Health
Playing with clay, making objects, learning new things and working with others are all good for our health.
The BCB Health Programme works with community and health organisations in Stoke-on-Trent to create opportunities for people to explore how creativity best works for them.
“It really does generate a feeling of wellbeing. Everybody is around you, but you’re still in your own world. What’s in front of you, (the clay) that’s all that matters.”
-member of ReCast group
Clay Works
Through the Clay Works project, BCB has collaborated with Starfish Social Hub, Able and Changes Health and Wellbeing to create opportunities for people to explore ideas and experiences through clay. BCB Associate Artist Sarah Fraser has facilitated weekly sessions and short projects that draw on the different states and qualities of clay. Participants have reported changes in confidence, independence and pride as a result of the workshops.
Creative Connections
During the Covid-19 crisis, BCB are experimenting with online group workshops to provide motivation for creative activity during this difficult time. Using only “materials” that can be found in the home, playful exercises will encourage activity through movement, and active use of senses (touch, sight), to support general wellbeing. Each session will have time for reflection, to explore ideas of resilience and support individuals to connect and make meaning through the creative activities.
Clay Works is supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Arts Council England.
Research
We are working with research partners at Keele University and the University of Sunderland to learn more about the relationships between creativity, health and social change.
What we do > Health
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Drawing Together
Every Wednesday from 1:30-2:30pm, artist Sarah Fraser leads an online drawing workshop for members of Stoke Recovery Service and Starfish Social Hub. It’s a…
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Clay Works with Able
In 2019, BCB received a generous Community Investment Fund grant from Stoke-on-Trent City Council to purchase equipment, tools and furniture for our year round…
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Clay Works with Starfish Social Hub
In early 2019, BCB’s Health Manager Kat Evans was introduced to the great work of Starfish Social Hub by a member of the ReCast project. Six months later…
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Clay Works with Changes
In 2019, members of Changes Health & Wellbeing in Stoke-on-Trent worked with Sarah Fraser, a British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) Associate Artist, to explore…
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Growing Cultures
During February 2019, BCB worked with patients and staff at the Haywood Hospital on our Growing Cultures project. Patients from the Sneyd Stroke Rehabilitation…
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ReCast
The ReCast project combines creativity, addiction recovery and clay. ReCast is a collaboration with Stoke Recovery Service. Since 2017, members of Stoke Recovery Service…
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Embodied Clay
Embodied Clay was a week-long masterclass for early-career artists. It was led by artist-researchers Priska Falin and Helen Felcey and took place at Spode…
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The Clay Pit
The Clay Pit is an inspiring and interactive space where people freely explore liquid, dry and fired clay. With support from an artist, adults…
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Typecast
Typecast was a pan-European project bringing together recovery communities in Italy, Ireland, Spain, Turkey and the UK. From 2013 to 2014, people in recovery…
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ReClaim
ReClaim was a 4‐week series of workshops with clay, hosted in 2018 by North Staffordshire Mind, an informal drop-in service for young people aged…
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