Creative Friends Returns

Age UK Worcester & Malvern Hills is pleased to announce the return of its intergenerational project, Creative Friends. The project is in partnership with several organisations, including Worcestershire County Council, Action for Children, Staying Well Partnership and Spare Room Arts.

Are you looking for something to do during the winter months? Do you want the flexibility to create where and when it suits you? Do you want to express yourself creatively? We hereby invite those who live in the following communities to join an exciting FREE project, that allows you to connect creatively with others from the same community. Creativity is in everyone; we just need the opportunity to unlock it. Whether you are an individual, community group, care home or school, everyone can become a Creative Friend.

Creative Friends allows participants to take part from the comfort and warmth of their own home and there is no requirement for internet or any kind of art experience to take part. This is a great opportunity for participants to create a piece of art that expresses personal thoughts and feelings, that is to be exchanged to a chosen Creative Friend at the end of March. Once you have signed up for our Creative Friends project, we will get you started by first pairing you with your new Creative Friend, sending you the project theme and providing you with art supplies to use throughout the project. There will be support available from the lead artist of Spare Room Arts and you will have the opportunity to attend a Creative Friends Café across Worcestershire. These will allow you to experience a fun intergenerational art workshop, socialise with other Creative Friends, enjoy refreshments, and learn new skills.

Age UK Worcester & Malvern Hills’ Health & Wellbeing Project Coordinator, Fi, says,

“I am delighted that we get to expand Creative Friends across the county. After piloting Creative Friends in the city of Worcester during Covid 19 lockdown, we soon saw the impact creativity played in connecting participants and the community together. Participates highlighted that they felt purpose and part of the community even though they didn’t physically meet others until the end of the project, discovered new creative skills and ideas and developed new friendships with those they wouldn’t normally have an opportunity to meet. This feedback inspired us to expand Creative Friends and we’re excited to see further connections made and creativity unlocked”.

Download the Creative Friends poster

Examples

Check out some of last years' Creative Friends artwork examples.

Looking for something to do during February Half Term?

Come along to our intergenerational art workshops, where you can learn new art skills with our professional artist, get creative with others from your community and enjoy refreshments together. We welcome individuals, families and groups of any age, FREE of charge. You can pop along to our workshops but we highly recommend that a ticket is acquired to guarantee your space. See below for more details.