DUCHY SQUARE FORUM WILL SEAL GREEN PARTNERSHIPS

Duchy Square Centre for Creativity in Princetown will bring a major environmental project focussed on Dartmoor to a climax this week (Thursday 18 March, 10am -4pm) when it hosts a key forum connecting the business and creative sectors.

Establishing Cultures is the final event in a month long series of forums and exhibitions under the title of Art, Ecology and Economy, which is encouraging artists to collaborate with companies to develop new products and initiatives around the sustainability agenda.

It will draw together all the ideas that have emerged from the exhibitions, and the forum dates, to build new partnerships between, artists and creative practitioners, environmentalists and business.

Integria Ltd- the creative consultancy company which manages and operates the Princetown centre – has collaborated with the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World (CCANW) based at Haldon Forest near Exeter for the trailblazing project.

Tracy Hill, SW regional manager for Integria, said: “The forums and exhibitions have been a huge success and we are delighted to play host to the final key event that should result in some tangible initiatives to take this exciting agenda forward.

Integria is keen for artists based at Duchy Square and elsewhere on Dartmoor to trial products or work closely in the design and delivery of a service focussed on sustainability as part of the project, which has the fundamental aim of encouraging businesses to find innovative solutions to environmental challenges.

The main focus has been on tackling climate change and the artists and businesses will collaborate to develop ideas into sustainable business opportunities that will primarily be for the benefit of local communities in the Dartmoor area.

The programme, which has been staged thanks to the financial support of the Greater Dartmoor LEAF, was launched back in January with a major event which brought invited businesses and artists to CCANW at Haldon Forest.

Both Duchy Square and CCANW also staged simultaneous exhibitions to explore how environmentally friendly approaches to manufacture and collaboration can make creative industries more profitable, and in turn, how this creative sector impacts on other regional industries.

“We are determined to ensure this project succeeds and brings about wide ranging benefits for the local community by significantly increasing demand for local services and local products,” said Tracy.

“Artists and designers at Duchy Square, as well as elsewhere on Dartmoor, will be working hard to promote creative work that utilises natural resources from local sources, increasing awareness of local cultural and recreational assets.”

ABOUT DUCHY SQUARE:

• Duchy Square for Creativity offers low cost workshop space for Creative,

Cultural, Arts and Media based businesses

• The aim of the project is to regenerate the area by supporting local businesses across several key sectors.

• It is a brand new centre created in 2009 with the South West Regional Development Agency, government Office South West, Devon County Council and the Duchy of Cornwall.

• It is situated in the centre of Princetown on Tavistock Road at the crossroads for the B3212 and B3357.

ABOUT INTEGRIA:

Integria Ltd is a specialist management consultancy supporting the creative and cultural sectors throughout the United Kingdom, helping them to develop to their full potential to create new opportunities and stimulate economic growth.

YET MOOR FREE SESSIONS TO GET CREATIVE!

Duchy Square Centre for Creativity has added four more free workshops to its programme of taster sessions, designed to help people of all ages tap into their artistic talents.

The Princetown centre – situated in the heart of Dartmoor - is working with Lean Devon to deliver the free sessions, which offer an ideal opportunity to find out what is on offer from resident artists based at Duchy Square.

There are two sessions of Spinning on a Shoestring with Jane Deane (18 February and 13 March, 10am to 1pm ) which gives people the chance to learn the techniques of hand spinning using wool - and make their own spinning device from a variety of simple, everyday items.

Sewing enthusiasts are invited to join the Skills in Alteration workshop (Saturday 20 Feb 10am to 1pm) in which local artist Lucie Ponsford invites people to bring in their old clothes for a fast track repair and alteration session.

In a separate session, Accessories from Old Garments (Friday 12 March 10am to 1pm) Lucie will be showing how it is possible to create fashionable accessories from old and forgotten clothes.

Gallery Manager Philippa Smith said: “We are delighted to be able to offer more free workshops, which enable us to demonstrate the diversity of artistic and creative skills people can learn here at Duchy Square.

