Artist in Residence 5x5x5=Creativity

Source: www.artsjobs.org.uk

Bristol early years research pilot to with 5x5x5=creativity 2014-5

Call for artists

Part Time

Pay: 25-30k Pro Rata

Deadline: Wednesday 17th September

Contact: Penny Hay (p.hay@bathspa.ac.uk

An action research project for the families of young children (Two Year Olds) years) to improve outcomes, reduce disadvantage and raise aspiration.

Key themes include:

• Documenting family heritage/narrative as a celebration of family culture
• Building community aspiration and confidence in life-long and life-wide learning
• Developing a range of possible creative opportunities (dance, drama, music, sculpture, photography or painting etc) to represent, produce, communicate and express key ideas.

The approach will follow the principles and practice inspired by the work of the Reggio Emilia preschools:

• Artists, Educators and Family Support Leaders will collaborate in engaging with participating families’ explorations of their cultural and community heritage, and will focus on supporting the development of creative representation of the emerging research
• The artist will be a creative enabler, who will assist the educators and family support leaders in the development of their ongoing, creative learning environments and possibilities
• Representation, or ‘creation’, will be approached as a tool for deeper comprehension, or exchange of ideas, rather than as an ultimate goal
• The work with the families will be supported by evaluation and reflective processes
• Opportunities for working in partnership with cultural centres will be explored.

Applications are invited from artists to work in Children’s Centres in the three different geographical and demographic areas of the city, who offer integrated early education, health and Family Support Services.

Selection of artists will be made on the basis of:

• The commitment to developing community cohesion through a creative, reflective approach that is both celebratory and empowering 
• A proven track record in leading or facilitating collaborations with educators to facilitate positive change
• Evidence of a purposeful approach to supporting local families that recognises and celebrates difference and can demonstrate the difference made
• A principled approach that values and respects the uniqueness of family culture and heritage
• A commitment to full participation in the pilot, including attendance at introductory and ongoing professional development events
• A spirit of adventure.