Mary Ward Centre tutor Gerard Darby on Radio 4 - January 25 2012

Creativity is just as vital in science and engineering as it is in art and drama, argues Gerard Darby.
Yet the present education system is undermining young people's natural creativity, he says, and is in urgent need of reform. He highlights some novel approaches, and explains why this matters both for the individuals, and for our wider society and economy.
Follow this link to hear the programme.

All Together Now

We are delighted to share our success in receiving some additional funding from September 2011 to March 2012 to support learning opportunities for under-represented groups and groups experiencing barriers to learning. This is funded through the Adult and Community Learning Fund which is a new fund from the Skills Funding Agency, administered by NIACE (The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education). The Adult and Community Learning Fund will help make the Big Society a reality and will contribute to the Government's aspirations for Informal Adult and Community Learning (IACL).
Between September 2011 and December 2011 we worked with 16 organisations to deliver courses of between 6 and 25 hours to 110 students. The students came from really diverse groups, including groups coping with mental ill health, disabilities or homelessness, immigrant communities and older learners. The courses ranged from embroidery to jewellery making and cookery. We were really delighted that more than 70% of participants reported that taking part in the courses had improved their self confidence; 60% said their health and well being had been improved.
We also did short afternoon courses at the British Museum and Bloomsbury Festival. These courses were open to anyone at the festivals. The events were really fun and the workshops encouraged people to be very creative. We had great feedback, from adults who’d not done anything artistic since they left school or those who just don’t get the time to make things.
Some of the work created will be exhibited in the British Museum in March and the students are very proud about that. We’ll also be hosting a celebration event in March for everyone to see each others work and share their experiences.
As the project progresses we will share with you our experiences and examples of courses and projects. Learners will be engaged by working in Partnership with voluntary and community sector organisations. Towards the end of the project we will be planning a celebration event which will bring the groups together and showcase the achievements of students whilst promoting the opportunities and benefits of informal adult learning.

8 groups have been working on making a modern Mahmal – a tent-like, decorative structure that was traditionally carried on the back of a camel on the pilgrimage to Mecca. The project involves embroidery and sewing and will be exhibited in the British Museum in March.

On 17th September we were delighted to run a number of taster workshops, funded through Niace, at the Bangladesh Family event in the British Museum. The workshops involved creating mixed media art works inspired by a traditional Nakshi Pati or decorative rug, from Bangladesh. Over 40 people had an opportunity to participate.

On 5th February 2010 a group of nine students led by tutor Christine Rollitt went to view the Mary Ward Archives, kindly shown by the Principal, Ceri Williams.  The pamphlets, letters, books and photographic material ignited the group’s enthusiasm.  As the Mary Ward Centre has been an important venue to all the people involved in the project at different times of their lives, it was decided to make a wall hanging for the premises. 

Each person took away ideas and themes to work on.  Different aspects of the life and work of Mary Ward, the key buildings at Tavistock Place and Queen Square and the era of the Settlement and its ethos all played their part in inspiring the artists to produce their individual pieces which have been joined together to form the Mary Ward Wall Hanging.   It can now be viewed in room 13.

The hours of work executed on this Wall Hanging and the finished result have been donated by:  Ena Baldacci, Josie Bloom, Carole Dace, Marianne Falk, Bridget Gill, Ruth Karnac, Sara Maier, Liz Page, Christine Rollitt, Maggie Smith.

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