Spirit conference

On Wednesday Kit and Robin went to the Spirit conference in Southampton to do some artwork for Dorset People First and Hampshire People First.

Robin talking at the Spirit conference.

Robin drawing

Dorset People First talked about getting together, then Norway Day Centre talked about their pie-chart. Then after lunch Bristol People First talked about impact and how it can help people in care places, then Wiltshire People First talked about organisation in the community and how to keep people safe. Then Robin talked about his artist job for Openstorytellers and how to draw for conferences. After a coffee break we all did a spider chart of the day and had a chat about the day before goodbye! We had a good day at the Spirit conference.

Robin's picture of  Bristol People First impact talk. 

 

Lawrence centre gig

Lawrence Centre Gig

On the 6th of June 2016 we are really looking forward to performing our version of king of the Goblins with the kavad !! at the Lawrence Centre which is in Wells, it is a community centre supporting elderly people. We've performed there before, and it went really well. We're happy to do a story and there may even be a surprise for the people at the Lawrence Centre!

By Robin Meader

Sharing stories with the Legends of Frome group

We were invited to share some stories with Edventure's Legends of Frome team.

They shared very good stories about people from Frome.  We heard a good poem about the buildings of Frome,  it was very interesting. 

They shared a real story about how peoples lives were affected by a factory that was closed down - we learned what this would feel like.

Good sensory skills were used in all the stories - somebody offered real chips with vinegar which reminded us of fish and chip shops in Frome.  

We told a story of Silly Jack based in Frome and it made all the audience really laugh, it was a very good experience to share with other performers. It helped us both improve our storytelling skills.

There were lots of communication and action skills which helped both artist groups to work together. We'd love to find out more   stories and legends about Frome (please share with us!)


Thank you Edventure for inviting us to share stories with you!
From Clemma and Robin                

Outside In at Bristol museum.

Last Thursday, Robin and Pete went over to the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery to take part in a Outside In meeting upstairs to talk about artwork by people with learning disabilities and how to display artwork in a gallery, on websites and how to sell artwork. Then after the coffee break we looked at barriers and publicity and how that may affect our artwork and listened to a talk about people's artwork going on display in public exhibitions from a member of Outside In. I have been invited to display some of my artwork in the Outside In exhibition next year. The date is May 20th 2017 at
the Bristol Museum and Gallery!

Storyknowing Symposium by Clemma Fleat

Nicola and I went to York to a conference about storytelling with young people, organised by ICAN the International Centre for Arts and Narrative at the Theatre Royal.

(http://store.yorksj.ac.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&modid=2&catid=6&prodid=402).

We got there Friday late afternoon in time for a really nice hot dinner which we needed after our 5 hour journey. The first person we saw there was our dear friend and ex trustee Rona Barbour!

After dinner Jo Blake told a story about a husband who didn’t like listening to stories and how he changed his mind.  Then there were some performances by young people. The first one was a girl telling a personal story about her own life and her best friend. She used simple t shirts and vests to show changes in the story.  She used a blackboard with a chalk map of the main places in her story and she wrote on it as she told the story.  And she turned this story into a fairytale because the friend changed into a bird.  And there was an African story told by Cath Heinemeyer with some Indian dancers.And another group of young people did a play about refugees. 

On Saturday we had a fantastic breakfast in Betty’s Tea Rooms

(www.bettys.co.uk)  which has been in York for a hundred years.  

We heard about the work of ICAN. Then we went to a workshop given by some students on a theatre and storytelling course at Warwick University.

They came from China, Taiwan, Portugal and England.  They used gestures and sounds from Chinese opera. They all wore black. They used a mixture of  mime and narration, and we learnt a lot.

We ran a workshop on Multisensory Storytelling in the afternoon, and we think it went very well. 

Thanks to all the lovely people who took part and to Cath Heinemeyer from ICAN for inviting us and making it possible for us to go.  

STORY-KNOWING SYMPOSIUM CONFERENCE

Tomorrow I am going to the story-knowing symposium in 
York with Nicola Grove.


My name is Clemma Fleat, I am doing a workshop with Nicola Grove. It's a conference about inclusive storytelling for people with learning disabilities, Nicola has asked me along because I have an experience as a storyteller and also do creative writing and I am a professional Administrator and a poet that likes writing poems. I have been with Openstorytellers in Frome for 6 years now and still really enjoy everything I do. I have made lots of friends too.
And I'm going to take a poem with me and talk about myself a bit, I am so looking forward to this and so excited also because this is a great Opportunity for me and I'm looking forward to seeing other people's work also.

Autumn 
it is now
and the leaves
swirling from the tree
onto the ground
leaves
changing colour
silhouetting slowly
through the 
gardens and peoples                                                               
pathways
leaves blowing 
everywhere
as Autumn                          
is here. 


                                            

Cuts to benefits

There has been a lot in the news recently about Government cuts to benefits. Recently  I wrote to the Frome times about how I feel about the cuts.
Since  writing this letter Ian Duncan Smith has resigned with a letter that showed his disgust at the state of the government.
He has been replaced by Stephen  Crabb. 
Its good news that the government have done a complete u turn on disability cuts.
I felt angry but now I'm relieved.
The cuts shouldn't have been coming from disabled people.
I have emailed Stephen Crabb to ask him to be a champion for people with a learning disability.
We hope we never have these cuts again.
He needs to listen to the voice of people with a leaning disability .    by Tim