We hope this message finds you well, and that you manage to have an enjoyable festive period. We'd like to thank you for your support and engagement in various aspects of the ArtSpeak programme over the past year and hope to see you in the New Year.
NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Are you looking for a new challenge, interested in exploring a new hobby, or want to meet new people?
We've got a range of activities coming up in the New Year that we're excited to share with you.
JOIN OUR THEATRE GROUP - KINDRED SPIRITS
New ideas, voices and characters are wanted as our theatre group enter a new phase of creative development.
The focus of the group is to collectively create theatre. Sessions are a safe space to have fun, be explorative and share ideas. They’re always thought provoking, supportive and reflective.
No previous experience in acting or theatre is necessary, just come along with an open mind, your imagination, and a desire to play!
When: 3, 10, 17, 24 February & 3, 10, 17 March 2022
Thursday 3 February will be an introductory session
Where: 25 Prospect Street, Radford, NG7 5QE
Participation: £30 for the full term - sign up here
Throughout the summer some of the group members met under the canopy of trees behind Wollaton Hall to work on ideas, build their characters and develop their theatre language. The above image was taken during one of the sessions.
BECOME PART OF A NEW DANCE IMPROVISATION ENSEMBLE - COOL COMPANY
We're working with choreographer and dance teacher Deane McQueen to deliver a brand new dance improvisation ensemble called Cool Company.
This is a unique opportunity to come together to look at how we go about imagining, watching, thinking, sharing and moving in our everyday lives.
Key to the sessions will be the integration of social and creative elements.
This is a new experience, full of movement and joy for 2022. No prior dance or movement experience is required and a safe, warm space for you at Dance 4 iC4C (International Centre 4 Choreography) awaits.
This is a pilot project that we aim to develop beyond the initial four sessions.
When: Monday 17, 24, 31 January & 7 February
Where: Dance 4 iC4C, 2 Dakeyne Street, Nottingham, NG3 2AR
Participation: £20 for the pilot series - sign up here
TAKE PART IN A PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
We run monthly photography walks and workshops which are delivered by Photographer Mervyn Mitchell. These are a fun, sociable opportunity for you to get into photography or hone your skills.
Each month the photography workshop will cover a different area of photography and take place in a new location to help expand your interests and skills. The workshops will generally be delivered as Photography walks but for the colder winter months we're incorporating some indoor elements as well.
(Photo credit: Mervyn Mitchell)
Previous sessions have included an action photography workshop at Flo Skatepark, nature walk at Highfields Park, and an architecture and contemporary artefacts session with a gallery walkthrough at Nottingham Contemporary.
Next workshop - Contemplative Photography:
Contemplative photography is a method of seeing and photographing the world in new ways. Integrating meditation into each image that you take.
This informative introductory session delivered by Mervyn Mitchell will help you learn how to be in the moment and capture what you see. It will include mindfulness, contemplative photography exercises and reviewing images.
When: Wednesday 26 January, 13:00 - 15:00
Where: Canalhouse, 48 - 52 Canal Street, Nottingham, NG1 7EH
Participation: £5 to sign up click here
(Photo credit: Theo Stickley)
JOIN US FOR AN EXHIBITION WALKTHROUGH
Another category of walks we organise are our gallery walkthroughs, where we explore Gallery spaces and arts venues together.
Our gallery walkthroughs are a great introduction to art, and are relaxed, informal and sociable. Our gallery walkthroughs give you the opportunity to meet new people, whilst exploring the latest exhibitions and find out more about the artwork at some fantastic venues in the East Midlands and further afield.
PRIMARY -
Join us for our first visit to Primary, an artist-led contemporary visual arts organisation based in Radford. Primary prioritise creative research, provide studios and residencies to artists, and run a free public programme of exhibitions and events.
Our session in January will focus on an exhibition in a small, intimate exhibition space, curated as part of Beam Studio.
After a coffee and a chat, Beam will lead an informative discussion on the work of Anthony Whishaw RA, who at the age of 93 is still making and exhibiting work.
