Creative Practitioners
We're pleased to share profiles of the creative practitioners who are a part of the Creativity Collaboratives programme in Nottingham below.
Explore how you can work with creative practitioners in your school, develop new projects and approaches to creative practice.
Pearl Agyakwa
Specialism: I’m a materials scientist and interdisciplinary researcher, with a fascination and love for the microcosmic worlds of everyday materials and objects and the magical sounds they make. I also investigate creative practice and “crafting” as research tools in science and engineering.
Brief description of your offer: I offer practical interdisciplinary workshops exploring science and DT topics through arts-informed methods of inquiry. I endeavour to centre the perspectives of children as researchers in their own right. I draw on my materials science expertise to facilitate probing and experimentation with different materials and techniques, and try to weave in the histories, lifecycles and human stories behind the materials and objects we explore.
Which schools are you working with?
CC Residency 3: Old Basford Primary School
I’m really excited about collaborating with the year one pupils and staff of Old Basford School to explore the wonder of simple machines, create kinetic toys and bring them to life through storytelling. We will also create models of architectural marvels from around the world using recycled paper. I look forward to listening to and learning from the children’s questions, ideas and insights.
Zoe Ambrose
Specialism: Theatre practitioner specialising in Drama and Education.
Brief description of your offer: As a qualified teacher I have a great understanding of the curriculum and the ways in which schools work. I offer immersive practical workshops that are embedded in drama methodology and pedagogies that support teaching and learning. My bespoke workshops aim to engage children and encourage critical thinking, leaving them with transferable tools and skills that will serve them throughout their education and beyond.
Which schools are you working with?
CC Residency 3: Southglade Primary school
I am thrilled to be working with most year groups at Southglade Primary School.
Andy Barrett
Andy Barrett
Specialism: Drama based improvisation, role play, and creative writing with an emphasis on developing curriculum material and resources so that work can be continued after I leave. I also create audio based work, such as this
Brief description of your offer: I am an artist researcher who has been exploring questions of creativity in schools for many years. My work is heavily influenced by Mantle of the Expert, a drama based pedagogy which aims to develop purposeful learning models. As a writer and theatre maker I have worked in many contexts; from writing plays for Radio Four and Nottingham Playhouse, to working with communities to create shows exploring questions of place, heritage and identity.
Which schools are you working with?
CC Residency 1: Cantrell Primary School
CC Residency 2: Cantrell Primary School & Southglade Primary School
Children are naturally creative and I'm really interested in exploring how schools can feel confident in embracing different ways of teaching that utilise this creativity to enhance their learning across the curriculum.
Digit Music
Helen Goodbarton
Andy Barrett
Specialism: Music, Music Technology, Electronic Music
Brief description of your offer: Creative, inclusive, digital music making workshops using a variety of software and hardware including our own unique instrument Cmpsr. We also explore careers in the music industries through our workshop programme. We work with KS2 - 5 , SEND and PRU’s
Which school are you working with?
CC Residency 1: Old Basford
We are excited to be working with year 4 to be bringing their science curriculum to life through music and creative technology.
Graham Elstone
Helen Goodbarton
Helen Goodbarton
Specialism: Mixed media/medium, installation, technology, film/animation, music/sound making, multi-sensory, indoor or outdoor.
Brief description of your offer: Multi-faceted and can be based on specific agendas or open ended. I often work with technology and interactivity and build this into multi-sensory installations whist also adding other creative mediums into the mix. I allow young people to be creative giving freedom to explore and offering support where needed.
Which school are you working with?
CC Residency 1: Southglade Primary year 5
A chance to create in educational settings, underline the value of creativity to young people, education and wider community.
Helen Goodbarton
Helen Goodbarton
Helen Goodbarton
Specialism: Drama
Brief description of your offer: I use drama techniques and activities to explore stories, enrich curriculum subjects and co-create written work in the form of plays.
I have a collaborative approach to projects and like to challenge children to reflect and evaluate on what they have been doing.
Which school are you working with?
CC Residency 3: Old Basford Primary School
I am really looking forward to a responsive and reflective residency where I can explore, alongside the staff of the school, the most effective ways of embedding drama practices into the curriculum.
