Artist Lucy Carlton-Walker is offering Gateshead Ambassadors a sculpture workshop at a special introductory rate, and one lucky Ambassador will even get the workshop for free! Lucy's sculpture workshop, Landscapes of the Future, focuses on how our environments are continually changing, and how everyday objects can be creatively recycled to become part of the planet. The aim is to encourage and improve a range of skills through exploration of contemporary art. This will be done using a cross-curricular approach, with recycling as the key theme.

The workshop will encourage the participants to consider how they think a town might look in 2060, fifty years from now. They will be asked to consider what we need to survive in our environment and what we currently take for granted, and to think what they would want their future landscape to look like and how they would live within it.

After being nominated by the public, The Great North Museum has been shortlisted for The Guardian Family Friendly Museum Award. The 2010 Manifesto has been compiled from families' suggestions of ways in which museums can offer fantastic experiences. It's a practical and powerful tool to encourage and support museums and galleries around the country to make family visits more enjoyable.

How your family can get involved: From the shortlist, families will decide on this year's winner. Each shortlisted museum will be visited, anonymously, by several families of all shapes and sizes. They will measure the museum against the Kids in Museums Manifesto - 20 ways to make a museum family friendly - compiled entirely from visitors' comments. If you'd like to be considered as a judging family for the Award, just email award@kidsinmuseums.org.uk

Have you had a great time visiting a museum with children or young people? Why not leave a comment about it!

Fell Dyke Primary School was given a Cultural Ambassadors' grant for their silk painting project, which linked to a school in Uganda. Here Cultural Ambassador Irene Johnson describes the project:

Our school sponsors a teacher at the Hands of Love Orphanage and School in Uganda. The school has over 300 orphaned children who are cared for and taught by dedicated staff who receive no salary unless they are sponsored.

For our Ambassadors Grant project we worked with an artist named Brigid Scott and Family Learning. Brigid worked for six sessions with children, parents and two grandparents to make silk painted banners. One of the banners is displayed in school the other was sent to the orphanage school in Uganda.

The parents and children worked on the designs incorporating the logos of the two schools and 'hands of love' across the middle of the banner.

We had previously received pictures drawn by the children in Uganda and incorporated them into the design. The children made their own pictures of things that are special to them to be included in the banner. The children ranged in age from the Reception Class to Year 6 and everyone, parents and children, were involved in the design and painting of the banner.

The children also wrote letters to the children in Uganda explaining how they had made the banners.  We look forward to hearing that it arrived safely but this may take some time as communication is often difficult.

Watch this space for news of how the other grants were spent!...

Future funding opportunities will be announced in the fortnightly e-bulletins.

Continue reading "LOVE BOOKS 2010" »

Click here to find out what's happening in your area this half term. Have a go at archery, sledging, climbing and much more. Look out for the sports van coming to a street near you!

If you've been to any of these events why not leave a comment letting us know what you thought!

Crossroads Care for Young Carers have been working with artist Ruth Gowland to create a felt wall hanging. Here's their report of the project: 

The group decided that the theme for our hanging would be based on caring (positive and negative aspects), 'helping hands' and the local area and environment.  Many hands went into this creation.  The felt was handmade from marino wool.  Each piece is different and an expression of the individuals creativity.  Much of our inspiration came from personal caring experiences, walking in the local countryside and discussing what it is like to be a carer from the viewpoint of being a young carer and from the parents who are 'cared for'. 

As we walked around our centre we saw Red Kites which became very inspirational for the group as a symbol of 'freedom'.  We saw rainbows and sunshine as a reflection of 'hope'. 

We decided to express some positive words and phrases on our banners so that everyone could see them and the more negative feelings which came up have been written on cards and sealed within the small 'purses' stitched onto the banner and hidden away.  A couple of our young carers weren't able to come to the sessions but were still able to contribute as we provided the materials and instructions for them to use at home.  Some of the clients who attend the Daybreak service at our centre have also been part of this project, thoroughly enjoying the whole process of making the felt and seeing their finished pieces as part of our banner - spanning the generations!  Sitting alongside others who are in similar situations created an atmosphere of understanding and support.  Many of the mums really benefited from a time of sharing difficulties and common problems. 

Well done to everyone involved - we are very proud to have such beautiful art work to enjoy and many thanks to Ruth for all her hard work, dedication and patient spirit! 

In 2009 all Cultural Ambassadors were invited to apply for a grant of up to £250, which they could match fund to bring an artist into school or to pay for a creative CPD session.

Whickham School was one of the recipients of the grant, which they used to fund workshops with Cultural Partner Dylan Baker. Here is their report of the project:

The new Creative and Media Higher Diploma course got off to a great start last term thanks to our Cultural Ambassador Grant. Staff and students were privileged to work with Cultural Partner and photographer Dylan Baker, who provided an excellent learning experience for both staff and students. Indeed it was described as the best CPD event ever! Inspired by the Twilight novels, a theme of Dark Romance was chosen and this is how Louise from Year 10 described the day:-

"We visited Dylan Baker, a professional photographer, at his studio in Gilesgate, Durham to find out about his job, learn about photographic techniques and to take part in a fashion photo shoot.  Dylan organised a great day for us.  Firstly we worked with a make-up artist to create the Dark Romance look on the model. Once she was ready, we went out on location to nearby woods. While taking digital photographs of the model, who posed in a variety of places around the woods, we learnt about lighting, reflection, focus, composition and other photographic techniques. 

