Agenda item

CREATIVE LEARNING

To receive a presentation on creative learning activities.

Minutes:

a.         Mark Civil, Head of Creative Learning, gave a presentation showing recent and current activities.  Online digital resources had been an aspiration early in 2020 but in March 2020 the small team was forced to move forward with the plan and had since produced 43 activity support packs to support various groups: teachers, schools, families using the park, residential care homes.

 

b.         In addition, the team had produced 25 films, some step by step guides to learning new films, some setting challenges and advocacy films.  The team was still delivering weekly workshops over Zoom (primarily with young people and older people) and had hosted seven youth panels as well as some face to face and dial-in workshops with young people excluded from school.

 

c.         Volunteers continued to work across the site with 10 working on the archives, inputting data into the digital collection system and other administrative support. Weekly newsletters updated the volunteers on Creative Learning and the wider organisation activities but it also provided information about opportunities and support in the locality. 

 

d.         Some face to face activities had taken place with 25 days of outdoor summer camps including street art, sustainable fashion, street dance and spoken word techniques in an outdoor environment.

 

e.         The schools programme was the hardest hit during 2020 but the team still reached 7,000 children with the Biblio Buzz project and the Big Schools programme.  Biblio Buzz 2021 had recently launched but had to be pushed back to June for various reasons that have since been resolved. 

 

f.          The Big Schools Para Dance set design & choreography programme for young people with special education needs was initially planned to enable the young people to showcase their dance work in the Theatre but was moved online as a gala event with advocacy from dance artists.

 

g.        The Young People’s Programme, Culture Bubble, was launched online, its core purpose was to create a channel for young people to have a voice through APP and to create programme but to also encourage leadership careers in the sector. The first task for the Young People’s Panel was to create a manifesto and regular panels are hosted: https://www.alexandrapalace.com/whats-on/culture-bubble-youth-voice/ .  The Team was also working with Haringey libraries and Arts Council England to broaden the project across the borough to engage young people in programming culture in their locality.

 

h.         Residential homes were also hit hard by the lockdown with reduced visits and residents being isolated for weeks.  The Team started creating monthly resource packs for engagement officers in care homes to use with the residents and created Little Windows Therapies where visual performers create bespoke acts that create a dialogue with the residents and the outside world, through the windows.  The sessions took place for one month before Christmas and will resume this year. 

 

i.          Prior to the lockdown Rhythm Stick used the Theatre as a safe space for a club-night at least 3 times a year.  15 young people (NEETS – Not in Education, Employment or Training) learned through a training programme how to organise an event.  A similar programme with adults with learning disabilities has just been completed to create an advocacy video for Rhythm Stick and it is hoped an event can take place in March.

 

j.          Through funding from the BBC Children in Need, the team had been able to target Young Carers with a programme for respite opportunities and activities for their families to come together through the spirit of play.  The project initially planned workshops and activities in the Creativity Pavilion and Ice Rink but was replaced with activity hampers and a Deliveroo voucher being sent to families and opportunities to join online performance and social events.

 

k.         Although outdoor learning activities are on hold, the team was working with an artist on fitting a learning structure and compostable/ adaptable toilets in the old Deer Enclosure and investigating Wild in the Park merchandise possibilities. 

 

l.          In response to questions on how partnerships were developed Mark Civil explained that a combination of council-led and grass roots organisations were used to reach new groups.  A need was established and then the Team would think about which funders to target.

 

The Board commended the Creative Learning Team’s ability to adapt and the level of work it has been able to deliver and RESOLVED

 

-           That the Young People’s Panel be invited to a future meeting to present their manifesto; and

-           To act as advocates, sharing the work of the Creative Learning Team across the borough.

 

Action: Share Presentation with Board Members & arrange invite for Young Peoples (Natalie Layton)