Philippa said that there is still an opportunity to book other workshops in the series, that cover a whole host of disciplines.

Wild Weaving ( 9 and 23 February 9.30am-1pm)) with Amanda Pellatt and Jillian Morris begins with a foraging walk in the wild and an introduction to the weaving process, followed by two sessions to weave a finished product.

Dyeing Naturally with Jane Deane (20 February and 5 March 10am -1pm) offer the chance to be environmentally friendly and dye fabrics using local plants for dye extracts.

In Mary Toon’s Felt Revived! (6 March 1pm-4pm) learn to make a beautiful scarf or bag by adding "ecofriendly" fleece to recycled fabrics.

In The New Items from Old sessions with Amanda Pellatt (11 March 9.30am -1pm and 16 March 5pm-8pm) , people can work alongside a Duchy Square creative practitioner to create new items from a whole host of recycled materials.

For details on how to book places on the free taster sessions workshops, contact Duchy Square on (01822) 890828 or visit the website http://www.duchysquare.org/ where contact details for all the artists can also be found.

Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.

The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios.


WEBSITES:
http://www.duchysquare.org/
http://www.integria.net/

PIONEERING PARTNERSHIP WILL SPREAD A GREEN MESSAGE ACROSS DARTMOOR

Two leading organisations involved in the creative arts, operating on either side of Dartmoor, are collaborating on a major exhibition and forum programme putting sustainability, as well as the current economic crisis, in the spotlight.

The project ‘Art, Ecology and the Economy’ takes the form of an exhibition, displayed simultaneously from 23 January-28 March, and a series of forums, at the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World in Haldon Forest Park near Exeter, and the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity, Princetown.

Artists will trial products or work closely in the design and delivery of a service focussed on sustainability as part of the project, which has the fundamental aim of encouraging businesses to find innovative solutions to environmental challenges. The main focus will be on tackling climate change and the artists and businesses will work closely to develop ideas into sustainable business opportunities that will primarily be for the benefit of local communities in the Dartmoor area.

One public launch of the exhibition will be in Princetown on Saturday 23 January, 2-4pm, and another at Haldon on Sunday 24 January, 2-4pm. All are welcome to attend. CCANW is also holding a special launch by invite only for local businesses on the evening of Thursday 21 January, 6-8pm.

Tracy Hill - South West Regional Manager for Integria Ltd – said the collaboration between Duchy Square and CCANW would enable artists, designers, environmentalists and the wider business community to share ideas and expertise in pursuit of common goals.Integria Ltd- the creative consultancy company which manages and operates the Princetown centre – wants artists to collaborate with the companies to develop new products and initiatives around the sustainability agenda.“One of the fundamental aims of this project is that it brings about wide ranging benefits for the local community by significantly increasing demand for local services and local products,” said Tracy.“This will be achieved by artists and designers at CCANW and Duchy Square, as well as elsewhere on Dartmoor, promoting creative work that utilises natural resources from local sources increasing awareness of local cultural and recreational assets.”

Both exhibitions will explore how environmentally friendly approaches to manufacture and collaboration can make creative industries more profitable, and it turn, how this creative sector impacts on other regional industries.CCANW and Duchy Square will be hosting four forums that form part of the programme. The forums will bring together all the interested parties to take part in presentations, discussion groups and networking opportunities.

The forums are as follows: Wood Culture at CCANW (Thursday 28 January, 10am-4pm) is aimed at promoting the environmental benefits of using local, sustainably grown woods, using new technologies and traditional skills in the production of buildings, furniture and utility objects. Wool Culture at Duchy Square (Thursday 11 February, 10am-4pm) will explore ways in which the creative sector can utilise and add value to the natural products of local agriculture, with the focus on wool.

