BAREFOOT DOCTORS - making creativity multiply

Take Part

2012-01-04T12:39:00.001Z

We've had a clean up of the author and admin list since summer school . So if you find that you can't write on the page at the moment don't worry. We will be inviting contributors again soon.

For the meantime - we would love it of any Barefooters would like to add their thoughts towards our next show called Take This Waltz, scheduled for February 2012.

Please visit this blog link below and answer the questions you will find on there. Any problems sending your answers via the blog , you can email them directly to Susan at susan.clarke@b-arts.org.uk.

http://takethiswaltz2012.blogspot.com/2011/12/where-are-we.html?spref=fb

Take a look...

Take part ...

Take This Waltz ...

Can't believe how the time has flown!

2011-09-13T19:25:00.002+01:00

I can't believe how the time has flown, only a month ago I was waiting in anticipation for the start of Summer school.. and now, I sit here and its a memory! crikey!

One week after!

2011-08-26T19:19:00.001+01:00

Five Go Filming - The Brampton Mission

A week has gone since Summer School - can you believe it!

What creative things have you done this week? have you managed to grab a picnic in the park, take some photos, write something , observe something new, make something amazing... Hope so!

Anyway - You should've received a special brown envelope through the post this week...

- asking for your feedback from the Barefoot Doctors Summer School 2011( a quick creative evaluation sheet) If you can get them back to us in the next few days that would be fab (just use the envelop provided) With any evaluation, it's always best to do it ASAP before the memory fades.

I think we still need postal addresses from three folks - so if you've not received your envelope yet please email your postal address to info@b-arts.org.uk

Have a wonderful August Bank Holiday weekend everyone and try to do something creative everyday!

A few more photos... memories of Summer School

2011-08-25T18:31:00.000+01:00

Save the Last Dance...

2011-08-23T13:27:00.003+01:00

Save the Last Dance...

'The Last Train for the last Waltz'

2011-08-22T23:05:00.000+01:00

The Barefoot Doctors Summer School 2011........was an absoulte joy to be apart of , I'm very happy to have met lots of like-minded creative indivduals. Through an exciting and creative three days this has allowed me to renew my creative juices and allowing great ideas to grow. It was another discovery gateway for me as an artist and has enabled me to realise that I can take inspiration from absoultly anywhere :).

The piece I helped create was inspired by the one of the verses of the song 'Take this Waltz' by Leonard Cohen, intertestling enough the inspiration that Leonard Cohen took to write the lyrics for the song, came from the poet Federico Garcia Lorca and the poem is known in English as 'Little Viennese Waltz' . I in turn found this exteremly inertesting and saw this as almost like looking through a window, or a journey of sorts.

And so in my groups mini film/performance of our inspiration/journey that orginated from Federico Garcia Lorca poem, which then became a beautiful music and lyrical piece to then again change into a visual and at times aural stokie piece. I found great enjoyment at mixing different art-forms that of old and new to essentially create a piece of live art.

Oh.... the hokey cokey.....

2011-08-19T10:08:00.002+01:00

Well, it is now Friday.. on Tuesday I would never have anticipated reaching Friday... but thats how it goes with weeks I suppose, espescially one's that involve B-Arts and the Barefoot Doctors Summer School! Day Three: Tying together of all our work from Wednesday and performing it live on t'internet... interesting visual effects due to live streaming, adding to the mystique of the performances :-) Each individual giving something different to each piece and each audience member taking something individual with them from it too. Just shows that when you throw a bunch of creative people together that they'll come up with 2+2 = infinity. Even the spaces between the pieces were filled with creativity of some sort.. the dance of moving tables and chairs, the dance of setting up equipment, each intermission choreographed with movement.. would be nice to see a time-lapse of the whole event to watch the rhythms of everyone. Each individual performance piece was outstanding considering the time contraints involved and proved that creative people don't just add creativity they multiply creativity by a million! A lunch of soup, bread and salad, everyone open and chatting, several conversations about life, the universe and all inbetween. Discovering similarities and differences and finding that each person utterly supportive of each other. Now to Flashmob hokey cokey!!! I had taken it upon myself to tag "Newcastle Town Centre" in my facebook status update that morning.. just to see if it would have an impact on what we were doing... the message went out: "Flashmob hokey cokey 4pm Newcastle Town Centre" The pixies of mischief were fully in control. The interesting part was trying to look inconspicuous and at the same time hang around ready for the "signal". The new sweet shop seeming to be a favourite haunt of potential hokey-cokey-ers. So carried away was I with the plethora of confectionary, I nearly missed it.. Luckily the Guildhall reminded me, with its chimes! On your marks.. get set... go!!! It was over far too quickly... the little boy who brought his toys to it, the dog tied to the man's belt (the dog loved it!!!! It would seem that Dog's really "get" what B-Arts is about... such is their sense of humour). Phew!! Its over.. HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Time to melt into the background! "What was that all about?" I was asked, "Is it going out on YouTube?" asked another.. such is the power of social media. It touches all our lives whether we realise it or not.. Social media, blogging, Online home made movies, and all the rest were once the domain of the "geek", the "nerd".. the socially isolated, who used it as a means to communicate with their friends.. Its now been adopted by the whole world... this world has now shrunk.. it is smaller... it is however, still full of possibilities, the infinity of conciousness that can come together for a few days and create together. A group of strangers who have become good friends. Individuals who through social media will continue to create, share projects and go out into the world!!! Thank you Barefoot Doctors Summer School, thank you B-Arts... for inspiring, giving space and time to allow for this to take place. ((((HUGS)))). rofl.

Well that was fun...

2011-08-19T00:23:00.001+01:00

Great week with you guys. Kinda want to build a house of creativeness and have us all live in it. By the sea...of tranquility.

Summer Lovin'- had me a blast, Summer Lovin'- it happened so fast!

2011-08-18T21:48:00.002+01:00

Three whirl-wind days where strangers became friends.
We would like to thank the amazing group of people we have had the pleasure of working with these last three days.
You know who you are
Thank you for displaying such a willingness to share your ideas, collaborate and create magical and beautiful moments with your candles and incense, the senses of sounds, seeing her memories in a ghost coat with the feasting pigeons and the journey of their dance.You know what we mean.
Thats what it's all about...!
Flashmobbing Newcastle - Relive some of it with Ustream
Don't forget to tag us in your facebook photos
We'll carry on uploading stuff over the next week - so please do keep calling back to the blog and leave your thoughts over the next few days - once you've had chance to get your breath back !

a horrible warning from real life!!!

2011-08-18T08:17:00.002+01:00

... look what happened to this ordinary young Newcastle-under-Lyme man after just two days of Barefoot Doctors workshops.

He did not take appropriate precautions!

Make sure that you don't end up affected in this way - take necessary prophylactic measures now - or suffer the appalling consequences.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Destination unknown...

2011-08-17T22:56:00.005+01:00

The 'Barefoot Doctors' has a fascinating air of mystery about it...We never know what to expect from one moment to the next.

