Charlotte is a performance poet and has been published in various anthologies as well as having two collections of poetry published by Flipped Eye ('you were for the poem' 2002, and 'After Rain' 2007- www.flippedeye.net)
She also works as a freelance workshop facilitator, utilising drama, poetry, creative writing and arts and crafts. Charlotte has just started working with Art in the Park and so far has been involved in the Villages of Poetry Project working in Stannington and Penistone and the 'Write Down Your Street' Project, part of Off the Shelf Festival of Reading and Writing.
Annie has worked in community arts since 2005. With a background in textiles Annie has a passion for exploring colour and texture, she is always interested in developing new skills to share with people, enjoying the sensory aspects of creativity and the learning that can be found in the creative journey, with some fun along the way! Based at her studio in Bates Mill, Huddersfield, Other work includes family learning projects for Skippko in Leeds.
Shuna is a freelance drama and storytelling practitioner with over ten years' experience of using these art forms as tools for community and educational development with children , young people and adults. She has worked with a wide range of client groups; particularly those considered at-risk, including: refugees and asylum seekers, young offenders, young people in care, people with mental health issues, and substance and alcohol misuers. She has a particular interest and expertise in working with children and adults with learning difficulties, from severe to profound and multiple, and including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Sessions with this group are multisensory and interactive. She is skilled in forum theatre, devised theatre, puppetry and mask work.
Colette has been devising and delivering creative and fun workshops for children, adults and young people for over 10 years. She likes to use sustainable and low-impact materials as much as possible, and cycles most places. Projects she has facilitated include:
Colette loves the way that being creative and being in the natural environment can help us to strengthen our connections to the world, to each other, and to ourselves. She is interested in exploring the ways that we can use our creativity to make life more meaningful.
Bill is a poet, landscape architect and scriptwriter. He specialises in bringing history alive through writing and drama projects. His experience includes working with schools, community arts groups, football clubs and people with dementia
Lucy has worked with Art in the Park on several projects. These include an after school club at Winn Gardens in summer 2009. She also attended the Arts Walk in March 2010, part of the Art Bytes project.
Mark is a Sheffield based poet, artist and writer. He is currently studying on the MA English Literature (Creative Writing Pathway) at Sheffield University. For Art in the Park Mark runs poetry workshops in schools and in the community. Visit www.thisismarkdoyle.blogspot.com to find out more abotu Mark's activities!
I am a freelance textiles and mixed media artist. I am trained as a decorative artist and have knowledge and experience a wide range of 2 and 3D materials and techniques. I work with recycled, reused and sustainable materials as much as possible. My own art practice is currently focused around traditional textile techniques such as knitting and crochet. I also work regularly with found objects and paper.
I have worked widely across South Yorkshire; independently and in collaboration with groups such as CAN, Art in the Park, Encounters, Grow Sheffield, Sheffield NOW! and Museums Sheffield. I strongly believe in the therapeutic benefits of creativity building self worth, confidence and allowing for self-expression.
Caroline Gaytor is a community arts practitioner with a wide experience of working with adults, children and young people. She specialises in creating sculptures, textiles and installation work, inspired by the environment and working with found and recycled materials.
Sally Goldsmith is a poet, songwriter and broadcaster. She has a prize winning poetry pamphlet Singer published by Smith Doorstop http://www.poetrybusiness.co.uk/index.php/sally-goldsmith She has many awards for her songwriting, drama and features work on BBC Radio 4 including two Sony Radio Awards. She is experienced at working in community settings and loves to help people explore their special bonds with their environment.
I am a Filmmaker and Media Artist with experience of running creative participatory workshops. I have completed a number of commissions; from Creative Partnerships residencies and Arts Council funded projects, to work with Museums, Dance companies and Independent film productions.
As a trained artist and teacher, Charlie has a diverse set of creative skills. Charlie describes herself as environmentally conscious (keen interest in Arts and Nature), and she works in mixed media including recycled and found objects. As a result she has a wide range of skills and knowledge in 2D and 3D materials.