Dan Gardner
Specialism: Digital art, animation and music
Brief description of your offer:
As an ex-primary school teacher with experience of subject leadership in art and music, I am interested in opening up the endless possibilities of digital creativity to children. I can plan and deliver projects that fit schools’ curriculum goals and IT resources, and focus on curiosity and imagination. In my workshops, children will use their own ideas, interests and experiences to create collaborative digital animations and soundtracks.
Which school are you working with?
CC Residencies 1 & 2: Southwold School developing a collaborative animation project.
CC Residency 3: Carrington School
I love seeing children begin to understand that the artforms they enjoy are within their reach. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the personalities of the children at my next residency will shape the project, and the lasting effect an understanding of creative learning habits will have on the school community.
Diane Greenhough
Specialism: Fashion/ Sewing & Textiles
Brief description of your offer: Working with different key stages in both mainstream, SEN and the home educated community. Working in small groups, focus is given to the child’s interests and how it can be applied. Children learn a life skill. This could be using the sewing machine or different textile medium. It is great for their focus alongside gross motor skills. Children feel empowered.
Which school are you working with?
CC Residency 1: Milford Academy
CC Residency 2: Crabtree Farm Primary
I am looking forward to visiting different schools, meeting their children and having an insight into their world and how they see and interpret things. The best feeling for me is working with a child that has little faith in what they can do, only to surprise themselves and produce something they are proud of!
Mind Out Theatre
Mind Out Theatre
Specialism: Theatre, Drama - Facilitation, Directing, Producing, Writing, Performing
Brief description of your offer: Evie Osbon leads Mind Out Theatre and has worked extensively with children & young people between the ages of 0 to 18 years. From preschool sensory play & music classes, to dynamic co-creation Drama workshops for teenagers! Mind Out Theatre projects facilitate children & young people to work collaboratively to realise their own creative potential through a range of creative activities including, Drama, Singing, Movement, Writing and Storytelling.
I would love to develop alongside other collaborators to contribute to a robust project that takes creative curiosity seriously, valuing its importance for the development of young minds. I’m interested in helping young people to navigate the world that we live in.
Mo Languir
Mind Out Theatre
Specialism: Environmental Biology and Art
Brief description of your offer: Mo uses social art to explore being human on a shared planet through broadening traditional science. Mo uses citizen science to research hyper-local environments and climate change with communities, using this as a basis to create and reimagine ecological futures. From a giant helium balloon drone to buying land on the moon, her work observes the interconnected nature of the total environment and multiplicity of source, including landscape, folklore, lived experience, environmental sampling, written word, museology, music, sound.
Which school are your working with?
CC Residency 1: Carrington Primary School
CC Residency 2: Old Basford Primary School and Carrington Primary
I’m most looking forward to having my ideas broadened by the insights of young minds. @molangmuir
Usha Mahenthrialingam
Specialism: Interdisciplinary artist; mixed media and movement /installations/ tinkers collage (object /loose parts) textiles and printing.
Brief Description of your offer: Bringing our learning enquiry to life through multi model approaches. Focusing on process, recognising pattern and always open to play within any subject area: design, emotional literacy and wellbeing, history, ecology, diversity, spirituality and science. Experiential, embodied and experimental, discover relationships and connections, fusing technical skills and creative process - opening the field of imagination and expressing our unique selves!
Which school are you working with?
CC Residency 1: Rosehill School
CC Residency 2: Greenfields Community School
“It was a pleasure to collaborate with the staff and pupils at Rosehill. Our enquiry focussed on developing motor skills through our curiosity of design using tinkers collage (loose parts play), textile painting and screen printing. Great atmosphere and our discoveries were in abundance!"
Katie Sandoval
Specialism: Visual arts - photography, painting, print-making, drawing, collage and craft making
Brief Description of your offer:
Cyanotype Photography: an exciting hands on (camera-less) photographic process where children make unique and personalised images inspired by nature and local bio-diversity. Great for well-being and active learning.
Ink-Worlds: We explore painting processes - ink drops, bubbles, paint drips and working powders to create a series of ink-worlds.
Printing: an energetic and varied exploration of printing techniques designed to build confidence in art making - children draw, carve and print their own designs inspired by the natural world.
Which school are you working with?
CC Residency 1: Welbeck Primary School
CC Residency 2: Rufford Primary and Rosehill School
Creativity Collaboratives will ignite creativity in children, enriching their lives with fun, colour and connection with others and the beauty of the world around them.
