We are delighted to announce that we are partners in a 2 year research project ‘Representing Self - Representing Ageing’. We will be working with Drs Lorna Warren and Merryn Gott of University of Sheffield, Dr Susan Hogan of the University of Derby and artist Rosy Martin to explore and challenge images of ageing for women. We will shortly be commissioning 2 photographers to work with older women from different community groups in Sheffield to create their own images of ageing. The images and those produced by Rosy will be exhibited in city centre and community locations and responses to them collated as part of the research. 

Using arts and artists to enrich universities’ research programmes is an exciting new departure for Eventus, and one which we are developing further.

It also forms part of our ongoing programme of work on arts and ageing.

Creative Places continues to deliver an exciting programme of artist’s commissions within housing regeneration areas of Sheffield, despite the downturn.

Commissions currently include:

David Gunn’s 'Roads and Flowers' project in Wincobank links the existing community and newcomers attracted by the housing regeneration programme.

Farlow & Lyons ‘People, Places and Spaces’ vision for open spaces in Parson Cross and Foxhill uses the idea of ‘Green Ribbons’ which link and create continuity between open spaces, neighbourhoods and communities in these areas.

Gordon Young, Anna Ospina and Anna Sandberg’s 'Journeys to Hidden Places' has proposed a strategy of projects that could be implemented within Firth Park and Wincobank to promote community involvement and the use of routes and facilities in the local area.

A visit to Liverpool organised by Eventus for the Creative Places Steering Group showed that our approach of embedding the work within the regeneration staff is radically different from other housing regeneration areas. Evaluation with staff is showing that using artists enables housing regeneration staff to reach more people and more different sorts of people than they could by other means. 

Look out for lots more information about Creative Places in the autumn. 

Following the success of last year’s programme, which saw the arts consortium, led by Eventus, delivering 738 additional creative hours of activity to 9479 children, we have been awarded a further 12 months contract to deliver a range of creative activities for 8-13 year olds and their families across Sheffield.

Over the summer there have been a host of activities: creative sparks, circus skills, drama, visual arts, music, dance, puppetry, voice, mask, and sculptural art taking place in community venues, parks and after school clubs.

Activities will continue after the summer holidays, providing a range of high quality activities to March 2010. 

Acting as lead partner, Eventus headed the Sheffield-based art consortium which delivered these great events. 

For more information about our partners and their programme of events, click on the links below.

Eventus (Lead Partner)

Action Space Mobile

Art in the Park

Dead Earnest Theatre

Point Blank Theatre Company

Swamp Circus

Eventus Director, Clare McManus, is currently working as a mentor with 2 heritage organisations, one community based and one professional, to advise them on community participation and engagement for the next stage of their applications to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

This builds on our successful heritage projects, Discover Beighton and Your Weston Park.

The roles of Mentor and Expert Advisor have been created by HLF to help organisations who’ve passed the first round to make the best possible case for their final bid. Clare will be working in both these roles over the next 5 years.

With the recession meaning that more people are chasing fewer grants, it’s really pleasing to see a major funder being thoughtful and responsive to the needs of applicants.     

Clare has recently become a Board member of Green Estate based on Sheffield’s Manor Estate ‘Bringing life to green spaces and green spaces to life’.

This follows our Flowers in the Frames projects with photographer Ali White working with communities to capture the pictorial meadows planted by Green Estate as part of the housing regeneration programme.

On a recent holiday visit to Cornwall’s Eden Project, Clare was delighted to see the pictorial meadows seeds on sale in all the tourist attraction’s shops. So keep an eye out for a little bit of Sheffield’s Manor the next time you’re in Cornwall.