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                    Artist essays

                    Children sitting on floor decorated with coloured tape
                    ArtPlay invited seven artists to reflect on what our principles of practice meant to them, their work with children and to ArtPlay.

                    ​​ArtPlay was founded on seven principles of practice. It is a program that is:

                    1. creative
                    2. inspiring
                    3. supportive
                    4. playful
                    5. connecting
                    6. inclusive
                    7. collaborative.

                    These principles extend to ArtPlay’s connections with children, families, artists and the wider public.

                    ArtPlay has fostered professional learning and the sharing of knowledge and ideas through the ArtPlay Learning Program where monthly sessions include guest presentations by local and visiting artists, themed interactive workshops and discussion panels. We hope these essays stimulate discussion, curiosity and an ongoing rigorous enquiry into children’s art and culture.

                    Artists' essays

                    Principle: Creative

                    Artist: Briony Barr

                    Visual artist Briony Barr finds inspiration in collaboration, chance and the emergent artistic process. Her work with children and families encourages participants to take risks and has also developed this ability in her own practice.

                    Principle: Inspiring

                    Artist: Gillian Howell

                    Musician Gillian Howell teases out the multiple layers of inspiration and conditions that feed it. She describes the reflexive loop of ideas and inspiration that drives creativity and some ways to maximise its effect.

                    Principle: Supportive

                    Artist: Avis Gardner

                    A deep passion for art drives Avis Gardner’s creative exchange with children. She draws on a love of nature and her own memories of childhood to create an environment which nurtures each individual.

                    Principle: Playful

                    Artist: Heidi Weatherald

                    Heidi Weatherald explains how play underpins creativity and her own performance work; and discusses why all adults and children need more of it in our lives.

                    Principle: Connecting

                    Artist: Rachel Jessie-Rae O’Connor

                    Reflecting on three visual art grid projects that literally connected children’s work, Rachel Jessie-Rae O’Connor charts a journey from artist to participant-led experiences at ArtPlay.

                    Principle: Inclusive

                    Artist: Nilgün Güven

                    Drawing on two innovative workshops, Nilgün Güven reveals ways to make art more inclusive. She highlights questions and offers ideas for artists to apply from a project’s concept, planning and realisation through to final reflection.

                    Principle: Collaborative

                    Artist: Rebecca Russell

                    Rebecca Russell charts an evolving practice of artistic collaboration with children through a close analysis of three long-term puppetry projects at ArtPlay. Collaboration is revealed to be an inexact recipe of contribution, artistic choice, experimentation, failure, skill-sharing and discovery.

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