Here is a glimpse of the beginning of my journey, looking through the window of the Barrack's studio.

Destination unknown.

Difficult to express my journey today in words.

Perhaps everyone can make their own individual interpretations as to what direction may be taken next and what your personal journey may look, sound, feel, smell, taste like...?

Roxy

Live action.

2011-08-17T22:27:00.001+01:00

Info on how to see the live streaming of all your hard work tomorrow
Streaming Instructions (this post will take you via facebook)

So tell you friends to gather around their computers this will be the one they don't want to miss!

Plus we are flashmobbing in the town centre tomorrow at 4pm.
Definite location to be announced here on the blog, on twitter and on facebook tomorrow.

So tell you friends they can either join us or avoid us !!!

We're going to have so much fun tomorrow
- thats what its all about!
OOOOoooooooooooo.........

DAY 2!

2011-08-17T19:22:00.002+01:00

Your mission, should you choose to accept it... ... ... The Viennese Waltz!!! Having not done anything resembling "ballroom dancing" since 15 and my school leavers "do". It came as rather a shock to find we were off to The Rialto Dance Studio in Sunny Stoke to learn it from Helen, another Barefoot Doctor!!! To say we giggled with embarrassment is perhaps an understatement... we (I'm using we, as "we" were a group and I don't think any of us escaped!) were taught how to move, how to stand, how to hold, and vaious other things that you get taught in dance class... It was like being back in school. After dance class, back to Newcastle... to "find our space".... which we did, and sat like children on a school trip eating our specially packed lunches, surrounded by pigeons, shoppers and screaming children! This whole day seemed rather like certain memories from my past... From dance classes attended in youth, through to polling people in town which I engaged in during my adolescence... B-Arts Summer School is nothing less than surprising!! It takes you places you would never think possible... :-)

Deja vu

2011-08-16T23:17:00.004+01:00

Well that is bloody weird - blogging here made me go back and look at my old blog, only to discover that the last time I posted, was during the 2009 Barefoot Doctors summer school - two years ago.

For a while blogging was real lifeline for me - I had recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and had to give up a job I had been doing for 18 years - I was faced with many months on the sofa and blogging was one of the ways in which I filled my time (I narrowly avoided succumbing to daytime TV). So two posts in one day after two years of silence seems like some kind of testament to the power of collaborative creative activity.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow, but slightly worried about whether fatigue will get me (for those not in the know severe fatigue is a major problem for people with RA) - still I coped today, so a good omen for the morrow.

See you all tomorrow, lovely people :) x

Finally!!!

2011-08-16T22:13:00.002+01:00

I just wanted to say a very big Thank you to all of the team at B-arts for today introducing me to the world of blogging! I have now taking the very brave first step to my own site! I have now set up my very own blog, and bought my own domain names. This is a work in progress, but I have at least added my very first blog to my site! I couldn't have done this without all of the advise that I received on day 1 of B-arts summer school. I am very excited about where this could possibly lead! The possibilities are endless, and for the first time, I am excited by this, rather than scared!

I will see you all again tomorrow! :)

Blooming Flip... what a day!!

2011-08-16T18:13:00.002+01:00

Well, well, well... What have I learned today? Thanks to Carly, that 33% of people want to know why, and only 18% want to know what... so I'll post a sly why and see if I can grab your attention.. Why???? Well, because it is... totally insane day, as would be expected with B-Arts really... I came because I was "encouraged" to... Deb once said "You'll love it Sheena, come on down" So I signed up. I was told to bring my mobile phone to arrive for 10am and that was basically it.... Well, the days ticked by, babysitting was arranged, and I got up, had half a coffee and turned up.. slightly nervous.. to be greeted by smiley faces (I think Susan demanded that we wore a smile), maybe people were smiling because they had wind, either that or they were just nervous, in the pricise way that children are not nervous on their first day of school. Ice breakers began... hmm... Not sure... Sipping apple juice (Where's the coffee Deb???) Ah-ha moment!!!! Getting the idea now.... Not so silly these people. Ooh, learning interesting things and sharing interesting experiences. Nomnomnomnom.... COFFFFEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! You want us to do what???????!!!!!!!!!!! Oh well, in for a penny......... Which? what? endless void that is "t'internet" Oooh... lunchtime - communal meal, very polite, very healthy, nommy food. Was it objet d'art now... think it was..... Fascinating presentations. Overall, wonderful first day.. now for eggs, chips and peas a mug of tea (need to dilute the coffee!) then off out (text from "t'other arf".... we're going The Glebe later!) See you all tomorrow!!!!

Thanks

2011-08-16T17:21:00.000+01:00

Hi ...I'm here! Thank you for a great day :) I feel very energised and excited ..

Responses to performance pieces

2011-08-16T14:50:00.002+01:00

As a group, we have been working on a performance piece in response to object-driven performance. We had to tell stories etc. with random objects, and then come together for a big performance later. We decided to highlight the use of the internet and digital media through sharing information in the form of objects to represent various things people put online.

Are we all good to go?

2011-08-16T14:39:00.003+01:00

People are about to show us their responses to the great performances they have just seen. Are we OK here Carly - This is my interpretation of the world - Clapping - We are just watching them and doing them - Are we alright here Tone - Yeah what ever - Cool - Slamming - Clapping - Laughing - Are we alright here Susanne - The buses just went quiet - Clapping - You say you are innocent so talk - You don't say much do you - I'm here if you need me - Clapping - You just eat boundaries Susan - Army coat in the courtyard - Silence - Flash! - Laugh - Clapping - Shall we all hide?

current pics

2011-08-16T14:16:00.003+01:00

connections

2011-08-16T14:09:00.004+01:00

So it's just after lunchtime and the room is heaving with conversation and making, tearing paper, snatches of working chatter come past me like "Are we going to do this with no words," 'Shall we shout out?", "make it quite simple","maybe it's like a work bag". "this is what punishment for kids was.." We have all spent the morning open space-ing our digital landscape,making connections and working out how to join up- so many things- reconciling the public and the private, how do we engage and make the world wide web and engaged and creative space- not just a platform for ranting, mind games and pretence of the least positive kind. A definition of performance is about to be redefined. Here we go Susan

...a bit nervous

2011-08-16T09:11:00.002+01:00

Tuesday 9-12 - feeling mild anxiety about going to the first morning of BD, but also excited. When I did a BD workshop a couple of years back, I made several really good friends, who in some cases I went on to collaborate with on artsy stuff.

So the nerves are the usual social anxiety - will I fit in, will I cope physically (particularly will I get too tired to cope?), have I got stuff to offer? Only one way to find out I suppose - finish breakfast, get my stuff together and get off down to the Barracks...

Summer School 2011

2011-08-16T08:36:00.002+01:00

Morning everyone

Here we go then

Into the largely unknown- because who knows what this group of people on this day can create!

We're getting hold of the tools and we're off and running

Good luck and good connections to us all

Susan

Under the Same Sky

2011-03-03T22:05:00.002Z

Parents in Penkhull ... come help us make some beautiful banners for the Children's Centre.

