Inspiring Folk of Sheffield

Sheffield is a unique place to live and work...  

There are so many creative people who have a passion for using their creativity to serve others.  They are happy to share skills and invest time and money into projects that are of the benefit of those who wouldn't usually be able to access arts and crafts. 

One particular group who are being invested into are the elderly with dementia.  This is a group close to my heart, and that I feel society just forgets about. But happily Sheffielder's are leading the way in the creative arts and dementia care. 

Here is just a small selection of the individuals and groups that have inspired me over the years. I hope they inspire you too:

The fabulous Jane McKeown:

http://www.toldinsouthyorkshire.co.uk/

The amazing David Reid:

http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.402827!/file/Photobook_SYDCAE.pdf

The splendid Claire Craig:

http://research.shu.ac.uk/lab4living/about/people/claire-craig

An Unexpected Adventure

I have just had the very exciting news that I have been awarded the Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship 2015! So, with this in mind, I have started this blog to keep everyone up to date with my travels, and the inspiring people I will be meeting along the way...

My Background
I am a creative practitioner and artist who works with metal, textiles and collage. Also, over the past nine years I have worked as an activities coordinator in a nursing home with the elderly. These two passions have overlapped over the years, from doing creative workshops sessions, to designing exhibition pieces around the memories of the residents I have worked with. 

Dementia Creative Arts Exhibition 2009 'Listen and Understand Me'

I have also had the privilege of being able to work on projects with Professor Claire Craig, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield University, Sheffield Museums and Kelham Island Museum. 

Sheffield Hallam University Poetry Project. Northfield Nursing Home 2014

This overlap has led to my particular interest in how nursing homes can be creatively designed around the people who inhabit them. How their stories can influence their physical living space. I began this exploration in textiles and made 'Life History' cushions which captured shared memories of the elderly residents at Northfield Nursing Home. 

'We used to play out with the children on Well Meadow Street'

'I used to go on holiday with my parents to Scarborough. I loved going to the Spa to hear the band and to Peasholm park to watch the battle ships.'

'I can remember the urdie gurdie man coming down Addy street with a little monkey'

Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship 2015

The project I have been awarded the fellowship to do is:
'Artists' engagement with life story work in care home settings.' 

I am planning on visiting some fabulous artists and care homes in Switzerland, Germany, Holland and Brazil.

For more info on the Winston Churchill travelling fellowships: http://www.wcmt.org.uk/