New Creatives Programme: Empowering Emerging Artists in Calderdale
At Everybody Arts, we believe in the power of art to transform lives and communities. Our New Creatives Programmeis designed to do just that—launch the careers of emerging artists in Calderdale. These paid traineeships provide participants with the opportunity to learn, earn, and create, gaining invaluable skills and mentorship tailored to their artistic practice. It’s a unique way for artists to explore their creative potential while engaging with the local community and making an impact.
Launched in October 2023, the programme is already making waves, with three talented artists currently involved. Two of them, Rachel Rea and Adelle A’asante, completed the programme ending in a wonderful exhibition at The Everybody Gallery in March 2024. With the generous support of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council’s Culture Grants and the NHS-linked charity Creative Minds, the programme aims to break down barriers in the cultural sector, giving underrepresented artists the chance to shine.
In this blog, we chat with one of our incredible New Creatives, Stevie, a mixed-media artist whose work explores mental health and sustainability. She shares her journey so far, her passion for therapeutic art, and how the New Creatives Programme is helping her grow as an artist.
Meet Stevie
Photography by Matt Radcliffe Photography
Stevie is a self-taught artist who creates therapeutic mixed-media artwork, often using recycled materials with a cosmic theme. Her work explores the endless possibilities of the universe while focusing on mental health and environmental awareness. Let’s hear more from Stevie about her experience in the New Creatives Programme.
How did you hear about the New Creatives Programme, and what made you want to apply for it?
I first heard about the New Creatives Programme during my transition from attending the Art for Wellbeing sessions to becoming a volunteer at Everybody Arts. While going through the volunteer process, one of my mental health team workers mentioned a traineeship opportunity, which made me curious. I asked about it at Everybody Arts because I was eager to learn more.
I wanted to apply for the New Creatives Programme because I felt a strong connection with Everybody Arts, both as a service user and a volunteer. Being involved there helped me gain confidence and make progress in my recovery journey. The New Creatives Programme felt like a dream opportunity and a way to move forward from my mental illness. It gave me genuine hope for my future, turning what seemed impossible—finding a path forward for my mental health and life—into something achievable. The chance to start my career as an artist, learn and grow from others, and earn a real living wage felt like the perfect next step in building my confidence and progressing in my recovery and life.
What kind of things have you been up to so far during the programme?
So far, I’ve been shadowing an artist educator, taken a few drawing classes, and worked in the office to learn about administrative tasks, such as adding courses to the calendar. I’ve also done various tasks in the gallery, including office work like filling in forms from spreadsheets and uploading images and information to the website. Additionally, I’ve had the opportunity to invigilate and act as an artist liaison during the Micro Residencies in the gallery.
Recently, I started animation lessons and have explored teaching by leading short workshops. Throughout the programme, I’ve had regular mentoring and meetings. I’ve also dedicated personal and professional development time to research, online courses, webinars, and creating a collection of art using various mediums. I’ve even created a digital zine and worked on an animated cartoon.
Photos by Matt Radcliffe Photography
What is your main focus during your time in the programme, and why?
My main focus is to become an artist educator, as I am passionate about therapeutic art. I want to demonstrate how the regular practice of various art forms can positively impact overall well-being, and help people manage and improve their mental health. I have experienced firsthand how life-changing therapeutic art can be, and I want to share this with others.
What skills have you learned so far, and how will you apply them in your practice as an artist?
Photography by Matt Radcliffe Photography
I’ve learned the financial aspects of being a self-employed artist, including how to manage invoices and expenses. This has improved my organizational skills, which will be useful once my placement ends and I pursue future opportunities.
I also ran an art journaling workshop during my exhibition as part of my micro-residency called My Evolution which was such an amazing experience. The event was photographed and filmed, capturing the day beautifully. The following day, I had the opportunity to exhibit my work to my mental health team, which was such a special moment for me. It was lovely to showcase my progression as a visual representation of my recovery journey. This experience has brought me closer to my goal of being able to run my own courses or groups, and it has helped build my confidence as an artist educator.
In terms of creative skills, I’ve learned compositional drawing during the New Creatives Mentorship. I now use it as a starting point to create pieces and have paired it with an automatic drawing exercise, where I turn shapes into forms. This is a slight variation on the original exercise, where we were meant to explore textures, scale, and other artistic concepts.
I’ve also learned how to use Procreate, a digital illustration software. This skill has allowed me to create business cards, a new logo, and even an animated cartoon. Additionally, I’ve learned to maintain an online diary, which, while straightforward, is essential for staying organized, especially as life gets busier in my future role as an artist and artist educator.
Stevie’s journey through the New Creatives Programme highlights the incredible potential of this initiative to empower emerging artists. It’s not just about learning skills but building confidence, fostering creativity, and creating a real impact in the community. We’re so proud of Stevie and all our New Creatives as they continue to grow and inspire through their work.
If you want to learn more about the New Creatives Programme or get involved, keep an eye out for updates or reach out to us! We’re all about making art accessible to everybody.