Barefoot Doctors teams up with Growing Hearts and Minds
project to run printing sessions with guest artist Simon Ripley.

Also - take a look at the Penkhull blog, did you know there is a local news-blog ?
Penkhull blog (Under the same Sky article)
Home page : http://welcometopenkhull.wordpress.com

OPPORTUNITY - Fancy doing something useful and fun ... ?

2011-02-10T23:42:00.022Z

WE NEED SOME "100 STORIES" VOLUNTEERS
If you are available on Friday 25th and / or Saturday 26th February we would be interested in speaking to you.
100 Stories is a special performance for just for two evenings this February. It takes people on a journey that starts at 6.15pm in Hanley (City Centre) Stoke on Trent and involves a walk with digital audio, performance, visuals, live music, installations and all sorts of wonderment.
If you can only help a few hours please still get in touch, as we will be able to work a rota of volunteers. Some people might just be able to help during the performance hours, whilst some of you may want to help with the setting up of the event during the day too.

Fun will be had by all, you will be with a team of performers, artists, volunteers, students and professionals - all ages, all abilities, all experience welcome.

Volunteers for the evening shows will need to be capable of walking for 90 minutes and available 1 hour before the show starts and be prepared to stay around until 9pm if possible. Once you've signed you up as a volunteer we can give you a full schedule of tasks and the places you need to be and at what times.

During the performances we have opportunities for people wanting experience as Assistant Stage Managers, outdoor event stewards, rigging operators , plus we have opportunities for people who may want to help out with really useful roles like providing tea and biscuits, van loading and litter pickers.
There will be a volunteer briefing session and training in specific technical areas will be given also. This experience may be useful for your CV and as usual we are willing to support our Barefoot Doctors with creative and personal development as an ongoing process throughout the year.
If you are interested please call 01782 717326 or email info@b-arts.org.uk
You can call someone for a chat about how you could be involved - just call the B arts office and speak to Philippa or Deborah.

To find out more about 100 Stories please go to the DATfest website where you can also book tickets if you have friends who would like to be in the audience. DATfest is a weekend digital arts festival for Stoke on Trent, within the Stoke Your Fires programme

Barefoot Doctors Gathering

2010-11-08T13:33:00.001Z

WHEN : Wednesday 10^th November 2010

TIME: 6.30pm – 8pm

WHERE: 19 Barracks Square. Newcastle under Lyme. ST5 1LG

The Barefoot Doctors are having their quarterly gathering and it’s a great time for you to meet people involved in the various projects across the programme.

If you've not been involved before why not come along - Newcomers can discover what Barefoot Doctors is all about , meet new folks and consider getting involved in some positive creative action for the local area.

It’s a chance for past and current participants to catch up with some familiar faces too. Share what they have been up to and find out about projects they've vaguely heard about but maybe not had direct involvement.

It’s just 90 minutes and if you're a creative adult desperate to meet some people on the same wave length this could be the ticket !

If you are struggling with childcare, you can bring children with you - plus you don't have to stay for the whole time. It's an informal evening where we share project news and invite people to get involved with new activities and develop ideas.

Making creativity multiply is what we are all about and we would like you to be part of it too. There will be retro snacks, cups of tea and a friendly welcome for all.

More information contact info@b-arts.org.uk or call 01782 717326 or just come along. Please note that the meeting is up a flight of stairs but if thats going to be difficult please give s a call and we'll do what we can to help.

Finding us: Its in the old army barracks opposite the bus station in Newcastle town centre. First door on the RIGHT as you come through the archway... number 19.

Look out for a big FOOT on the door!

The Toy Stories - a project for SHOP-Stoke

2010-10-06T11:41:00.022+01:00

Come and visit us at SHOP Monday 11th October - Wednesday 13th October and don't come alone ... bring your favourite toy with you!
The Toy Stories is a project for anyone of any age - just come along with a favourite toy and share a story about why that toy is so important. If you've not got the toy any longer you can still come and tell us about those special toys, the ones you could never say "goodbye" to and maybe those that broke your heart when they disappeared! Why was that toy such a great part of your childhood ? What happened to the toy? Maybe you have an amusing anecdote to share. For full project details please view the information on SHOP website.

Barefoot Doctor Training Opportunities

During this project we want to recruit 6 Barefoot Doctor volunteers ( aged 18 +) to train on-the-job throughout the three days. If you can commit to one or more of the following time slots
12noon - 2pm ( not on the Monday)

2pm - 4pm ( all three days)

4pm - 6pm ( all three days)

Contact Deborah Nicklin 01782 717326 - or email info@b-arts.org.uk

The skills you will develop shall include:

Using hand-held cameras, using apple mac computers, interviewing people on film, accessing the internet, uploading files and creating an animation, plus there will be some hands-on making and building of a ToyTown set and assisting the public to create their miniture sets too. You will see how community based arts workshops are delivered and explore the issues involved with 'drop-in' style workshops

Hi Folks

2010-08-30T12:54:00.001+01:00

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Summer School .... we created a really special thing on 26th August, so glad to have been there and we hope you enjoyed it too.

Deborah will be catching up with participants for their One to One chats if we couldn't do it during our super busy three day Summer School.

You were all fabulous, free of inhibitions and totally open to your creativity.

To develop what we were doing over those three days we are considering running a sound experiment - one day soon ... so keep your eyes on the blog for an announcement.

Anyone who missed Summer School but wants to be a Barefooter ... stay in touch . Make sure we have your email address - email deborah.nicklin@b-arts.org.uk

Sign up to the b arts mailing list too ... go to the website for details www.b-arts.org.uk

Take care, keep that creativity multiplying xxx

HAVE YOU BOOKED YOUR PLACE ?

2010-08-12T20:31:00.004+01:00

BAREFOOT DOCTORS SUMMER SCHOOL

After the success of the first Barefoot Doctors Summer School in 2009, we are offering a three-day opportunity to explore new ways of working in a variety of art-forms, and create a new site-specific performance close to the City Centre.

During the Summer School there are various opportunities to network, meet new people, try new things, learn new stuff and update skills you might have already dabbled in, chances to collaborate with new artists and try new techniques in different environments

Film and Camera Skills: Editing, Projection and Animation
Performance: Character Work, Comedy, Text and Physical Theatre
Creating Objects: Prop building and found objects
Sound: Mixing, found sounds and composition
Work on your own and with the other students to explore collaborations and cross-overs with artists and non-artists.

We welcome a wide variety of interests and experiences – you must be 18 or over.
The course is free and lunch is provided each day.

To apply or for more information:

e-mail: info@b-arts.org.uk
text: ‘SUMMER’ to 07809 516456
phone: 01782 717326

PROJEKT ZIRKUS

2010-07-24T20:06:00.002+01:00

IMPORTANT NEWS !!! NEWS FLASH !!!

2010-06-30T09:35:00.004+01:00

Important News ! Something is afoot!

Barefoot Fridays are having a summer break ... so please don't turn up on Friday evenings at the Barracks until further notice !

