Often when I engage with groups and communities I find a piece of work will inform and suggest a further piece of work, its the same in the public sector and business clients. I see the gaps, the potential for further development and opportunity. It does not always materialise into paid work. Sometimes only a certain amount of work can be done at any one time, the reasons vary with a client; budget, commitment, time, priorities, relationships. Running my own business the variables shape my work flow and the opportunities I get to deliver. This year despite the variables I'm working on making my best work.
The Cottage Autism Network has been an interesting client to work with.
In 2010 and 2011 I teamed up with them to delivered a creative slice in their sibling summer camps, the first year my work was part funded project by Wexford County Councils Artist in the Community Network (now called Artist in the Community Scheme - AiCS). In the second year we identified the need for a peer to peer sibling support group. Speaking with some of the siblings who were in their 20's and co-facilitating the summer camp I realised the older siblings had so much to share with younger siblings, in terms of their experience and their story.
In 2011 the summer camp I designed was around character creation and story telling. The older 13 - 16 year olds both kids on the autism spectrum and their siblings experimented with story telling through stick figure cartoon strips, graffiti and and drawing, we made a simple photocopied comic. It was effective and showed potential
The Cottage Autism Network has been an interesting client to work with.
In 2011 the summer camp I designed was around character creation and story telling. The older 13 - 16 year olds both kids on the autism spectrum and their siblings experimented with story telling through stick figure cartoon strips, graffiti and and drawing, we made a simple photocopied comic. It was effective and showed potential
But the idea never moved forward.
Last September I meet with Annabel Dodebier, a sibling, young career and summer camp facilitator we both discussed the potential and I received a list of interested parents and a new contact to The Cottage Autism Network (CAN).
This year the idea seemed to come of time and I attended a general meeting of CAN in Feburary, one of the items on the agenda was a sibshop (a workshop specifically for siblings of children on the Autism spectrum). Sibshops typically have a therapeutic or social care aspect - I had that to be clear that this was not what I was offering. I am not an art therapist although I have completed training in art therapy, I also stated I'd be happy to work in partnership We had a focused discussion and I agreed to do a creative enquiry to explore what young careers in the CAN community wanted. Before we left the meeting we had an agreed date and potential location.
We meet on the 22nd of February in The Presentation Centre in Enniscorthy, a beautiful location. I had been very unwell for a few weeks and was delighted to be up and well to deliver this session. I cleared the space leaving a box in the middle of the room with this on the top:
As young careers arrived with a parent I invited them to make a name badge. It was a good activity as people arrive early, on time and late! All the art materials and tables were around the edge of the room, children as young as 3 and 5 up to teens found space to make. As everyone finished their badges I asked them to grab a chair and sit in a circle. A good mix of boys and girls and ages from different parts of the county, we introduced ourselves. Then asked how everyone found their way to the event. I used that as a starting point for our enquiry how do you find somewhere you have never been.
I shared some maps, which we looked at and spoke about. The I shared what was in the box under the question mark. It was a box of items from my studio which I offered as starting points as to how we might create a map for ourselves. I shared a little concertina map that I had made and a process notebook from my exhibition work for Of Earth and Soul. Demonstrating how I create ideas and develop them forward into work for exhibition.
We explored for two full hours. Even though I approached the session gently it was very challenging for a few of the participants. Being a young career and having a sibling on the autism spectrum hold challenges.
The JUST for ME creative enquiry ended with a conclusion and contract being reached between the 5 - 13 year olds and myself. An eight week session meeting every second week with a list of creative activities including outdoor found objects and mucky fun. This has been actioned on and we have meet for the first time as a group already!
The 15 year olds and I discussed how their needs may be meet with future social or sports activities. I have recommended a young careers youth club or social club would be an excellent solution with quarterly or bi-annually sibshops.
After first recognising the need with The Cottage Autism Network for siblings as young carers to have their own dedicated space for building confidence and self esteem and many discussions along the way I am delighted to be working with a group of young careers in County Wexford. 'Just for me' is an evolving creative peer to peer support group making space for siblings as young carers. For booking information contact Neil at The Cottage Autism Network.
Last September I meet with Annabel Dodebier, a sibling, young career and summer camp facilitator we both discussed the potential and I received a list of interested parents and a new contact to The Cottage Autism Network (CAN).
This year the idea seemed to come of time and I attended a general meeting of CAN in Feburary, one of the items on the agenda was a sibshop (a workshop specifically for siblings of children on the Autism spectrum). Sibshops typically have a therapeutic or social care aspect - I had that to be clear that this was not what I was offering. I am not an art therapist although I have completed training in art therapy, I also stated I'd be happy to work in partnership We had a focused discussion and I agreed to do a creative enquiry to explore what young careers in the CAN community wanted. Before we left the meeting we had an agreed date and potential location.
We meet on the 22nd of February in The Presentation Centre in Enniscorthy, a beautiful location. I had been very unwell for a few weeks and was delighted to be up and well to deliver this session. I cleared the space leaving a box in the middle of the room with this on the top:
I shared some maps, which we looked at and spoke about. The I shared what was in the box under the question mark. It was a box of items from my studio which I offered as starting points as to how we might create a map for ourselves. I shared a little concertina map that I had made and a process notebook from my exhibition work for Of Earth and Soul. Demonstrating how I create ideas and develop them forward into work for exhibition.We explored for two full hours. Even though I approached the session gently it was very challenging for a few of the participants. Being a young career and having a sibling on the autism spectrum hold challenges.
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| Contract #3 |
The 15 year olds and I discussed how their needs may be meet with future social or sports activities. I have recommended a young careers youth club or social club would be an excellent solution with quarterly or bi-annually sibshops.
After first recognising the need with The Cottage Autism Network for siblings as young carers to have their own dedicated space for building confidence and self esteem and many discussions along the way I am delighted to be working with a group of young careers in County Wexford. 'Just for me' is an evolving creative peer to peer support group making space for siblings as young carers. For booking information contact Neil at The Cottage Autism Network.
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