Nurturing Creative Futures

Supporting our future generations to think with an open mind and most importantly create!

What is Nurturing Creative Futures?

Nurturing Creative Futures is the socially responsible part of the notinthegallery business that aims to nurture creative experiences for children and young people within the South West.

I have worked with children and young people for many years and most of my favourite and most challenging learning opportunities have been presented by the younger generation. Young people question in ways adults do not, they challenge us and help us think in different ways and consider many things that we might not. To encourage the continuation of this wise thinking, Nurturing Creative Futures aims to offer a percentage of it’s profits to reinvest in the continuation of creative thinking amongst our future generation in the South West.

 How will this be done?

When you make a purchase from Notinthegallery a percentage of the total profits from your purchase will go directly into supporting the development of Nurturing Creative Futures and it’s goal of  widening access to the creative arts for Children and Young people across the South West.

The money may be transformed into hours, materials or other costs to enable the widest number of people to be accessed and gain the most benefit.  Opportunities could be offered through workshops, where  children, young people and families can explore their skills in a safe environment. Through participation in events that showcase young people’s talents for what they are and help others to recognise the skills young people have, such as exhibitions, outdoor events and fairs and through reflection on their experiences because only through reflecting on our experiences and learning can we apply it fully in the future.

Why is creativity so important?

Our traditional education system does not suit every person’s learning needs and for many children and young people learning through creativity helps them to access a world that explores a different kind of education. Creativity is an expression of learning and understanding of the world around us. Each individual sees this differently and creativity gives us a voice for that vision.

Workshops for children and families

Workshops are a great way to access a large number of people, give them a creative experience, share skills and give ideas that people can take away with them at the end of the day and use at home. Having run creative workshops across Somerset and Avon for some time I believe invaluable learning opportunities can be created in the freedom of expression that workshops, drop ins and experimental sessions can offer and want to help this continue.

To read some more about workshops I have delivered visit the ‘News’ section on the menu bar. Below are some images from a printmaking workshop where I worked with 50 young people over 2 days. We explored mark making, worked with a variety of materials and learned about different ways of monoprinting.

                                 Adding the final touches……              Exploring mark making

What others have said

“Helen is absolutely one of the most organised, reliable and professional people I have worked with. She is hugely creative and balances great efficiency and expertise with the ability to communicate and relate to people on all levels. Her creative ideas are brilliant and I would not hesitate to hire her.” – Laura Kavanagh, GEMS Scrapstore, Wells

“Many thanks – you are such a good example of good practice!  The workshops sound great – I am tempted to join you for both….” Jennie Loader – ArtsLink Sherborne