Creative Heads

Maria-Aurelia Riese is a photographer and artist and has exhibited her work at The Arden and Anstruther Gallery in Petworth, and the Oxmarket Arts Centre in Chichester . She has worked with children and adults of all ages and abilities including running workshops for the Hans Feibusch club at Pallant House, and a variety of holiday playscheme workshops for the National Autistic Society where she teamed up with Becky…

Becky Edwards is an award winning children's author as well as a primary school teacher with a special interest in working with children with additional needs. In September 2007, Becky set up Just Write for Kids club, a non-profit making creative writing club for children from the age of 7 upwards with approximately 60 members.

I studied art up to A level and has been running a Saturday afternoon craft club since 2006 in the custom built, wheelchair accessible art studio in her garden. The club is for children aged 5 to 11 years and caters for children of all abilities.

In May, Becky and Maria and I were invited to the Arun Leisure Centre as part of the Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC) in West Sussex taster day. AHDC is a government project to improve services received by disabled children and those who work with them. Families with disabled children and siblings attended and were able to sample a wide range of sporting, music and creative activities in a relaxed and free atmosphere.

Becky and Maria ran a story making and photography workshop which allowed children to find their ‘authorial voice' through their own words, thoughts, feelings and images. Maria took photographs of them dressed up in costumes of their choice which were instantly printed out and used as the cover picture for their book. This workshop gave many of the children the opportunity to communicate without speaking by using a free choice of materials and media.

My taster craft club session gave the children (and parents) the chance to see the type of activity available at the Saturday club sessions. I took along fabric backpacks and everyone was able to paint their own picture or design onto the plain calico, and then take their finished bag home with them.

Everybody who attended the ADHC event gave positive feedback about the creative activities and the children were very proud to walk away carrying their backpacks!

In July, the Child Disability Team South ran their Family Fun Weekend at Hobbs Farm in Yapton. Becky and Maria and I were there again to provide similar workshop activities to the families with disabled children and siblings who attended on the Saturday. This time, I also took fabric caps for the children to paint as well as more backpacks, while Maria and Becky were kept busy all afternoon with children choosing different hats, scarves, masks and glasses to turn themselves into a character of their choice. Maria photographed the children as well as some of the parents and helpers against a blue screen, and then once the photo was printed, each child got to work on designing and customising their book using different coloured paper, pens and stickers. Becky made a special ‘feely' book for one blind child. Many of the children were able to take their book home in their fabric backpack.

This set the three of us thinking that perhaps we should combine our creative talents and offer a joint session using photography, craft and creative writing! Maria and I are going to the AHDC day on the 1 st November in Burgess Hill and we will be providing an exciting workshop for the children attending the event.

If you are interested in any of the services provided by Becky (Just Write for Kids club), Maria (photography) or Lizzie (Craft Club), please get in touch with them!

Becky Edwards: moonbeam42@o2.co.uk

Maria-Aurelia Riese: maureli@maria-riese.com

Lizzie Baily: lizzie@wellspringwestsussex.org.uk

Lizzie Baily lizzie@wellspringwestsussex.org.uk