Charlie's practice is currently based on recreating memories inspired by the environment. Local artists such as Ruthie Ford and Emily Taylor and contemporary artists Peter Doig, Richard Long and Ernest Nesto also inform and inspire her work.
Charlie has a broad range of experience encompassing working with people from all ages and backgrounds in and around Sheffield. As a freelance community artist Charlie is dedicated to keeping up to date in the Arts - championing and sharing good practice within the Arts network.
Poet
Joe Kriss is an poet, editor, performer and promoter based in Sheffield. He has had his work published in various small magazines and has performed at venues such as Sheffield City Hall, Winter Gardens, The Tate Modern and The Roundhouse Theatre. He currently curates the University of Bradford's spoken word programme and also runs regular events in Sheffield. He is the creative writing editor for Now Then magazine, and currently works for a handful of different companies on various educational and writing development projects.
Jenny has an interest in environmental arts, using natural materials or interacting in various ways with the environment. She studied fine art at Sheffield Hallam and sometimes works as a gardener. Recently Jenny has set up a 3 acre community garden, working with volunteers and with arts activity incorporated. She also has a diploma in The Therapeutic and Educational Application of the Arts’ (London Institute for Arts In Therapy & Education), and following this is in her second year of the Sheffield based MA in Art Therapy. Jenny works therapeutically with people with mental health difficulties in a community mental health team including running an art room ‘drop in’. She is interested in expression and playfulness as part of the above. Jenny has worked with young people, planning events and arts/ other activities, and has a background in community work and project management.
Jo is a practising textile artist, teacher and facilitator. She takes inspiration from her environment and regularly uses everyday objects within textile art pieces. Jo enjoys using a variety of techniques such as printing, embroidery as well as paper and felt making.
Jo finds working with the participants in workshops inspiring as it often leads to the discovery of new techniques; it develops new ideas and encourages creativity in the participants and herself.
Jackie Prachek has a youth work and commercial arts background. She has worked with all ages, abilities and backgrounds to identify ideas, translate them into reality and appreciate the journey.
She has worked on massive murals with schools, arts and history projects with the elderly, comics and communication projects in colleges and identity with teenagers and mixed cultures. She work with paint, textiles, recycled materials, music, comics, illustration and stickin’ n’ gluin’.
Thomas is a qualified art teacher and freelance artist, with a BA in Industrial Design (Innovation). In his spare time he is a sculptor and contemporary painter who likes to use experimental techniques and media in his work. Thomas is also the designer and maker behind The Cube for the Sheffield Children's Festival 2011 and created our Flock of Golden Starlings for the 2010 Festival: 1000 golden polymorph birds that hung in Sheffield Cathedral.
For more information about Thomas and his work email t_richards1980@hotmail.co.uk
Michelle is a visual artist and qualified art teacher. She has experience of a wide range of materials and techniques including painting, crafts and digital art. Her work with Art in the Park includes printmaking at Totley Library, creating a giant Jack and the Beanstalk book illustrated by children in the Winter Gardens, willow den making and kite making at local events, and working with young children to produce sign designs and an activity trail map for Primrose Children's Centre in Sheffield.
Noel is a poet. He’s won many awards and commendations for his work including the Yorkshire Prize in the Yorkshire Open. He’s published many poems and a few stories in over 50 anthologies and magazines (including The North, Orbis, Envoi, Iota) as well as poetry reviews. He gives poetry readings and runs writing workshops, and is Resident Poet at Bank Street Arts Centre in Sheffield where he recently held a month long exhibition “Exploding Poetry”. For Art in the Park he’s run workshops at schools in Stannington, Penistone and Denby Dale and an event in Wither Woods, as well as currently running writing workshops for adults in Denby Dale. He is involved in six events during Off the Shelf in October, including Greenhils’ drop-in writing workshop. You can find out more about his work at: http://noelwilliams.wordpress.com/
Danielle is a Youth Worker with an environmental background, having worked on community projects with young people both in England and overseas. She currently works on a city farm teaching young people in Sheffield animal care and countryside skills. In the past Danielle has worked with vulnerable communities in Romania delivering environmental arts activities. She strongly believes in the therapeutic value of nature and the wonders being surrounded in the natural environment can work for the mind.