After lunch we took part in a second photo shoot back in the studio. This session was a head shot, aimed more towards beauty than fashion. Dylan taught us how to use a professional camera and equipment to enhance the quality of the photograph, such as the backdrop, spot lights and reflector. The photos will be displayed for public viewing soon.  We really enjoyed the day and would like to experience something similar again."

We can't praise Dylan highly enough for such a fabulous experience!

Watch this space for news of how the other grants were spent!...

Future funding opportunities will be announced in the fortnightly e-bulletins.

Looking for something to do over half term? Why not try some of these activities:

Design your own t-shirt at the Laing Gallery, 1.30pm - 3.30pm on Monday 15 February. T-shirts will be provided at this free session.

Get busy with Action Art in free sessions at Baltic, 11am - 4pm every day between 15 and 21 February. Using different movements and actions along with brightly coloured paint and a variety of materials, help to create a colourful and dynamic large scale artwork which will be displayed outside Baltic.

Join in with jungle art at Gateshead Old Town Hall on Friday 19 February. Make a tribal mask, crocodile collage, giraffe hand puppet or jungle picture with the help of Cultural Partner Crafty Creatures. Session for under 5s 11am - 12noon, and for 3 - 9 year olds, 1-3pm.

Make an electromechanical bugbot at the Centre for Life and build an obstacle course to test it out on. Saturday 13 February, suitable for ages 13+. £5 per ticket, booking essential.

Be amazed by the Harry Potter magic show at Walker Library on Tuesday 16 February (2pm) and East End Library on Wednesday 17 February (11am). Free but booking essential.

Do you know of other creative activities going on in Newcastle and Gateshead at half term? Why not leave a comment to tell other website users about them?

Now here's something you don't see every day - a night out at the theatre on us!

If you're under 26 and want to try something different,
then you can get free tickets to some of the best shows around.
Go to www.newcastletheatres.org.uk to find participating theatres
and book some free tickets!

The Avison Ensemble in partnership with Gateshead Schools Music Service presents a Music Celebration Day on Wednesday 10 February at the Dryden Centre, Evistones Road, Gateshead, which is free to schools, groups and Cultural Ambassadors.

It's free for anyone to drop in between 10am and 4pm, to have a go at musical instrument taster sessions, massed vocal sessions and music workshops. Over 1,000 young people are expected to attend this event which is suitable even for complete beginners!

The Celebration Day will end with a concert at 6pm, featuring Gateshead Young Orchestra, Senior Windband and swing band 'Paraphernalia'.

For details please email frances@avisonensemble.com

National Storytelling week takes place 1 - 7 February, and there are plenty of Cultural Partners available to help you mark the occasion!

Taffy Thomas has just been named the UK's first ever Laureate for Storytelling, and you can hear him at Seven Stories on Saturday 6 February. For details click here.

For details of storytellers available to visit your setting, please see your Directory of Cultural Partners, or contact your Network Coordinator: Hannahmackay@gateshead.gov.uk or Caroline.pearce@newcastle.gov.uk

Are you wondering how to generate creativity in the classroom?

The Creative Partnerships 'Connect Through Creativity' market place event can help your school become wired up to new ways of learning.

Come along and meet with a variety of practitioners and organisations from the creative and cultural sectors across the region. Be inspired through our Creativity Workshops and get buzzing with new ideas for teaching. This is a chance to network with a wide variety of creative professionals, discover new approaches to learning and spark off your enthusiasm for creativity.

The event takes place on Wednesday 27 January 2010 at Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne.

To book your place, please R.S.V.P. to andrew.thorp@twmuseums.org.uk before 15 January 2010.

Saturday 13 - Sunday 21 February

Dive in to the utterly fabulous and extremely wonderful world of Clarice Bean, Charlie and Lola with a whole week of fun at Seven Stories! Celebrating the launch of a shiny brand new Lauren Child exhibition, join Seven Stories for daily storytimes featuring your favourite characters!

Come and join in a collage workshop, have a go at animation, listen to stories of your favourite characters, and even meet Lauren Child herself! There's also a competition where you can win tickets to 'Charlie and Lola's Best Bestest Play' at Northern stage, as well as a family pass to Seven Stories and loads of signed goodies.

For details of events click here.

To find out about special events for teachers and students click here.

We welcome your comments and feedback about the work we do, whether or not it has been helpful to you or encouraged you to discover more or participate. Perhaps you have ideas on how we can improve or do things differently?

We want to hear from you! Get in touch by commenting below.

In September 2009 the Play Providers Association (PPA) launched a scheme in which children across the UK will have access to £2m worth of free indoor play.

The Play4Life scheme is helping to deliver the active side of the government's Change4Life campaign, promoting healthier lifestyles among children. Indoor play centres have been found to help children develop socially, emotionally and physically, encouraging them to workout without realising it.

Ambassadors are invited to direct families to the Play Providers website, where they can find their nearest indoor play centre.