Click here to find out more about the Artist and book a free place.
When: Thursday 13 January, 11:00 - 12:30
Where: Primary, Seely Road, Nottingham, NG7 1NU
NOTTINGHAM CONTEMPORARY -
Also in January, we'll be visiting Nottingham Contemporary for a walkthrough of their latest exhibition - 'Our Silver City, 2094'.
Our Silver City is an exhibition-as-sci-fi-novel, or vice-versa. Set in Nottingham Contemporary’s building in the year 2094, it is a glimpse into an imagined future in the city once known as Nottingham. The exhibition is immersive and multi-sensory, visitors are invited to join the artists in speculating on our future and the world we are creating.
The exhibition is split across four galleries, East – Time of Change, South – Time to understand, West – Time for Inner Knowledge and North – Time to Transmit Wisdom.
We will begin our walkthrough with a warm welcome and introduction to the gallery and exhibition by Nottingham Contemporary’s Programme Manager. We’ll then take our time exploring this fascinating collection and end in the café to reflect on what we have seen, socialise together and enjoy some refreshments.
When: Thursday 20 January, 10:30 - 12:00
Where: Nottingham Contemporary, Weekday Cross, NG1 2GB
Click here for for full details and to book your free place.
NATIONAL JUSTICE MUSEUM -
The next exhibition at National Justice Museum is Young People and Protest.
This exhibition is a celebration of the power, passion, and ability that young people have shown to get their voices heard, to fight against continued injustice and to enact change locally and globally. It showcases a snapshot of historical and contemporary youth activism from around the world and asks ‘how you will use your voice to fight for social change?'
The gallery will include art led commissions and historic objects. Exploring tools to protest ‘badges and placards’ methods of reporting ‘printed and digital media’.
What does protest mean to you? What cause would you protest about? How do you think protest can create change? Consider these questions during a thought provoking walk around the exhibition space and view the work that has been produced in response to this theme.
The walkthrough will be followed by an object handling/making session and refreshments.
The National Justice Museum uses a combination of real spaces, real objects and real stories to explore the impact justice and the law has on us, our community and society.
The gallery and museum houses an extensive collection of fascinating objects that bring justice and the law to life.
When: Thursday 27 January, 14:00 - 16:00
Where: National Justice Museum, High Pavement, NG1 1HN
To sign up for a free place click here
JOIN A WORD WALK -
Nottingham Poetry Festival are inviting ArtSpeak members to join them on one of their word walks. During this interactive and social session you'll be asked to creatively respond to the environment around you. With guidance from local poet Sonia Burns you'll explore the surroundings to write observations, thoughts and memories.
The Word Walk will end at the starting point at 3pm, when you will be asked to hand in a page or two of your work.
The Nottingham Poetry Festival team will then turn the afternoon’s scribbles into a zine (small publication) as part of a series based around Word Walk locations in Nottingham - the collection will be launched at the 2022 Nottingham Poetry Festival on Saturday 7 May.
When: Monday 28 February, 13:00 - 15:00
Where: Bulwell Riverside Library (And surrounding areas)
To sign up for this free activity click here When registering for your place select the 'ArtSpeak Amblers Admission' ticket.
SIGN UP FOR A STALL OR COME ALONG TO SUPPORT AND FIND OUT ABOUT NEW ARTISTS AT OUR ART AND CRAFT MAKERS MARKET
We are excited to announce that we will be hosting our first ever Art and Craft Makers Market in Spring 2022.
When: Friday 22 April, 18:00 - 21:00 & Saturday 23 April, 11:00 - 16:00.
The ArtSpeak Art and Craft Makers Market is an excellent opportunity for Artists and Makers aged 60 and above to share and sell their work.
Where: 25 Prospect Street, Radford, Nottingham, NG7 5QE
If you'd be interested in having a stall at the event please click here for more details
Merry Christmas and we wish you a happy and prosperous New Year!
