Buzz Group

This is as good a space as any to write up what we did at the buzz group yesterday. If I don't do it now I'll forget...

What is the buzz group?

Every 3 months we give Arts & Minds members a chance to meet and discuss matters of import. The group is for anyone who wants to have their say and get more involved. We meet at Inkwell and always have cake.

Who was there?

About 15 people came. There was a mixture of people, including a couple of workers, a few regulars, a couple of new faces and a cat.

 

What did we talk about?

There were 3 main areas of discussion:

1. Arts & Minds Summer Party on June 20th at Inkwell

This event will be for Arts & Minds members to meet, have fun and do something creative. We had some vague ideas about the event at the last Buzz Group but here's what we decided:

• The event will be 11am - 3pm. We will encourage people to bring a picnic. Also to bring cake to share. We will serve teas coffess and possibly soup.
• We will invite the Craft Cafe to set up in the main space so people can do craft activities. 
• We'll invite other organisatiopns/ groups to have a table or stall to tell members about different opportunities in Leeds - ie Swarthmore Centre/ Knitting Group/ Baggage Handlers/ BTCV/ Choir/ Pottery/ Seagulls. If possible they could offer a taster of a creative activity.
• There will be a tombola to raise money for Arts & Minds
• Nigel will run a sound workshop - gathering sound and recording it. This will be edited into a CD/ download.
• There will be an acoustic stage in the garden to showcase the musical talents of our members. Kayla, Dave and Gareth will play and we'll get other acts. Tom with host!
• Ellie will work with someone else (hopefully Alison) to create a poster.

A few people said they'd help out on the day - thank you! Look out for the publicity soon - and put 20th June in your diary!

2. Love Arts Festival

This year's Love Arts Festival will take place in October 2012. the festival aims to celebrate the link between creativity and mental health. We asked the Buzz Group for ideas for events they wanted at the festival. Here's a selection of them:

• Music Nights - including folk, classical
• Poetry Event - possibly link up poets with musicians
• Dance Performances - with Tom leading a Line Dancing Night (!)
• Theatre

We also wnated to identify ways for members  and volunteers to get more involved - by hosting their own event in the Festival. Here are a few ideas:

• An Installation including sound and images to tell the public about Arts & Minds
• Student fundraisers
• Interactive collage/ murals including handprints or people's feelings on tiles
• Mass Drumming Event
• Interactive Poetry - everyone contributes a line of a poem
• Dramatic Performace including members' stories and experiences

We'll take all these ideas to the Love Arts Festival comittee and see what we can do to include them in the programme!

3. World's Longest Bunting

We had a brief chat about the world record attempt for the longest piece of bunting. We gave out packs for people to make their own bunting. There's a meeting to talk about an event as part of the Olympic Torch Relay (Wednesday 18th 1pm at Inkwell) - this will include bunting too!  Some people expressed interest about bjoining a team of volunteers to take bunting workshops into mental health services in Leeds.

All in all a very succesful group! Thanks to all who came and hope to see you at the next one!

Tom 17/4/12

Instrumental pics

We had a splendid time at the latest Instrumental gig... over £320 raised for mental health causes and £400 for Swarthmore's new roof! Huzzah!

Have a look at the photos here and feel free to comment.

At times the room was packed out with happy, jolly people, some of whom even danced. I remained sober so was not able to strut my stuff.

The plan is to do another big Instrumental gig in the Autumn and meanwhile set up a more informal open mic and songwriting club at Inkwell. More details as we get them.

Factory 4

We went to Factory 4 yestersday. It was ace! It was one of our regular Arts & Minds events where members get together to do something creative. We did screen prinitng, woodwork, jewellery making and contributed to making the World's Longest Piece of Bunting. Here are a few comments people made:

"Everyone was very welcoming and it was a relaxed atmosphere, yet a lot of work got done"

"Really interesting and enjoyable"

"Had lots of fun and met lots of nice new people. Inspiring"

"Best 3 hours I've spent lately! Excellent teachers"

Thanks to all at Facotry 4 for their hopspitality - Gina, John, Phil, Bernard, lovely folk. Go and see for yourself: www.fac4.co.uk

You can see a selection of photos from the event here

The Creative Process

Been having lots of converstions about 'the creative process' recently. Our film group are working together to make short films about mental health. But it's not always easy to get other people to share your vision. When you're painting a picture you just go ahead, slap on some paint, do what you like. Easy, right? Film is a collaborative medium. You have to get people on board. Hence some rather tense meetings recently about which direction scripts go in, which actors will be cast and who does what. My glib (patronising?) response is that it's "all part of the creative process". What am I on about? Does this make any sense to anyone else? Well, it makes me feel slightly better, so if nothing else, there's that.

The point I often make about the film group is that making a film isn't easy. We've done it for 2 years now and in the making of every film there are problems, stresses, crises. Especially the comedies. But it's somehow worth it. It takes effort but if it didn't, what would be the point?

It is this spirit of resignation that we are seeking a writer to help one of our fledgling scriptwriters. We have already had one offer but are there more of you experienced screenwriters lurking out there, desperate to lend your services and advice, free of charge, with only a guarantee of a rich tea biscuit and an argument in a brightly lit room? Let me know.

There's no harm asking, eh?

Un-Valentine's Day

This time last year we had an event called LOVE ARTS at Yorkshire Dance. This was partly an attempt to counter the slushy mushy nonsense we all have to endure at this time of year - whether we are in a relationship or not. A chance to do something creative, positive and worthwhile. This was a great event and people liked the name. So much so that LOVE ARTS became the title for our arts festival in Autumn 2011 - see www.loveartsleeds.co.uk for an archive of what we did. We're holding the 2012 festival all through October this year - get in touch if you have anything you think we might include in our programme.

So, what can you do to if you're not a fan of "VD" (ho ho)?

Sign up to a FREE photography course, of course!

Join Mindy (Photographer) and Tricia (Time to Change) for a digital photography workshop at Inkwell, Chapel Allerton – starting Wednesday 7th March. Every Wednesday from 1.30pm until 3.30pm (until 25th April). Classes are FREE, but there are limited spaces. All materials are provided, along with tea, coffee and biscuits, bring your own digital camera if you have one or we will provide one.

Cocntact Tricia: tricia.thorpe@nhs.net or 07577 770972

And see the poster if you want to tell people about it.

And what am I doing this Un-Valentine's Day? Learning to use a spanking new video camera in order to make films for the Film to Change Project. Good. (By the way, you can see previous films here)

Do you agree with my Un-Valentine's Day stance? Feel free to leave a comment below!

Tom