Water Culture at CCANW (Thursday 25 February, 10am-4pm) will explore ways in which the arts can encourage new visitors to the countryside and enhance the quality of that experience, with a focus on cultural activity associated with the rivers, lakes, and reservoirs of Greater Dartmoor and other parts of the UK. Duchy Square will also host the final forum, entitled Establishing Cultures (Thursday 18 March 10am -4pm) which will draw together all the ideas that have emerged from the exhibitions and all forum dates to build new partnerships between, artists and creative practitioners, environmentalists and business.

For full details of the ‘Art, Ecology and the Economy’ programme, visit www.ccanw.co.uk of contact CCANW on (01392) 832277. The details can also be found on the Duchy Square website, www.duchysquare.org, or contact the gallery on (01822) 890828.‘Art, Ecology and the Economy’ is financially supported by Greater Dartmoor LEAF (incorporating funds from the EU, Defra, SWRDA, LEADER), Arts Council England and Ernest Cook Trust.

CONTACT: For more information, please contact Anthony Abbott TxT Communications (07799) 888512 or Chris Lewis, Marketing and Development Manager at CCANW (01392) 832277 or Tracy Hill SW Regional Manager, Integria (07947) 348363.

EDITOR'S NOTES:

ABOUT CCANW:
• CCANW is an educational charity which uses the Arts to explore our place within Nature.
• It operates from a Project Space in Haldon Forest Park where it presents a year-round programme of exhibitions and other activities.
• It opened in 2006 by converting a previously redundant building and since then has been financially supported by Arts Council England and other grant aid. The Forestry Commission provides other visitor facilities at Haldon including a café, cycle trail and adventure course.
• It is situated adjacent to the main car park of Haldon Forest Park, off the A38, and between Exeter Racecourse and Haldon Belvedere.

ABOUT DUCHY SQUARE:
• Duchy Square for Creativity offers low cost workshop space for Creative,Cultural, Arts and Media based businesses
• The aim of the project is to regenerate the area by supporting local businesses across several key sectors.
• It is a brand new centre created in 2009 with the South West Regional Development Agency, government Office South West, Devon County Council and the Duchy of Cornwall.
• It is situated in the centre of Princetown on Tavistock Road at the crossroads for the B3212 and B3357.

ABOUT INTEGRIA:Integria Ltd is a specialist management consultancy supporting the creative and cultural sectors throughout the United Kingdom, helping them to develop to their full potential to create new opportunities and stimulate economic growth.

FREE WORKSHOP SESSIONS FOR A CREATIVE RESOLUTION



Make a New Year’s resolution to tap into your creative talents at a series of taster workshop sessions at Duchy Square Centre for Creativity – and they are all absolutely FREE!

Find out where your particular skills lie by trying out dyeing or weaving, felt making or creating new items from recycled material, all with the help of the Princetown centre’s talented team of resident artists.

Duchy Square is working with Learn Devon, The Devon Community Learning Partnership, to deliver the free taster sessions, which are the perfect introduction to a whole new world of creativity.

Gallery Manager Philippa Smith said the free sessions were designed to help people discover which creative discipline they would like to pursue further at other workshop session held throughout the year.

“We want to give as many people as possible the chance to try out a varied selection of creative processes so they can find out both what interests them and best suits their skills,” said Philippa.

“This really is a unique opportunity to start the New Year by learning a new creative skill free of charge and we are already getting a lot of interest in the sessions”

In The New Items from Old sessions with Amanda Pellatt (11 March 9.30am -1pm and 16 March 5pm-8pm) , people can work alongside a Duchy Square creative practitioner to create new items from a whole host of recycled materials.

Dyeing Naturally workshops with Jane Deane (17 January 10am-1pm and 5 March 10am -1pm) offer the chance to be environmentally friendly and dye fabrics using local plants for dye extracts.

Then there is Wild Weaving (4, 9 and 23 February 9.30am-1pm)) with Amanda Pellatt and Jillian Morris– three sessions that begin with a foraging walk in the wild and an introduction to the weaving process, followed by two sessions to weave a finished product. You will find out about all the different products used for weaving and some that you would never have thought could be used!

