Little Creatives

The Little Creatives project set about to research, and develop, a suite of activity resources to be available in libraries for families to access. Below sets out how each year the project has developed, with the first two years focussing on research and the following two years' focus being on the development and implementation of the resources.

In the projects first year, and following a programme of early years training provided by Hempsall’s, in summer 2018, a team of five specially selected early years artists ventured out across the county delivering artist led creative workshops. 

The team spent several weeks on a mutually creative journey with small groups of children at twelve early years settings. It turns out there are many similarities between the way young children play and experience new materials and the way artists work!

Using their findings from year one, our team of professional artists developed a suite of workshops to deliver in library settings to help early years' children learn new skills and have multi-sensory creative experiences.

These workshops were scheduled to take place at 12 Inspire libraries (with 8 workshops taking place in each), however, due to the COVID19 outbreak and the subsequent lockdown and closing of all our libraries, a number of the workshops had to be cancelled.

Of the sessions that did take place 489 children attended the workshops.

Due to the COIVD19 pandemic and closure of libraries during the national lockdowns, the planned workshops were not able to go ahead as planned. Instead, our team of artists worked hard to create online workshops for families to join in with from home.

Below is one of the workshop videos or you can click here to see them all.

Little Creatives workshops returned to libraries throughout years 4 and 5. Extra funding from Miner2Major meant that we could bring Little Creatives to 18 Inspire Libraries, extending to Blidworth, Calverton, Edwinstowe, Mansfield Woodhouse, Ollerton, and Ravenshead libraries. We were delighted to help ages 2 - 5 unleash their creative imaginations once again!

In year 5 we also started work on our Little Creatives book working with illustrator Helena Tyce. The book was inspired by the work of five artists and draws on their experiences while delivering playful, creative workshops in libraries and community venues across Nottinghamshire. 

It is packed with ideas for fun activities to do at home and it brings together the areas of learning that are important in the early years with creative play, imagination and the exploration of new materials. 

The Little Creatives book is now available to borrow from all Inspire Libraries!

A brand-new cohort of 5 artists were recruited to deliver Little Creatives workshops throughout years 1 and 2 of our new round of NPO funding. The new artists are:

Sian - designs workshops with a range of original materials and activities, her ideas fill the room with creativity, movement and expression. Go wild in Sian’s workshops!

Clare - hosts a range of activities to encourage dexterity, there is fun and surprises with homemade playdough (can contain gluten) and a creative combination of interesting materials and threading activities.

Edwina - lets minds grow. Investigate mixed media and colour with paints, pastels and pens. Feel free to move around the workshop space and create a large-scale expressive art piece in the session.

Amy - brings fascinating sensory play to the workshop where children can experience a range of different materials - from sand to plastics, when these are combined with light and sound a colourful and calming atmosphere is created.

Roma - explores the effect of light and shadows in a space. Use a range of materials to creatively construct your surroundings - and see light and shade in three dimensions.

The workshops are ever-evolving and have moved to a monthly slot in 12 Inspire Libraries. The new artists have learned from the expertise of Inspire's previous cohort of Little Creatives artists.