Rachel Scanlon
Specialism: Visual arts, 2D, 3D, architecture, installation, Pop-up, theatre sets/props, mentoring, mural art, textiles, illustration, Cross curricular visual arts combined with Science, Drama, DT, Story-telling,
Brief description of your offer:
Exploration and curiosity (Reggio Emilia pedagogy) can engage all ages and abilities. Recent projects are participatory and collaborative; co-created and shaped by that specific group of children & teachers. Encouraging questioning and risk-taking.
Which School are you working with?
CC Residency 2 and 3: Hospital and Home Learning Centre
I want to help children feel confident to try new things, find their passion and that art doesn’t have to be “Instagram perfect”. Art is power!
Jane Stockley
Specialism: Visual arts. Painting, drawing and printmaking primarily - as a Creative Practitioner I am able to work creatively with lots of different materials.
Brief description of your offer: My ideal is to work in partnership with a school and its community, when delivering workshops I like to work in co-production with teaching staff. I place incredible value on a teacher's unique knowledge, understanding and relationship with their class and believe co-delivery, teacher/practitioner, enhances the creative experience. When delivering I have clear structures and create safe spaces to enable children to investigate, develop skills and build confidence to experiment and enjoy learning through the visual arts. I always look for the positive, delight in the ordinary and have a genuine empathic enthusiasm for developing the potential of all.
Which schools are you working with?
CC Residency 2: Rufford Primary School
CC Residency 3: Rufford Primary School and Crabtree Farm Primary School
“l can do this, we can do this!”
Sophie Thorpe, Tom Dale Company
Sophie Thorpe, Tom Dale Company
Specialism: Contemporary Dance & Movement – Facilitation, Choreography, Performance
Brief description of your offer:
I’m passionate about the role that movement, expression and creativity plays in young people’s lives and its ability to bring us together. My workshops are empowering, inclusive and full of energy, allowing young people the freedom to explore their own movement curiosities whilst developing new skills. Workshops are tailored to the specific ages and needs of the group and can be focused on specific themes or be more open ended.
Which school are you working with?
CC Residency 1: Greenfields Community School
CC Residency 2: Welbeck Primary School
CC Residency 3: Cantrell Primary
I’m excited to collaborate with young people and help them to develop their confidence to find bold, physical, self-expression through movement and dance. Encouraging them to embrace our differences and celebrate both the individual and the collective.
Sian W Taylor
Nicholas Wright
Sophie Thorpe, Tom Dale Company
Specialism: Visual Arts
Brief description of your offer:
I work with schools exploring creating artworks in many different forms, from visual art, sound, performance and creating creative spaces. I have experience within SEND settings. My approach and focus is about how creativity can help transform lives and inspire the futures of the young people. Working on some amazing residencies and with many different schools and organisations has made me realise how much I love working with children, young people, teachers and creatives.
Which school are you working with?
CC Residency 3: Cantrell Primary School
There is an energy that shapes a space and a person, that moment when ideas are being created, when people start creative problem solving. With the notion and enquiry of ‘what would happen if?’ At this juncture every stakeholder inspires me; because everyone is standing on the edge of a great idea and the potential of changing how they occupy and engage within that moment.
Elaine Winter
Nicholas Wright
Nicholas Wright
Specialism: Visual Arts
Brief description of your offer: I work in schools and other settings to provide visual arts learning workshops. I aim to support and encourage learners to develop their self-belief and resilience when they embark on a creative task. I work to build an environment where it is positive to explore, and sometimes make mistakes (and learn from them), as part of their creative journey.
Which school are you working with?
CC Residency 2: Rufford Primary & Nursery School
CC Residency 3: Rufford Primary & Nursery School and Crabtree Farm Primary
I’m excited about sharing skills and exploring ideas with young people and see their confidence grow as they develop their work and see it realised. Creating art is powerful!
Nicholas Wright
Nicholas Wright
Nicholas Wright
Specialism: I specialise in painting and drawing.
Brief Description of your offer: I work with all ages and abilities, and look to make collaborative projects with groups when working as an artist in the community. I have in the past worked on huge murals as well as worked on large scale installation projects which have been shown in prestigious galleries and venues, putting the communities work in focus. I love working to find new an original ideas to develop with a community focus, as well as allowing myself the creative freedom to challenge myself and the participants.
Which school are you working with?
CC Residency 1: Crabtree Farm Primary School