For felt enthusiasts, Mary Toon’s Felt Revived! (22 January 10am-1pm and 6 March 1pm-4pm)- Learn to make a beautiful scarf or bag by adding "ecofriendly" fleece to recycled fabrics. These sessions will show how an old craft has now been reborn in a new direction and the techniques adapted to become an environmentally friendly way of producing garments.

For details on how to book places on the free taster sessions workshops, contact Duchy Square on (01822) 890828 or visit the website www.duchysquare.org where contact details for all the artists can also be found.

Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.

The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios.

WEBSITES:

www.duchysquare.org

www.integria.net

CONTACT: For more information, please contact Anthony Abbott TxT Communications (07799) 888512 or Tracy Hill SW Regional Manager, Integria (07947) 348363.

ABOUT DUCHY SQUARE:

• Duchy Square for Creativity offers low cost workshop space for Creative,

Cultural, Arts and Media based businesses

• The aim of the project is to regenerate the area by supporting local businesses across several key sectors.

• It is a brand new centre created in 2009 with the South West Regional Development Agency, government Office South West, Devon County Council and the Duchy of Cornwall.

• It is situated in the centre of Princetown on Tavistock Road at the crossroads for the B3212 and B3357.

ABOUT INTEGRIA:

Integria Ltd is a specialist management consultancy supporting the creative and cultural sectors throughout the United Kingdom, helping them to develop to their full potential to create new opportunities and stimulate economic growth.

IT’S BATHTIME FOR DESIGNER JANE’S COLONY OF MOTHS!

Textile designer Jane Deane has a ready supply of silk to create her work – she raises her own colony of moths in the bath at her Devon home!

Jane from Tavistock uses the tub to house a number of different varieties of moth including the Bombyx Mori, which is recognised as producing the best quality silk - but she also has a variety of wild silkmoths that she uses in her creative work.

All the moths are allowed to complete their short life cycle and it is the discarded cocoons, from where the silkworm caterpillars emerge as moths that Jane uses to make a variety of textile products.

Jane’s passion for silk moths began when she had the opportunity to attend a 10 day course with the leading artist weaver Sue Hiley-Harris.
“Moths are quite extraordinary creatures and I became fascinated with the way they begin life in an egg the size of a pinhead, emerge as a caterpillar and then spin a cocoon in which to metamorphasise into a moth, “ said Jane, a resident artist at Duchy Square Centre for Creativity in Princetown.

“It is such a short life as they immediately mate and lay eggs for the next generation before dying. It is a quite magical process though and even after all these years of keeping silkworms I still find witnessing their life cycle as awe inspiring as when I first saw it.”

By spinning the silk instead of reeling it, Jane can ensure her moths are able to live out their natural lifespan. Reeling the silk would involve using the cocoon before the moth had emerged as it requires the single thread from the cocoon to be unwound intact.

To spin the silk, Jane removes the protective gum the caterpillar excretes to harden it by boiling it in soap flakes with a little washing soda. She then stretches the softened cocoon over a plastic pudding basin and allows it to dry before dyeing it and then spinning a thread.

Alongside her own products, which she creates using natural and synthetic dyes, Janes offers talks on the silk moth processes and workshops in spinning, weaving and dyeing. All these are her main disciplines, she also does paper-making, batik, embroidery, knitting and braiding.

She was recently invited to join the Society of Dyers and Colourists and is also a member of Frayed Edges Weaving Group, formed in 2004 for the graduates of Bradford College of Art and Design, which exhibits nationally.

Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.

The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios. Anyone wishing to find out more about all the workshops on offer should telephone the centre on (01822) 890828 or visit the website www.duchysquare.org where contact details for all the artists can be found.

MOOR GIFTS TO CHOOSE FROM AT LATE NIGHT FESTIVE SHOP

The Duchy Square Centre for Creativity is getting in the festive spirit with a late night Christmas shopping event where scores of creative gift ideas will be available for purchase (Thursday 26 November 10.30am -8.30pm).