- but wait - that doesn't mean there is nothing to do this summer ...

Barefoot Doctors are hosting a Summer School .

3 fantastic days in August , back to back - 24th, 25th & 26th.

We held a Summer school last year and it was a fab experience and really well received by the people who attended. If you came along last year you are more than welcomed to join in this summer , the sessions will be different and you will meet new people.

Again - this will be an ideal opportunity for creative people who want to do something a bit different this Summer, meet new folks and develop new skills. We are looking for people who want to really 'up' their skills, think about how they work as an artist ( maker or doer) consider themselves in workshop environment and possibly develop ideas towards future projects they may want to deliver, learn some useful techniques and develop how they work within a group.

The sessions will help you to channel and challenge your creativity. You will be doing lots of activities, using your resourcefulness, your imagination and your communication skills - you will really be thinking on your feet -
( perfect for a Barefoot Doctor !)

To get the most out of this experience it's best if you can attend all three sessions -

Tuesday to Thursday

10am - 4pm.

It's free and we provide you with lunch on all three days.

If you would like to attend please click on this link http://www.b-arts.org.uk taking you to the B arts website.

Places will be limited , so don't wait too long or you might miss out ... and we wouldn't want that - would we !

Barefoot Friday - join us!

2010-06-25T08:12:00.000+01:00

What will we be doing this month?: We will be looking at our European project and uploading some short films.... no experience necessary, so don't worry about technical stuff. Plus you don't have to be an established Barefooter already , first timers are always welcome, and any folks who may not have been for a while - come and say "hello"

Date: Friday 25th June ( The last Friday of the month, as usual )

Time : 6pm start with 8pm as the end time.

Venue: Upstairs at the b arts offices

- 19 Barracks Square, Newcastle under Lyme. Staffordshire ST5 1LG

Need more info : You can contact me via email at deborah.nicklin@b-arts.org.uk or call the office for a chat 01782 717326. Check out the new b arts website too at www.b-arts.org.uk

Barefoot Friday - it's here again!

2010-06-24T10:00:00.002+01:00

Date: The last Friday of the month in June is tomorrow - Friday 25th June.

Time : 6pm start as usual, with 8pm as the end time.

Venue: Upstairs at the b arts offices

- 19 Barracks Square, Newcastle under Lyme. Staffordshire ST5 1LG

Need more info : You can contact me via email at deborah.nicklin@b-arts.org.uk or call the office for a chat 01782 717326. Check out the new b arts website too at www.b-arts.org.uk

Barefoot Friday

2010-06-02T14:27:00.008+01:00

Hi there Barefooters, I hope this finds you well and happy.

Just a quick recap on what happened at the last Barefoot Friday. There were 17 of us at May's get together and it was a lovely session - yet again! Some people brought their kids and grand children along them and there were some new folks too. We had a lovely time.

Susan Clarke led the session this time around and we had to imagine ourselves trapped in a lift ( or elevator as the Americans like to say!) with the one person who could make our dreams come true!

There was lots of fun and laughter, with people stepping up to the mark and giving it their all, others just watching or joining in with discussions. Ideas are emerging for potential spin-off projects that people would like to see happening so we're going to start developing those ideas further.

Don't forget our next meeting , you don't have to be an established Barefooter already , new people are always welcome, and folks who may not have been for a while - come and say hello.

The last Friday of the month in June will be Friday 25th June.

6pm start as usual, with 8pm as the end time.

Venue: Upstairs at the b arts offices

- 19 Barracks Square, Newcastle under Lyme. Staffordshire ST5 1LG

You can contact us via email at barefoot.doctors@yahoo.com or deborah.nicklin@b-arts.org.uk or call the office for a chat 01782 638775 / 717326.

Check out the b arts website at www.b-arts.org.uk

Barefoot Friday ...crickey they come around quick!!!

2010-05-24T17:18:00.007+01:00

Yes folks , Its Barefoot Friday this week.

February was great and March and April ... as it really been that long since I mentioned our Barefoot Fridays on the blog. We've been busy I guess. We were getting the Annual Report back to our funders in March plus we've been having some fun and games with office moves and redecorating at B arts.

We're in the same building by the way, so don't think we've moved ...We still meet upstairs at 19 Barracks Square, Barracks Road Newcastle under Lyme St5 1LG

Well we've had some lovely sessions lately. March we had fun telling stories, painting plus a bit of posing about and acting. We were exercising some very vivid imaginations that night!

Rachel Grant came in to see us in April, with her Sense of Place map which will be showing at The Shire Hall Gallery in July. We added our comments to the parcel tags - little quotes about our favourite places and we had a lovely time.

So what about Barefoot Friday in May. What can you expect ?

Two hours of friendship and creativity - relaxed, informal and fun. This month we are going to do the 'It's Your Story, Tell It' workshop. If you've got a plan, a dream , and idea, something you want to do, then together we'll get our thinking-caps on and see how it can be done and do it ! With a bit of focus, hocus pocus and creative vibes will set the wheels in motion. Come along, meet some new folks and have fun ..... please reply to say if you can come along, we're looking forward to seeing you

Meeting at 6pm and going on until 8pm,

MAKE IT A DATE: Friday 28th May :o)

Barefoot Friday

2010-02-19T12:11:00.020Z

Hi folks

The end of the month means its time to go BAREFOOTING !

We've changed the name of the monthly Barefoot Doctors Friday Surgery to Barefoot Friday. It sounds kinda funky, plus I was beginning to worry that one day somebody might ask me to treat their bunions and verruccas ! ....yeeeeeuck ! So if you want to get more involved with the Barefoot Doctors project it woud be great if you could get yourself along to the next session:

Friday 26th February
6-8pm
Upstairs at 19 Barracks Square, Barracks Road, Newcastle under Lyme. ST5 1LG

(It's the Victorian army barrack building, straight opposite the bus station)

We have put an invite on facebook, so if you 'do facebook' take a look at the event info and if you can make it on 26th, click to say you are attending - it helps us to plan the session more if we have an idea how many folks will attend.

This month we are meeting to get the 100 Stories project off the ground.

The Barefoot Friday sessions for the next few months will be focussing on this project. You will have the opportunity to shape it, be in it , showcase what you can do.We anticipate a performance/ installation/ public showcase opportunity of some description sometime in the summer.

I went into Staffordshire University the other week to talk with the students at the Creative Communities Unit about what we do. Whilst I was there we started collecting a few quick stories from the people ... we didn't have too much time to get really stuck-in, but we still had fun. If you were there, come along and carry on with what we started.

If you generally struggle with Fridays ( with work commitments, transport etc ) drop me a quick note via email or post to say you want to be part of 100 Stories and we'll try to get you involved. As the 100 Stories project develops we will be host workshops outside the regular monthly Barefoot Friday routine. I'll let you know about them when they are planned.

Tonight's Big Experiment ...World Community Arts Day 17.02.2010

2010-02-17T15:47:00.007Z

World Community Arts Day is here!

