Category Archives: Creative Learning

Young People’s Photographic Competition

The Economic and Social Research Council is running a ‘Young people’s Photographic competition’ (deadline 9th December ) which challenges young people aged between 14 and 18 to produce a picture on the theme of “Where do I belong” – thinking about dimensions such as community, family, friends, country, beliefs, etc. Full details on their website.

Time to shine – Scotland’s first national arts strategy for young people launched

Time To Shine, Scotland’s arts strategy for young people aged 0–25, was launched on 8 November by Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs and Janet Archer, Chief Executive, Creative Scotland.

The strategy – which is centred around the three key themes of creating and sustaining engagement; nurturing potential and talent; and developing infrastructure and support – sets out a vision and key recommendations to enable Scotland’s children and young people to flourish and achieve, in and through the arts and creativity.

For more information click here.

Commonwealth Games for School Teachers

Commonwealth Games for Nursery, Primary and Secondary teachers across Scotland sessions begin this November.

Learn to explore 3 different aspects of the Commonwealth Games through dance:

– Cultures & Traditions
– Ready, Set, Go! (Creative dance tasks inspired by different sports)
– Learn the Motto, Get Inspired!

BOOKING & INFORMATION
If you would like further information on what’s involved in these sessions then we’d love to hear from you. Please email cpd@ydance.org or call the office on 0141 552 7712

Sessions begin early November and spaces are limited so please book in plenty of time.

Discounts are available for booking multiple sessions so please have a look at our website www.ydance.org for a list of sessions to choose from.

Scottish Book Trust – Book Week Scotland

Book Week Scotland is about celebrating books and reading in every part of life in Scotland. Between 25 November and 1 December 2013, people of all ages and of all walks of life will be able to come together in libraries, schools, community venues and workplaces to share and enjoy books and reading. They will be joined in this celebration by Scotland’s authors, poets, playwrights, storytellers and illustrators to bring a packed programme of free projects and events to life.

For more information click here.

Think Innovation Week: Fife

21 October – 25 October 2013

This week-long series of events is aimed at children, young people, parents and communities to profile creative & cultural industries; with a focus on study, career opportunities and pathways

Click below for the full diary of events and information on how to book.


Brewstometer – new online creativity measuring tool

Creativity is increasingly recognised as an essential higher order thinking skill for learning, life and work. A new online creativity measuring tool,Brewstometer, was launched at SLF.

The Brewstometer introduces the principles of creativity and helps learners reflect upon and evaluate any creative experience they had recently, this could include a lesson, a workshop, a performance, a gallery visit or project.

As an online resource you can use the Brewstometer as best suited to your learning environment needs, whether it be a whole class or small groups or one-to-one. The Brewstometer has been developed by Creative Scotland and Education Scotland as part of Scotland’s Creative Learning Plan

Great Scots learning resource

This new addition to the Studying Scotland website was launched at SLF 2013.  Practitioners will find it useful if they are preparing teaching materials for the 2014 Year of Homecoming.

Learning journeys for the broad general education covering all eight curriculum areas will become available in the near future. This first release has learning journeys on historical figures David Livingstone, Robert the Bruce, John Muir and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Contemporary inspirational Scots include Paul Lawrie, Evelyn Glennie, Theresa Breslin and Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow.

Click here for the resource.

Ideas and Sketchbook Development workshop

2 day workshop title ‘Idea and sketchbook development’ at the Off the Rails Arthouse in Ladybank, Fife onMondays October 7th and 14th, 9.00am – 3.00pm.

One of the most important aspects of a students’ portfolio is demonstrating their potential and their commitment to art outside of the classroom. Working on self motivated ideas is a really important indication of this potential and commitment.

For this reason and following the success of our first workshop in July, Portfolio Oomph is running a second‘Ideas and sketchbook development workshop’ at Off the Rails Arthouse in Ladybank especially for school pupils wanting to apply to art college this year.

Participants will learn how to generate and explore individual ideas through the creative process in your sketchbook. Looking at research, development and introducing you to some exciting new artists. Ideal for those students applying to art college next year or those who want to add to their higher or advanced higher portfolio. A sketchbook and some materials will be provided.

Portfolio Oomph was established in 2012 by artist and lecturer Julie Read who has worked at F.E and H.E. for 17 years and has interviewed 100s of candidates for Edinburgh College of Art first year.

‘I enjoyed the relaxed but proactive atmosphere, learning new techniques and the tutor support when feeling stuck. I feel quite excited to take what I’ve learnt here further and do more workshops. I would definitely recommend Portfolio Oomph.’ Margaret Hume (workshop participant, July 2013)

‘Looking at different techniques and being in good creative company were the highlights of the workshop, as was working in the open, relaxing and stimulating atmosphere. The workshops were a great kickstart and I have had a couple of productive days this week. A mentoring workshop on a regular basis would be excellent. Zoe Darbyshire (workshop participant, July 2013)

NOTE: Portfolio Oomph provides links to useful creative industries websites, examples of artists and designers working in the industry, active blog and social media that informs and challenges concepts and ideas surrounding the creative arena, FAQ’s on the art college application process and development of portfolios. Our affordable downloadable products include eBooks and eCourses that take students through the process of creating and developing a portfolio and guidance through the UCAS application process.

http://www.portfolio-oomph.com/sketchbooks/sketchbook-workshop2/

Creative Minds on the agenda

Author Gordon Brown, from Glasgow, gave the keynote speech – and food for thought – at a recent ‘Naturally Creative’ event in St Joseph’s Academy, Kilmarnock

Around sixty teachers, artists and students from across East Ayrshire interested in networking and finding out more about what’s going on in the arts attended the evening, which was organised by the Council’s Creative Minds team.

Find out more here.