Even though the Find Your Talent programme has been cancelled, I continue to be inspired by the many thousands of young people that benefitted from the scheme. A good case in point is 14-year-old visual artist Zac Cummings.
If you haven’t heard Zac’s story, follow the links:
Zac's story in the news
http://www.zaccummings.co.uk/
You can see Zac’s work at the Hinckley Library, Lancaster Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire until 13th August. It’s well worth a visit.
Inspired by...
It’s always exciting to see good work celebrated in the local press... so congratulations to two Lincolnshire schools working with TMC on the Creative Partnerships programme.
Fosseway School in North Hykeham has been celebrated by Ofsted for its outstanding provision. The school’s commitment to pupil voice and creativity shines through their Ofsted report.
I visited the school last year with Paul Collard (Chief Executive of CCE, the funders of Creative Partnerships). The school’s commitment to collaborative learning – seen everywhere, from young people editing their films in the IT suite, to groups of children sat working with laptops preparing presentations for their next class – was sensational.
This spirit of collaboration, where children and adults work together to make magical learning happen, is absolutely central to our passion at TMC. Congratulations to everyone at Fosseway.
Pupils at Birchwood Junior School in Lincoln have used their Creative Partnerships project to make an outdoor classroom, turning a previously unused area into a vibrant place for story-telling.
The project brought a community of learners together, with children designing the space and parents helping to make the plans a reality. I love this project because it addresses a fundamental issue: how can we use our imaginations to inspire all children to learn? At a time when educational policy is in rapid redevelopment, I hope we can remain focused on that one simple but defining challenge.
Join the Cultural Learning Alliance
As the world continues to change around us, I would encourage everyone to subscribe to the Cultural Learning Alliance. They offer valuable insights into the national debate about cultural learning activities for children and young people. Like the National Lottery, “you’ve got to be in it to win it”: http://www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk/
Watch this space...
I’m away on holiday next week, but when I get back (w/c/ 9th August) I will share news of our business planets.... now that’s exciting!
Welcome to The Mighty Creatives (TMC) blog. A space to share, celebrate and explore.
Friday, 30 July 2010
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Where are we now?
The last few weeks have seen a considerable shift in the way the government is looking to support change and deliver services. Some of these shifts are about cost-savings. Others are about a very different way of doing business.
Throughout this period, many partners have asked how these changes have affected TMC. This reflects the huge and wonderful web of professionals that drives the programmes we run. It also hints at the considerable commitment in the regions to enhancing children and young people’s lives through creative and cultural activities: a commitment we must all work together to extend. Here goes...
• CCE were asked by Arts Council England to make a £1.6million in-year cut. They have accommodated this within their own budgets (with considerable difficulty). But this means they have not passed the cuts onto TMC and the other organisations delivering Creative Partnerships across the country. This gives TMC a stable Creative Partnerships programme budget for the East Midlands for the current year. We are incredibly grateful to CCE for this.
• MLA asked TMC to make a 10% in-year saving on the Strategic Commissioning Programme we deliver for them in the East Midlands and East of England. We have managed to deliver this saving from programme and administration budgets.
• The closure of Find Your Talent has resulted in the cancellation of some of our projects and the early termination of others. We are still working with the FYT Leicester Shire team to agree a suitable end to this ambitious programme and will be making further announcements with them in due course.
And that’s that... a challenging period for us, but perhaps more so for the many people we work with. TMC’s challenges lie ahead as we prepare for the comprehensive spending review, working closely with CCE, ACE, MLA and other partners to put the best possible case forward. We will also continue working with our Board, staff, partners and young people to explore what happens next on Planet TMC... but that will be the topic of my next post.
Throughout this period, many partners have asked how these changes have affected TMC. This reflects the huge and wonderful web of professionals that drives the programmes we run. It also hints at the considerable commitment in the regions to enhancing children and young people’s lives through creative and cultural activities: a commitment we must all work together to extend. Here goes...