As I’m typing this, we are setting up the room ready for tonight’s experiment ... how exciting (Keep your fingers crossed with all the technical gadgets involved !!! )

Tonight's the Night!

B Arts will be welcoming a group of talented young music makers to create a soothing soundscape and some heart wrenching beats for our World Community Arts Day celebrations. This first part of the evening is just for the young people involved, who will be coming from across North Staffordshire and Shropshire as part of the SoundProof project with Make Some Noise

At 8.30pm tonight we open our doors to the World ! We are inviting regular attendees of the Barefoot Doctors project and any local folks ( maybe that's YOU!!!) people who want to share and be part of this audio visual installation, to just come along and enjoy the experience. The night will include some Vj-ing with the photographs from Barefoot Doctors on the theme of community, sharing and caring. People coming along tonight will have opportunity to interact online, responding to the images and the sounds, relax and have a chat.

Venue: B Arts, Unit 19 Barracks Square, Barracks Road, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 1LG

If you can’t make it to the venue tonight at 8.30pm don’t worry - Get yourself nice and comfy in front of your computer and witness the gathering online. Link up with us just before 9pm (anytime between 8.30pm - 9pm) and get yourself ready, join us at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bitjam

We invite you to respond online between 9pm – 9.30pm - Join in , let us know you are out there sharing the experience with us.

For more news about World Community Arts Day see their main site http://www.communiversity.org.uk/worldcommunityartsday.htm

World Community Arts Day

2010-01-20T16:03:00.008Z

World Community Arts Day.

We want you to be part of a special event involving collaboration, experimentation and creativity. With sound and vision we invite you to explore the concept of ‘community’ - globally and locally.

Stage 1 – Image Generation

On Friday 29^th January 6pm - 8pm

This month’s Friday Night Surgery session will be dedicated to creating images that represent the worlds community to us. Using various methods, what ever that rocks your world - drawing , photography, action and movement.

Stage 2 – Splicing and Dicing

These images will be spliced and diced during the week that follows to create a short film / digital backdrop / VJ experiment.

Stage 3 – Music Making

On the evening of World Community Arts Day, there will be music specially created by a group of young people from across North Staffordshire and Shropshire who are part of the SoundProof project with Make Some Noise and B Arts.

All participants at stages 1, 2, 3 will receive a copy of our audiovisual experiment to keep.

Stage 4 - Going Online

WCAD ( 17th Feb) at 8.30pm, the participants of stage 1 & 2 will comeback to the venue and witness their film projected into the space, with the music. It will all be streamed live online to the World!

Stage 5 - Responding

All participants and people from around the world will be invited to leave further creative responses to our work with text, comment and feedback.

If you want to be part of this collaborative experiment please contact us :

· Call B Arts on 01782 638775
· Email info@pandaemonium.biz
· Come along the image collection session at 6pm on Friday 29^th January

Venue: B Arts,19 Barracks Square, Barracks Rd ,Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 1LG

World Community Arts Day is Wednesday 17^th February 2010.

If you can’t make it to the venue at 8.30pm on 17^th February, get yourself nice and comfy in front of your computer and witness the gathering online. Try to link up with us just before 9pm and get yourself ready ….Visit creating communities special page for our event now to see how you can link up on the night

http://creatingcommunities.ning.com/worldcommunityartsday

2010 A New Year of Creativity

2009-12-29T11:46:00.012Z

We hope that you had a good break and managed to get your feet up for 5 minutes ! Lets hope that the next decade brings hope, fulfilment, health and happiness.

Standstill and Clay kept us all pretty busy, we did alot of work together in just a few months - Clay was in October then we got going with Standstill straight after. The show was on 21st December - if you want to see photos from Standstill see the weblink www.standstill.yolasite.com

... So good work folks!

If you are about to make some New Year Resolutions, why not add this one to the list:

"Do something creative - Get myself along to the Barefoot Doctors sessions!

The Barefoot Doctors project is managed by B Arts and we are intrisically performing arts based and would love some folks to come along who want to be expressive in speech, movement and action, but don't let that alarm you ...we include all artforms - everything!

So if the thought of 'performing' scares you rigid, and maybe you don't consider yourself as a great singer, musician, dancer or performer don't worry - we welcome all artforms.

We have experience of working with artists from all over the world, we can all work together creatively.

If you are a visual artist, a graphics person , a crafts maker, a photographer, sculptor, writer, film maker ... at any level - student, amateur, professional, whatever we welcome everyone, anyone who wants to volunteer their time to be part of something that makes positive creative things happen in North Staffordshire.

We meet on the last Friday of each month
We meet in unit 19 of the Barracks workshops, on Barracks road, Newcastle under Lyme.
We usually meet at 6pm

Just pop in and say "Hiya" and we'll get the kettle on! Be lovely to see you.

We put information on other sites too:

You can keep up to date with us on facebook and see who our friends are... ( We are listed as a 'person' named Barefoot Doctors - not as a group. Thats because there is already a group on there from when the Barefoot Doctors project existed in the late 1990's and that group is a sort of reunion group ...so just search for us as a 'person'... if that makes sense)

Other sites you can find us on: http://blurbonline.ning.com http://twitter.com/barefootdoctors

B arts is supported by Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Lloyds TSB Foundation, The Baring Foundation and many others too numerous to mention.

Website for Standstill

2009-12-17T22:00:00.004Z

www.standstill.yolasite.com

21st December 2009

STANDSTILL

2009-12-10T23:43:00.011Z

Check out the new Standstill site for updates on workshops and how to attend the actual Standstill event on December 21st in Hanley.

All workshops and the final event are free. you can just turn up to workshops - drop in. You need to book you place if you want to come and join the full Standstill journey .We need to limit numbers of folks on the walk through the town , it will be a special intimate party, an event to remember. Anyone can join us at the end of the journey - just before 5pm in Tontine Square, Hanley.

We want all our Barefoot Doctors to come forward and take part in the event - you all helped to form the ideas, from the summer school until now we formed and shaped the event...from the smallest of details . You'll spot little things from the workshops, ideas and images that have been brought forward into the final event.

If you are available to take part on the night give me a call at the office and there are plenty of ways to help out - stewarding, carrying lanterns , banners, placing boxes in the rubbish (Summer School attendees will be familiar with that!!!)

Call us Monday to Friday and leave a message for me or speak with Philippa on the main number ... or leave a message on the answer machine if we are out at workshops ...01782 717326

Hey ...why not just come along to the workshops? Details of all workshops are on the Standstill site. www.standstill.yolasite.com It's going to be a lovely night plus there is a flashmob moment ....don't miss it.

November's Open Surgery Session

2009-11-24T10:19:00.010Z

This week brings us the last Friday of the month again ...gosh they come around quick !

So, that means it's Barefooters meeting time , so lets get set to be creative. The evening session will be 3 hours this month.

6 - 7pm - time for tea and introduce the programme of Standstill and what will be happening.

