maggi toner-edgar and sarah ames
Cockermouth
Maggi and Sarah created two projects to engage teenagers during the summer
holidays, encouraging creativity and the development of new skills. The pack
included a hard-backed sketchbook with a workbook of suggested art based
activities, also Derwent Arts kindly donated some drawing equipment. The second
project included a fully illustrated instruction booklet, coordinated fabrics,
ribbons, needles and threads to create a decorative length of bunting, which
could be customised with applique lettering or imagery. The scope of these
projects could reach beyond the original pack and the summer holiday period,
inspiring children to consider further individual projects. The quality of the
pack and its learning materials encourages young people to work independently
and the workbooks encouraged recipients to explore their own personal projects.
The packs also contain Crafts Council project ideas to inspire children and
teenagers, and support material for those who may wish to embark on the Arts
Awards scheme. ‘Recreate Make’ intend to develop an Arts Award offering in the
near future. With the help of the West Cumbria Learning Centre, Maggi and Sarah
were able to distribute projects to 38 young people across West Cumbria who it
was felt would find them beneficial. We gave the packs out during the summer
holiday of 2021 to help additional homeschooling ideas for the arts. They were
given to children from Wigton to Whitehaven, the majority centred around the
Workington area.