• CCE were asked by Arts Council England to make a £1.6million in-year cut. They have accommodated this within their own budgets (with considerable difficulty). But this means they have not passed the cuts onto TMC and the other organisations delivering Creative Partnerships across the country. This gives TMC a stable Creative Partnerships programme budget for the East Midlands for the current year. We are incredibly grateful to CCE for this.
• MLA asked TMC to make a 10% in-year saving on the Strategic Commissioning Programme we deliver for them in the East Midlands and East of England. We have managed to deliver this saving from programme and administration budgets.
• The closure of Find Your Talent has resulted in the cancellation of some of our projects and the early termination of others. We are still working with the FYT Leicester Shire team to agree a suitable end to this ambitious programme and will be making further announcements with them in due course.
And that’s that... a challenging period for us, but perhaps more so for the many people we work with. TMC’s challenges lie ahead as we prepare for the comprehensive spending review, working closely with CCE, ACE, MLA and other partners to put the best possible case forward. We will also continue working with our Board, staff, partners and young people to explore what happens next on Planet TMC... but that will be the topic of my next post.
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Welcome to my new blog: Planet TMC
My aim is to share news and inspire conversation about the future development of The Mighty Creatives. I hope this will be interesting and valuable to the many adults, children and young people we work with across the East Midlands.
Before I go further, a big thank you for all of your support in helping to establish TMC. Our name was chosen to reflect the creative energy of everyone we work with: the first 15 months of business have really demonstrated the power and imagination of our many partnerships.
As we move forward, it is important that we share and develop support for a vibrant vision for TMC and the programmes and partnerships we champion. We started this work last year with the publication of Lift Off! – our open discussion document about the future. If you haven’t read this, please do and share your thoughts back with me. I would love to hear your thoughts.
In 2010, we have been working on our new business model and have started to populate this with ideas from our many partnerships. We hope this will create a platform for a stable and strong future. I will keep you updated here about progress with its development and the new ideas and opportunities that are created along the way.
Finally for this first post, I will also use this blog to keep you informed of progress with our funded programmes: Creative Partnerships; Ignition; MLA Strategic Commissioning; 2009-12 Journals Project. Many of you will be aware that the Find Your Talent project has been curtailed. We remain a passionate advocate for the project’s many achievements and its important role in changing the way young people access culture by putting them in the driving seat. We are working with the Find Your Talent Leicester Shire team and our partners in Leicester City and Leicestershire County Councils to make sure there is a strong legacy for this amazing project. Watch this space...
Best wishes,
Richard Clark
Chief Executive
The Mighty Creatives
Click here to view Lift Off
Check out The Mighty Creatives websites here.
Before I go further, a big thank you for all of your support in helping to establish TMC. Our name was chosen to reflect the creative energy of everyone we work with: the first 15 months of business have really demonstrated the power and imagination of our many partnerships.
As we move forward, it is important that we share and develop support for a vibrant vision for TMC and the programmes and partnerships we champion. We started this work last year with the publication of Lift Off! – our open discussion document about the future. If you haven’t read this, please do and share your thoughts back with me. I would love to hear your thoughts.
In 2010, we have been working on our new business model and have started to populate this with ideas from our many partnerships. We hope this will create a platform for a stable and strong future. I will keep you updated here about progress with its development and the new ideas and opportunities that are created along the way.
Finally for this first post, I will also use this blog to keep you informed of progress with our funded programmes: Creative Partnerships; Ignition; MLA Strategic Commissioning; 2009-12 Journals Project. Many of you will be aware that the Find Your Talent project has been curtailed. We remain a passionate advocate for the project’s many achievements and its important role in changing the way young people access culture by putting them in the driving seat. We are working with the Find Your Talent Leicester Shire team and our partners in Leicester City and Leicestershire County Councils to make sure there is a strong legacy for this amazing project. Watch this space...
Best wishes,
Richard Clark
Chief Executive
The Mighty Creatives
Click here to view Lift Off
Check out The Mighty Creatives websites here.
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