7 - 9pm will be two practical hands-on workshops

" Shadow Stories "
" Things Are Not What They Seem "

All elements are devised to help us make lots of exciting stuff towards the final December event.....these are just 2 of the 12 interventions of Winter involved in Standstill. Note there will be a full programme of Standstill announced for activity within the next few weeks, all artforms, all levels of artistic abilities welcomed to join in, even if you've not been before its never too late to get involved.

19 Barracks Square (upstairs ....just come in the door will be open)
Barracks Road
Newcastle under Lyme
Staffordshire

Hope you can come along ...see you there.

Standstill - our walk about photos

2009-11-06T11:35:00.006Z

Started to put photos on the Barefoot Doctors Flickr pages

( Flickr is a photosharing website)

If you don't know how to upload your pics and allow us all to see them, you can email your pics to barefoot.doctors@yahoo.com or deborahnicklin@pandaemonium.biz and we'll upload them

If you do put any photos on the web please tell us how to get to them :0)

To see the ones that Paul took last night on his phone, as we did our Walkabout along the low road ( Town Road and Old Hall street route), please follow this link

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44412969@N06/sets/72157622745618754/

STANDSTILL

2009-11-04T16:40:00.006Z

Dear Barefoot Doctors - this blog is your creative space to put your ideas forward for the 12 final interventions of Standstill.

These interventions can be in any artform.
They will be done on a tiny budget.
They will be seen by the public (anybody) as they walk through Hanley towards Northwood Park.
They will be seen on the run up to Christmas ( and maybe a few weeks afterwards - time scale to be confirmed) They may only be seen for a few minutes , a few hours , a few days, a few weeks --- it all depends.
They all be branded as Standstill interventions and will have to make sense within the narrative of the Standstill journey.
There will only be 12 interventions... you may need to collaborate with fellow Barefooters.

We will be meeting in Hanley town centre to explore the journey and the possible site.

Meet at 3.30pm , outside the Old Post office 5th November if you want to join us.

We will meet again , a week later, to discuss all submitted proposals / ideas/ collaborations on Thursday 12th November , 1pm - 3pm , 19 Barracks Square, Newcastle under Lyme.

Get your ideas down, comment on this blog with your ideas.
See what others are thinking of doing and consider if your idea could work in partnership with somebody else's idea.
Chat with each other through the blog, through the facebook group, face to face and by phone or email.
Describe your proposals ( the venue, the materials needed to fulfill your idea).
We'll collectively shape them up into a solid idea and journey at outr next meeting.
Look on here everyday for each others ideas and our updates.

Friday 30th October ... can you make it?

2009-10-20T15:18:00.002+01:00

Hey folks

How you all fixed for a Barefoot Doctors Open Surgery session next Friday?

It will be 30th October so maybe a little bit halloween fun wouldn't go amiss!

If there enough of us ...

I'm trying to get feedback because I know that some folks have other stuff taking place that night (it's Lichfield lantern procession and Friends of Ken have got a gig too )

Please comment back to say if you can make it ...

Commenting here on the blog, or
Reply to the facebook message that has been sent out to all friends of Barefoot Doctors.

Cheers

CLAY IS COMING

2009-10-03T00:43:00.004+01:00

Are you going to see CLAY ?

It is a B-Arts site specific performance with creative contributions from Barefoot Doctor participants.

Experience takes place : 16th or 17th October 2009

Burslem School of Art. Queen Street Burslem. Stoke on Trent

7.30pm

Don't miss out, please book your place ....It's a free event but there is a limit on audience numbers.

Email : clay@pandaemonium.biz

Telephone: 01782 717326

Correction to open session details.

2009-09-13T13:57:00.004+01:00

STOP PRESS...... STOP PRESS...... OPEN PARTICIPATION SESSION For anyone interested in doing their bit for CLAY For people who want to help in some way ... but particularly people who don't mind performing. If you want to know what the final perfomance will be about, or if you can't be involved but would like to see one of the final performances on 16th and 17th October in Burslem, please email clay@pandaemonium.biz

Details of the open participation session for CLAY :

20th September.
4pm - 6pm
19 Barracks square, Barracks Road

( It's not at Burslem School of Art ...as I'd previously posted ...sorry about doing that ....its at The Barracks !) All welcome, more the merrier....contact clay@pandaemonium.biz for more details.

Post from Barefoot Doctor - Martin Goodhead

2009-09-08T10:22:00.010+01:00

Here is a post we've put on the site from Martin Goodhead one of the Barefoot Doctors - It's regarding the exciting new publication idea Martin raised at the Summer School and the was discussed a bit more at the August Friday Surgery. At the moment we see it as a special collectible, limited edition, publication for arts reviews, comment, poetry, journalistic articles, illustration, photography etc...a beautiful thing to hold with real artistic value in itself.

If you find this idea interesting please read on to see Martin's thoughts on this already.

We will discuss this idea in more depth at the next Friday Surgery on September 25th. Please interact here on the blog in the meantime , comment with your thoughts and ideas.

Dear Barefoot Doctors,

Post the Summer School and last week’s meeting, which some of you attended, we’re looking for initial submissions and pitches for our dynamic new arts magazine ahead of the planned funding meeting ( But whatever happens, we WILL get published). At the moment, prior to any official meetings on the commissioning/funding side, a monthly model looks the most sustainable and in terms of timescale, it’s probable we’d have a trial run produced by sometime in October. Beyond that, what’s been exciting us in early consultations has been the potential to recapture/transfer the spirit of those energetic and imaginative publishing projects from the late 70’s up to the early 90’s in terms of materials (the texture and cut of the paper/ink), individual designs and layouts. Born out of free spaces for free-space communities, the mixture of iconoclasm and discovered values unifying very disparate individuals, rooted in geographies previously associated with heavy industries, found in Manchester and Leeds fanzines is our inspiration as much as modern arts and commentary mags like Glasgow’s The Drouth or the London/Nats. What follows are some guidance notes to help you germinate ideas: --- Specifically we’re looking for art, and copy about art; direct ‘pieces’, and offers to collaborate on exploratory interview or features connected with areas of artistic interest. Whether photo-essays, comic strips, or pieces on how representation and theory in modern theory exist with an assumed community art, or punk-free form language expressionist riffs, the object of our publication is to showcase and stimulate alike; to support and shake-up with a high-wire liberty. Don’t feel that it has to be anything revolutionary form-wise, although we’d encourage you to put forward content you’re passionate about; if its motivated by wanting to express something definite, any piece will work much better for you and the reader alike. Pitches so far from individuals in the group for the first issue have included a ‘Friends of Ken’ cartoon(!), a kaleidoscopic narratory meditation on North Staffordshire’s changing music scene, a photo -analytique of stories and connotations created by performance dance, and a look at‘themes for imaginary films’ in Stoke’s landscape-- doubling as a kind of essay based imperative to start creating a culture of film-making in the area. Our (so-far untitled—we’ve got ideas but totally encourage your suggestions at this stage) publication will also encompass lyric-writing, poetry, short-stories and embryonic script writing both as ends in themselves and as a forum to encourage the evolution of words into sound and shadowy scenes into digi-celluoid montages. Your range of subjects is practically unlimited, although editorial considerations may in some cases come into play later regarding length and small content adaptations; this is dependent on the range of pieces we receive, any common threads connecting them and scale. It’s important to remember that both from our perspective and yours, the magazine is about encouraging (and in some cases revivifying) a culture of art in North Staffordshire. Your art-pictorial or verbal-- can arrive from and deal with anywhere, lands and scents to cubist mathematic lines; in the case of reviews and critical articles, either the subject or the critical perspective would ideally reflect some physical or psychic aspect of North Staffs. This shouldn’t be seen as a limitation or indeed an absolute, but rather a focus for your thoughts and one which is-- semantically and institutionally--- flexible. In other words when, say, discussing an art-show based elsewhere, ponder what might be contingent to an experience in such and such setting in terms of what and why decisions were made -- and how your passive and active art experiences locally might be equally contingent. But it goes where and as far as you can make it—we’re looking for your own thoughts, whether strategy suggestions or just associative words and pictures, to guide us in assembling the first magazine. One idea which has been mooted is a first edition guerrilla distribution campaign focused on 25/50 unique covers appropriate to the same number of sites, or fewer but more intricate one-off covers focused around the energies within and around the magazine and its bid to co-revolutionize the area as a hive of thought, high art and pop smart, classic and rock’n’roll...plus dub-bhangra-speed symphony fusions—metaphorically. Tell us your thoughts and start sharing the secret. Best of luck Martin

