Best bits of 2011 for CreativeDynamix and Roisin Markham

CreativeDynamix had another good year revenue almost doubled again. My arts practice business continues to grow and develop by my criteria. A huge progress point along with fiscal growth was my public art work and community creativity projects started to converge with my personal art, they are not separate any more.
What do you set your success by?
Me... payment, artistic integrity, turnover, profit, new clients, repeat business, business development success, products shipped, happy clients, new business, time off, a job well done...
2011 had residue stress from 2010, I worked through it and meet my fiscal targets and yes there were external factors weighing in on this one. At one point in October with serious financial pressure I considered job hunting and closing Creativedynamix. I really was seriously looking at having to get a job. Despite having a growing and expanding business is it succeeding...?
2011 highlights for me were

A Stitch in Time Commission. I transformed it into a participatory arts project. I collected stories and memories, old photographs and newspaper clippings during my research. The community around the St. Brigid's Family Resource Centres got involved through workshops, feedback forms and interviews.with workshops, interviews an open call for information.


Cultivating and Growing Happiness Seminar.

 

 I challenged the organisers to embody the theme of the seminar and created a triple layered project; public speaking 'Owning happiness', participatory arts project 'Gratitude Tree', breakout creative workshop 'creativity and the arts for cultivating and nurturing happiness'. Wexford County Council and the Loch Garman Childcare Network funded this project.

create Better Space Project. I designed this project to enhance the out door play area and create a  beautiful and intriguing multi-sensory play area with children and staff in Gorey Youth Needs, Little Daisies Community Childcare. The project is on going.

Working with enterprise networks in Cork, Mallow, Westmeath and Longford.
Selling my art work at the 'of word and stitch' exhibition in the The Irish National Heritage Park.


I surprised myself at how much I enjoyed
facilitating and creating governance training and strategic planning with two Sport Active Partnerships in the South East and the blue skies think tank session with The Performance Corporation.
Mentoring SME owner managers and consulting to help them build better businesses.

I loved working on 
Doodling and drawing, gritty graphics, graffiti and making a comic with the kids at the Cottage Autism Network Summer Camp. A challenging group to work with because of their high level of visual and arts skills. A great support system of co-workers to ensure all the children and teens, siblings and a mix of autism spectrum benefit form the week.
The Gap Landscape intervention, meeting and working with Garret Keogh writer, actor, producer.


I relished the opportunity to 

combine experiential learning and public speaking if I stand up to publicly speak I want others to be able to join in the conversation and leave with a practical skill or mindset. 

share the same speaking platform as the Junior Minister for Enterprise and Innovation Sean Sherlock at the opening of Spralli in Mallow, great to be able to talk creativity, innovation to a group of business people with my art hanging on the walls in the room.

I also took a big risk in Mallow with the North Cork Business Alliance bring creativity in action + art materials into their weekly network meeting. The creativity in action piece I designed really worked it encompassed creative thinking, motivation and having a positive outlook.I got the chance to bring some creativedynamic magic up to the mid-lands and work with the County Enterprise Boards Women in Business Networks in Longford and Westmeath in a joint session on networking, building relationships for business and with Westmeath on strategic planning. I have a really passion for encouraging, motivating and supporting women starting, growing and developing small businesses. It was great to go to Cork this year and work with the Cork Women in business Support and advice group about the value of networking great group such a buzz.
I was really honoured to be invited to work with the Life and Business Coaching Association of Ireland at their last seminar - I spoke and engaged the delegates around positive and negative thinking in action very powerful piece it worked really well.


and really enjoyed
Teaching felt at Secret Valley Farm using the sheep fleece from the sheep outside the barn. Demonstrating felt making and speaking about the importance of textiles in my creative work at the Greystones Art Club. Working with a minority of teenagers around the issue of mental health in CEART which is part of the Wicklow Travellers group.]
My Bluedrum association is an intriguing one that I value it lead to the commission in Waterford, I really enjoyed meeting an extended group during the summer both at the Open Space session in Glencree and the outing to Knowth. They have definitely helped me become more focused on my research based project 'outsider insider' which you will be hearing more about this year.
Lastly a nice one was to be featured in the Irish Quilting Magazine bringing my art and creative process to a different audience.


That's not everything I was involved in or worked on... but as I thought about last year and was bring all my invoices into the one spreadsheet to close off 2011, YES these were the gifts, treasures and sustainability for Roisin Markham @ CreativeDynamix.
What did you enjoy about my work last year?