be showcasing the innovative and inspiring work that has taken place over the past four years within The Creative Partnerships project which has been managed and delivered across West and South Yorkshire by CapeUK. Workshops will be led by teachers, school leaders and practitioners from the region. Keynote contributions will be made by internationally renowned authors Michael Rosen (28th) and Anne Fine (29th).
Pat Cochrane, Chief Executive, CapeUK: “At a time when the education sector is facing significant change, we are confident that the practice which schools and external partners have been developing provides excellent models for sustainable change and continued development.
“There is so much evidence that if you engage children in creative learning, arts and culture it boosts their sense of self-belief, their confidence, their ability to make decisions and to deal with difficult ideas.
“The aim of Flourish is to identify future opportunities and networks, whilst continuing to build on existing strengths, partnerships and investment – together we can all ensure that arts, culture and creativity remain a central part of learning.”
CapeUK is a strong, enterprising and creative organisation which has been supporting children and young people to experience and create within the arts for over 12 years – with a national and international reach, rooted in outstanding practice on the ground in Yorkshire and the North West. From 2012 CapeUK, in partnership with Hull College Group (HCUK), will become the bridging organisation supporting the Arts Council England’s ambitions in Yorkshire and the Humber for the arts and children and young people.
Workshops will cover; creative collaborations, taking time to reflect, discovering digital age, identifying exciting spaces for learning, exploring creative approaches to subject teaching and learning, learning how to engage families…
You are invited to send a reporter/photographer to Wentworth Castle. To arrange a convenient time please contact Jo Jessop, Communications Manager on 0845 450 3700 or 07891831712
For further information about this press release please contact Jo Jessop. Tel: 0845 450 3700 email: jo.jessop@capeuk.org
CapeUK is the delivering agency for the Creative Partnerships programmes for over 150 schools in Yorkshire. This is England's flagship creative learning programme, it aims to help young ...