Please add any ideas and thoughts, contributions, offers of help to develop this idea to the Barefoot Doctors blog (here) - www.barefootdoctors.blogspot.com

More sessions announced ... come on ... get on board

2009-09-06T10:54:00.008+01:00

Announcing more creative participatory sessions during September. If you want to be involved in an exciting installation, performance, arts experience in the depths of winter, called Standstill, then just come along to one of these Standstill sessions to help us create what it will become.

Barefoot Doctors STANDSTILL SESSIONS:

Wednesday 9th September 10am -12noon ( music )
Wednesday 16th September 6pm -8pm (performance/ storytelling)

Barefoot Doctors Friday Surgeries coming up:

25th September 2009, 6pm -8pm
30th October 2009. 6-8pm

All the above sessions will be held at : Unit 19, The Barracks Square, Barracks Road, Newcastle under Lyme.

October is the month of CLAY, so B arts will be busy busy busy organising that!

If you want to know more about CLAY ... what its about, how you can get involved or to book your tickets to see the performances in Burslem mid October, please email clay@pandaemonium.biz There will be an open participation session for CLAY on 20th September.

4pm - 6pm at 19 Barracks square, Barracks Road ( not at Burslem School of Art ...as I'd previously posted ...sorry about doing that ....its at The Barracks !)

All welcome, more the merrier....contact clay@pandaemonium.biz for more details.

Standstill - extra meetings announced

2009-08-31T18:16:00.015+01:00

...Calling all Barefoot Doctors...

...Come in Barefoot Doctors .....

The meeting on Friday evening was buzzing with ideas around the forthcoming creation called STANDSTILL. To keep the ideas and energy flowing, we are calling additional workshops (extra to the monthly Friday Surgeries) These extra sessions will be just to discuss and create around this STANDSTILL theme. The first meeting will be this week:

Wednesday 2nd September
4pm - 6pm
19 Barracks Square, Barracks Road, Newcastle.

If you want to develop ideas which began at the Summer School and be part of the core group for STANDSTILL please come on Wednesday - and make your ideas known. We know a few people are having trouble getting to meetings so we are still planning on keeping you involved remotely ( by postal, email correspondence )... so hang on in there ! Try using the blog as a point to add your ideas and get involved in the flow of projects. Please leave a comment to say if you are coming and jot down the ideas that you want to see develop. We want this blog to be interactive , to act as information sharing noticeboard.

Thank you everyone.....don't forget next Friday.

2009-08-22T21:30:00.010+01:00

Thank you everyone for all your creative expression. So many positive memories of the three days and lovely comments on the facebook pages which people have. There was a photograph of Celine in the local newspaper (The Sentinel) today ... looking very colourful during her group's "Gloomy Christmas" performance in the park called Queens Walk. The lady with the dog approaching us all, as Celine danced here socks off, plus the chap on the bike riding straight through the middle of it all made that quite a quirky experience.

The other three performances throughout the final day were also amazing and memorable for us all, we were all moved by everyone's creativity and open approach to the project. You ALL made it a fantastic experience ...and this is just the beginning... Monthly meetings will start in August and will then be held on the last Friday of every month.

1st of the monthly Barefoot Doctors Friday Surgeries -
Friday 28th August 2009
6-8pm
Unit 19, upstairs, Barracks Workshops, Barracks Road. Newcastle under Lyme.
If you want to be part of this please come along. Any equiries just call the B arts offices 01782 638775 Email: deborah.nicklin@pandaemonium.biz

2009-08-19T21:52:00.004+01:00

Well there was no need for the suncream ( never trust the weathermen!) but I think we'll need our sunglasses tomorrow ....I think we may be dazzled by the four outdoor performances from our creative and resourceful barefoot doctors!

Summer School ...take your sun cream!

2009-08-19T08:39:00.009+01:00

So looking forward to todays Summer School ....wondering what amazing things I'll witness and be part of too. Good group of friendly creative folks , with a bit of outdoor excitement today too ( weather promises to be good - bonus !) So if you spot some creative interventions happening in Newcastle under Lyme town centre or somewhere near King street... don't worry ...it's probably the Barefoot Doctors 'going for it big style'

WOW

2009-08-18T16:20:00.002+01:00

What a day. We had a huge number of participants- well felt like loads and people really went for it We are hungry People were brave and made and responded to each other worked together and were generous Best phrase of the day; "Ideas Garden" thank you Martin s

Summer School live update.

2009-08-18T14:42:00.004+01:00

Barefoot Doctors Summer School live update: 2:50pm We've spent the morning getting to know each other, finding out about ourselves and the people in the room with us. We're exploring STANDSTILL our big theme for this. Everyone is crawling around on the floor, pen in hand, scribbling away on the large roll of outstretched paper. The paper id getting filled with word , evocative words....around that special time of year when the nights will start to become shorted and the days will eventually become longer ...solstice, mid winter. Huddled together or all alone its a powerful time of year - loaded with emotion and expectation, overwhelmed senses. We all have ideas to share on this idea ....that's what we are all doing now. We all need a time to think, a time to standstill. What are your thoughts on this particular time of the year?

Summers Cool !

