a start, taking a selfie, overlaying digital tracing paper and then taking the project wherever they want it to go. Getting towards the hour mark there is chatter, laughter, collaboration all supported with tea, coffee and biscuits. Into the second hour there is a noticeable concentrated hush – all engrossed in their own work. The atmosphere is calm, relaxed, intense and satisfying.
Those attending a second workshop can progress to using Procreate – a step forward in terms of sophistication. Jason is happy to diversify the content to allow previous attendees to move on while the new members start from scratch. We collected an evaluation form as well as signed permissions to share imag- es – almost everyone is happy to have their photograph taken, but most are suspicious of sharing their work on social media. We will hold digital and physical exhibitions of the art produced in the near future inviting all participants to join us for a social gathering.
Promotion
Tweeting during the sessions had an immediate impact, we had responses from CILIP (this magazine), Sheila Bennett from DCMS, creative ageing interest groups, disabled artist’s organisations and local groups of artists.
28 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
Feedback and comments
“Excellent and informative – what a lovely morning!”
“I feel as though I’ve achieved some- thing.”
“Fascinating… inspired… sense of achievement… I want to know more… chuffed… amazing…”
“Do you want to keep that face?”
“This has been fabulous – will there be more?”
“We are so lucky to have opportunities like this”
“Jason is so inspiring”
“So happy to have met Jason and the team”.
The workshops were promoted using Facebook, Twitter (#digitalartscreativeageing), Instagram and our eNewsletter. Posts were shared by Cambridgeshire County Council via our Communications Team. Posters were placed in libraries and sent to partner organisations: U3A, Age UK, Carer’s Trust, Neighbourhood Cares teams, and Alzheimers’ Society. Twelve of our 13 workshops were fully booked with waiting lists.
What our team partners say From The Library Presents perspective, Nathan says that the strength of this project is that it has grown organically out of a library activity with an audience ready to participate: “The workshops offered as part of The Library Presents are often one-off sessions that do not enable us to build a relationship with an artist or develop a format so that it can become as effective as possible in a library setting. Our work with Jason enabled us to do this. By devoting a block of sessions to one art form we were able to create a special workshop that enabled lots of people to engage and benefit.”
Joanne Gray, Partnerships, Projects and Funding Manager said: “The response from the public was over- whelming. Thirteen sessions were scheduled across six locations and nearly all places were taken. Every one of the participants was proud of what they achieved whilst having lots of fun along the way. There is no doubt that the project has not only proved that dig- ital art is something that can be accessed and enjoyed by all ages but it has also whetted the appetite for more digital activity in libraries.” Our digital artist, Jason Wilsher-Mills
April-May 2019
Digital Arts
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