We are delighted to bring the joys of culture and creativity to you this summer. We have artists and musicians undertaking residencies in Early Years settings, training opportunities, recruitment opportunities plus a super Early Years show touring!
Making & Believing Project
Cross-artform artists are working with staff and children in settings in Sedgemoor, South Somerset, Derby City and Surrey, visiting each for 10 weeks to work in creative collaboration together.
A Square World by Daryl and Co, a disability lead theatre company, will tour settings during June with a beautiful non-verbal show for children aged 6 and under. Families can catch it at the Princess Theatre on Saturday 10 June – get your tickets here.
A Square World was created in collaboration with a class of 5 year olds during an artist residency at a nursery. It presents the barriers of everyday life in a playful way, opening up an understanding or solidarity around disability, without being didactic to our early years audience. The show doesn't take a sledge-hammer approach to the subject of access or inclusion, but it doesn't shy away from it either. This leads to a gentle, playful yet poignant message.
SoundWaves Network SW
Across the South West we are delivering best practice music opportunities for staff and children, both in settings and by providing CPD opportunities for those working with 0 – 5 year olds. Our mission is to build confidence and skills in sharing music with babies and young children.
We just finished our Building Confidence Using Music in the EYFS course, which was a great success. This 6-session evening course focused on helping attendees to develop skills and confidence in delivering simple singing games, rhymes and instrumental work for 0 to 5s. We also explored ways of encouraging musical play, supporting it through adult interactions with children, and how settings can celebrate children's musical achievements. As you can see from all the smiley faces below, we had a lot of fun!
Coming up are:
- Sharing the SoundWaves Network SW story .... so far!
- Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood (academic year 2023/24) Applications are now open at the Centre for Research in Early Childhood(CREC), Birmingham. A limited number of bursaries are available for those in the South West, email jane@takeart.org to inquire.
We are seeking an emerging Early Childhood Music Practitioner with an interest in working collaboratively. They will be supported and mentored by an experienced Early Childhood Music Practitioner in Devon and Torbay. This funded opportunity is for a musician, an artist or educator wishing to develop their music practice with very young children. For further information and to apply click here.