2009-08-11T11:18:00.008+01:00

Thanks to all of you who have booked on to the Barefoot Doctors Summer School this August. We're pleased to say that we've got 19 creative folks coming along for the 3 days, all geared up and raring to go ! All attendees will be receiving letters of confirmation in the post within the next few days , including information about what to bring with you and where we will be meeting. If you want to be involved with Barefoot Doctors but are kicking yourself that you just couldn't get to the Summer School ... don't worry... Barefoot Doctors will all be meeting on the last Friday of every month (starting 28th August) 6-8pm ... so you can still join in. Monthly meetings will be practical workshops & talking places, information sharing and signposting, performance laboratories, a catalyst for future community and artist led projects - a chance to ask further questions, get some assistance, find what you need for your own creative path, have more headspace to develop ideas with other artists, take part in more artistic experimentation and collaboration with like minded folks. GET INSPIRED, GIVE IT A TRY ... Check out the previous blog posts to understand what Barefoot Doctors is all about ... If you've got any questions just get in touch for a chat. If you want to come to those monthly meetings let us know - You can drop us an email : deborahnicklin@pandaemonium.biz Call us : 0172 638775 or 07809 516 456

Getting On ...

2009-07-29T14:36:00.013+01:00

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Have you booked your place on the

Barefoot Doctors Summer School yet?

Places are being taken every day by people getting in touch with us, so get your completed booking form sent back to us ASAP. If you still need a form just send Deborah a quick email request. For more information about the Summer School please take a look at the blog-post, dated July 20th.

Email :deborah.nicklin@pandaemonium.biz for your booking form.

Barefoot Doctors Summer School- details announced.

2009-07-20T10:54:00.026+01:00

Barefoot Doctors Summer School.

3 special days of skills-sharing and personal development

for all creative souls in North Staffordshire.

Three days, 11am - 4pm
Tuesday 18th to Thursday 20th August
Light lunch & refreshments provided.
All Summer School sessions will be taking place in Newcastle-under-Lyme, North Staffordshire.
Participants can live anywhere in North Staffordshire, plus any artists who want to work in North Staffordshire communities.

FREE.

3 enjoyable days of collaboration and activity that aim to establish a strong and diverse network of artistic people who want to be Barefoot Doctors - people who want to develop and share the skills they currently have, maybe learn some brand new skills and make positive and creative things happen in North Staffordshire.

Attendance on all full three days is preferred , but if that is difficult just let us know before hand and we'll try to be as flexible as possible to make it work for you.

Over the 3 days we will:

have a unique opportunity to develop our own arts practice and community skills
learn from the skills and experiences of other people in the group
celebrate our strengths and recognise our weaker skills
feel relaxed to share our time and knowledge to develop others
work collectively in a bigger project
put our creativity to good use
learn something about ourselves
have fun!

These 3 days of participation and conversation will involve practical and enjoyable activities, dialogue and creative tasks with people of all skill levels and backgrounds. We will have fun and work in a relaxed and artistic atmosphere, with some outdoor exploration in the town centre.

Remember - it's for all current arts leaders ,budding artists and performers of the future,who are interested in visual arts, performing arts , new media arts, at any level of confidence and experience. We need a diverse range of people to make this work, so spread the word, perhaps your friends would like to come or you know someone who this might suit... let them know.

To get your booking form please contact us :

Email: deborah.nicklin@pandaemonium.biz

Telephone: 01782 638775

Booking is essential,

Reply before 5pm on Monday 10th August 2009.

.........................................................

The Barefoot Doctors Summer School is suitable for people aged 16 years and over.

.........................................................

Are you are under 16?

Would you like to be a Barefoot Doctor?

Still get in touch with us.

....just give us a call or email ( details below)

There will be several drop-in workshops for young people in August that will form the basis of a younger Barefoot Doctors group which will meet after the Summer too.

B Arts project are organising sevaerl sessions for young people this summer in Newcastle called CHIPS. It's or people aged 12 -18 years. CHIPS sessions will also be an ideal place to be creative and share your skills with people of your own age group using digital technology and new media with visual arts and music skills.

These particular sessions are mainly aimed at young people living in the Newcastle Borough due to funding requirements.

Session times: 11am - 1pm and afternoon sessions 2- 4pm

Dates :12/13/14/15/17/21/24/25/26 August 2009

The sessions held on 24/25/26 August will be based in outlying areas of the Newcastle , the rest will be in the town centre.

Interested in the CHIPS sessions?

Please contact Ben McManus about CHIPS.

Telephone: 01782 638775

Email: info@pandaemonium.biz

_____________________

Tweet, tweet, tweet !

2009-07-17T13:14:00.010+01:00

Hey!

We are on TWITTER too.

Take a look at the social networking site called twitter ... go to www.twitter.com and get tweeting!

Search for us - barefootdoctors and interact.

We'll see how we can use twitter at one of the future surgery sessions maybe

and have some fun with it.

If you want to leave comments here on the blogspot too that would be great, let's share some ideas ... that's what its here for.

Review- First Barefoot Doctors Open Surgery.

2009-07-17T11:07:00.017+01:00

Thanks to everyone who came along on Saturday 11th July, taking part in the first Barefoot Doctors Open Surgery, held in Newcastle under Lyme. Thanks to Rachel at 'picl' too, for opening their venue and staying around all morning.

We had 27 fabulous folks at the Open Surgery session. It was a friendly atmosphere, lots of smiling, everyone chatting , drinking tea and eating biscuits.

Essentially everyone had the opportunity to get away from their daily pressures and to talk to some like minded people - catch up with some familiar faces and make some new friends.

(Nice networking)

Everyone took part in the fun "Creative Symptoms"task, using various vessels and containers to mix our collective creative potion.

During the task people wrote down their symptoms - how they currently felt - about their skills and abilities, artistic ideas, artistic direction,the path they are on now, the path they want to take, opinions on community arts practice and their long term aspirations.

Folks said how useful they had found it and how they were looking forward to the next opportunity to get together.

So if you are itching to meet up again or if you couldn't make it last Saturday but still want to get involved in Barefoot Doctors please keep checking the blog.

New faces are always welcome, any age , any art form, any ability.

Details of how you can involved in the next Barefoot Doctors opportunity will be outlined in the next post. (Coming soon ... well, as soon as a I can type and upload!)

Hello to Barefoot Doctors!

2009-07-03T16:43:00.002+01:00

Barefoot Doctors is a creative skills-sharing initiative, running for the next three years in North Staffordshire. We will be enlisting the help and expertise of artists ( Barefoot Doctors) who want to work with either a collective of like minded individuals or to work with established community groups, to create vibrant and exciting arts projects across the area. The projects will also feed into the B arts schedule to create bi-annual performances - visually exciting events of engaging physical theatre, using all art forms in their creation. The Barefoot Doctors will also be looking out for talented emerging artists, people within the community who may want to develop their own skills - to become trainee Barefoot Doctors. All art forms . All ages. All abilities. Come along to our first Barefoot Doctors Open Surgery event. 11am - 1pm. Saturday 11th July 2009. The Old School Rooms,14a King St, Newcastle under Lyme. Just drop in, even for 10 minutes, and find out what its all about and get involved in something creative, maybe sign yourself up as a potential Barefoot Doctor.

Coming by car or need disable access?

There is better disabled access from the back entrance to the room we are using, via Hanover Street and there is a small car park there which might be useful too. Because space is limited can everyone else please use pay and display parking on King St, or one of the various car parks in the town centre, just a few minutes walk away. Thank you.