Sam McPherson
Creative Communities - Reflect and Review
Margaret Stewart, Community Arts Officer
Creative Communities is the Aberdeen City Council, Creative Learning Team's programme of art
projects/events/workshops in the cities regeneration areas.
The aim of the Creative Communities project 2013/14 has been to have more people from
Aberdeen's regeneration areas taking part in arts and culture. To increase skills and levels of
creativity in participants, increase skills and knowledge of volunteers to support arts and cultural
activity in communities, improve mental health and well being and contribute to building stronger
safer communities.
To do this the Creative Learning Team developed and delivered the Creative Communities project, which offered the opportunity to take part in a varied programme of arts workshops, projects and events. The programme has run from August 2013 to March 2014 and has a different artist and project in each of the City's seven regeneration areas. A printed booklet has been produced along with a facebook page, twitter account and blog to promote the project.
Creative Communities Middlefield lead artist Samantha Jack engaged with participants to create a community patchwork blanket. The project focused on what home means to them. Everyone brought different ideas to the project which served as a social coming together of people as well as an exchange of thoughts and stories about where people live and where they come from. The proposed Haudagain roundabout bypass, which could see parts of the community demolished and displaced, was a prominent topic of conversation. These workshops allowed participants to explore how they feel about this and in relation to the blanket decide how they want their community to be portrayed at this time. Everyone wanted to present a very positive view of Middlefield showing the qualities that they were proud of. Throughout the project artist Samantha Jack, with permission, recorded some of the group’s stories, which have been reproduced in a small book to accompany the blanket. Participants in Middlefield stated that they ‘ tried something new’,’ learnt new skills’,’ created something that they are proud of’,’ made friends and social connections’ and ‘did something positive for their community’.
Participants from Middlefield Women’s Group when asked – What is the most important thing that has happened for you since starting this project?
“I’ve learnt a bit more about art and met some new friends and had a great laugh”
Samantha very quickly built up a good rapour with the Middlefield community. She was friendly and clear about what the project was about and she build trust with the groups she worked with who in return were extremely open with her. Conversation within the groups was key; participants had a wealth of stories about their community. Samantha created an informal welcoming environment and used a number of questions to prompt the groups and from which stories flowed. Samantha helped the group to translate their stories and their passion for their community into textile pieces that would collectively create a patchwork blanket. Some had never sewn before, Samantha encouraged everyone to take part in printing, stitching, drawing and applique, experimenting and practicing with the materials before creating their piece for the blanket.
I really enjoyed working with Sam on this project I found her very professional; she has great communication and organisational skills. She comes ready and well prepared for projects and has added to project promotion and reporting through her use of social media.