More than 100 people turned up to the recent launch of the Moor Presents exhibition, and Thursday night marks a wonderful opportunity for visitors to the Princetown centre to buy unique gifts with an artistic and creative flavour.

All the gifts are one-offs and have been created by the resident artists and creative practitioners at Duchy Square, as well as other talented makers living and working in the Dartmoor area.

A whole range of present ideas will be on display, including, furniture, jewellery, paintings, weavings, textiles and quilts, with many at affordable prices.

Philippa Smith, Gallery Manager at Duchy Square, said: “Visitors will be able to shop at the centre right up until Wednesday 23rd December, but this Thursday marks the only date dedicated to late night shopping, so we are expecting a busy night.

“It is a great opportunity for visitors to find everything from small stocking fillers to larger items created by some of the most talented artists working in the Dartmoor area.”

Late night shopping will be followed by a fundraising coffee morning Saturday 28 November (10am -1pm) in aid of the Help for Heroes charity then on Thursday 3 December (5pm -7pm) by a festive filled Christmas singsong by pupils from Princetown Primary School around the Xmas tree at the centre.

The event is an opportunity to thank villagers and local traders for the support they have given Duchy Square over the year and there will be plenty of minced pies and mulled wine on offer.

There is also the chance to book places on a variety of workshop sessions to be held by resident artists and other creative practitioners based on Dartmoor. Sessions include a rag rug course, textiles, weaving and dyeing, silver clay jewellery making. Bauble making and a Christmas wreath making sessions will also be available to give the workshops programme a proper festive feel.

For full details of the Christmas events calendar and to book places on the workshops, contact Duchy Square on (01822) 890828 or visit the website www.duchysquare.org where contact details for all the artists can also be found.

Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.

The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios.

WEBSITES:
www.duchysquare.org
www.integria.net

‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE ARTY WITH MOOR GIFTS TO CHOOSE FROM

Christmas is coming early to the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity where visitors can enjoy a whole variety of events in the run-up to the festive season, beginning on Saturday 14 November.

The central theme of this year’s festive calendar will be the Moor Presents exhibition, where visitors to the Princetown centre will get the opportunity to buy unique gifts with an artistic and creative flavour.

It is a rare opportunity to purchase one off gifts created by the resident artists and creative practitioners at Duchy Square, as well as other talented makers living and working in the Dartmoor area.

There is something for everyone with a whole range of gifts on display, including, furniture and floristry, jewellery, paintings, weavings, textiles and quilts, with many at affordable prices.

Philippa Smith, Gallery Manager at Duchy Square, said: “The emphasis is on quality presents available at a range of prices, which means there will be something for the casual buyer, the serious collector and anyone with an interest in contemporary art.

“Visitors will be able to find everything from small stocking fillers to larger items created by some of the most talented artists working in the Dartmoor area.”

Alongside the Moor Presents, the upstairs gallery at Duchy Square will be hosting an exhibition to showcase the talents of members of the Tavistock Embroiderers Guild, which will be on display from 11th to 21st November.

There is also the chance to book places on a variety of workshop sessions to be held by resident artists and other creative practitioners based on Dartmoor. Sessions include a rag rug course, textiles, weaving and dyeing, silver clay jewellery making. Bauble making and a Christmas wreath making sessions will also be available to give the workshops programme a proper festive feel.

There is a late night shopping evening on 26 November and December 3rd will mark a high point in the festive events as Duchy Square hosts a carols and mince pies evening to thank the local community for its support. There will be a festive singsong around the Christmas tree and children from Princetown Primary School will also be performing.

Visitors will be able to Christmas shop at the centre right up to Wednesday 23rd December.

For full details of the Christmas events calendar and to book places on the workshops, contact Duchy Square on (01822) 890828 or visit the website http://www.duchysquare.org/ where contact details for all the artists can also be found.

Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.

The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios.

WEBSITES:
http://www.duchysquare.org/
http://www.integria.net/