We learn in different ways. “Neurons are information messengers”. Some of us need sound, clay paint, movement for these to transmit. But we all need play.
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I love getting missed calls from Kathryn Knitchings IG @knitchings (Kathryn is a radical arts educator called to unleash creativity in everyone, bridging artists with schools.)
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Uniquely wired.
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Creative Conference is an interactive day, every June, for educators, leaders & practitioners celebrating creative practice. Focussing on Special Education Needs & learning differences.
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All the senses.
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We’ll be sharing tools, practical workshops, experiential learning techniques & new structures. Aimed at our community of educators & teachers working in neuro-diverse, youth & SEN settings. SPECIALIST EDUCATION. AKA, young people needing a bit more time, space, different tools, creative forms and ways to learn, process and make sense of their world than sitting in a chair with “information”.

I’ve been invited to run a session again alongside fellow practitioners, musicians & artist friends specialising in transformative practice.
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Power of play.
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I’ve been privileged over the last 13 years to work across participatory & therapeutic live arts, experiential education & performance practice in the North of England…It feels good to be designing playgrounds, speaking & facilitating workshops again in new cities and places.
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What is experiential practice? How do we apply play/games, music, improvisation, dance & story for learning, connection & identity?
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How do we create artist residencies for a different kind of classroom for Adults and young people? We’re all learning all the time, right? We stop growing when we stop learning, we stop creating when we stop growing and when we don’t Create, we simply stop. Just stop.

Some flesh of the day was

Listening with our BODIES and collective GROUP IMPROVISATION frameworks.
Seeing meaning in SHAPE and PHYSICAL FORM (Forum Theatre techniques) to create cultures of open expression, different social perspectives and inclusive contribution.
Using RHTHMN (hands/feet/instruments) in a circle to create unity, listening skills & song writing structures.
Routes into SHARING, BUILDING ON & CELEBRATING STORIES starting with game.

It’s in our DNA to create new, explore new territory and constantly learn. We need a rigorous over hall of our learning spaces, multi sensory experiences and cultures to nurture all kinds of minds. There’s a gap and a need. Yes Special Needs Education..but also yes ADHD and DYSLEXIA, and yes POETS, SENSITIVE ARTISTS, MOVERS and AUTISTIC GENIUSES. The most powerful and true communication doesn’t always come from repeated words and old knowledge. Song, movement, laughter and story. Yes. New. Neurons firing now. Thank you.

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For any educators, leaders or orgs also working with people, public engagement, education or curious about facilitating more participatory & alive spaces, or what the flip SEN means in 2022. Email me or give me a call.
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hosted by @knitchings The Creative Conference gathers practitioners who recognise the transformative power of the arts. It’s in SURREY every year. Join us.
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For such a time as this.