Take a look at my latest review published by The Double Negative...

What hand-made creations do you associate with activism and protest? Jade French visits a very special collection of ‘disobedient’ objects (and tries to dodge the gift shop) at the V&A…

http://www.thedoublenegative.co.uk/2014/09/every-tool-is-a-weapon-if-you-hold-it-right-disobedient-objects-at-the-va/

Positive You is a training course which is developed and delivered by Leah Jones, a self advocate from charity Halton Speak Out. I have been supporting Leah with the course for the past 3 months and wanted to write a little something about my experiences so far.

Leah developed the course after attending training with her PA which she found unaccessible due to its wordy content. Leah decided to rework the course into a series of creative exercises she felt would better benefit and connect to people with a learning disability, many of which are arts based methodologies. Leah, who already works offering peer advocacy, recognised the potential the course could offer in terms of feeding into peoples choice making skills.

Together, myself and Leah are gearing up to deliver the course at the end of the month. Will let you know the outcome!

Here are some photos from previous Positive You courses.

A visit today to AxMe by Ellen Gallagher has really got me excited about collage again! Worth a visit if you can splurge on a ticket.

Really pleased to announce that myself and project partner Melaneia Warwrick of Pria Arts have been awarded a development grant from 'Artworks' a Paul Hamlyn Foundation initiative.

Over the next few months I will be working on a pilot project called PAC: Participatory Arts Connect.  This pilot project aims to develop a scaleable model for a national network to link participatory practice and training in the UK.  My role will prodominetly be developing and building the website to platform the network, as well as developing partnerships with potential organisations and HEI's.


For updates you can view my PHF Artworks profile here, and I shall be updating my blog from time to time.

Check out the great new film which captures The Dugout Festival 2013. With special thanks to Laure and Antonija.

I'm pleased to announce that Melanie Maddison, creator of Colouring Outside the Lines will be running the Zine Table at The Dugout. Check it out here!http://cotlzine.blogspot.co.uk/

To celebrate The Dugout Festival we’ll be making a zine featuring contributions from as many attendees as we can on the day – please join in. However you wish to make your mark in the zine (writing, drawing, collage, etc), everything is welcome.

The zine will be put together after the festival and will be available to download for free via The Dugout website, so don't forget to sign up to receive news on it!

The zine making will be led by Melanie Maddison (Leeds, UK) who has been producing zines since 2004, and has created work such as ‘Colouring Outside the Lines’, a zine featuring interviews with contemporary female artists. Melanie has also self-published the zines, ‘Shape & Situate: Posters of Inspirational European Women’, 'Taking Cultural Production Into Our Own Hands', 'Reassess Your Weapons', 'With Arms Outstretched', 'UK Ladyfest Artwork Zine', and 'I'm Not Waiting: Doing It Yrself Now', as well as writing for www.pikaland.com

Melanie has curated and been involved with many zine-related art exhibitions over the years, including ones at The Women’s Library, London; Gallery II, Bradford; Space Station 65, London; Victoria Baths, Manchester; and The New Museum, New York.

More information can be found on Melanie's blogs:
http://remember-who-u-are.blogspot.com | http://www.cotlzine.blogspot.com

Today I went to visit a great little exhibition at the Pleasance Theatre near Caledonian Road. The exhibition brings together 4 female contemporary artists all using their practice to take aspects from the recognisable world and transform them into something strange.  

I particularly liked the set of Clown paintings by artist Flora Bradwell, who's series depicts the last survivors of a fictional circus dynasty 'The Infamous Pyramid Gang' as they go about their daily lives in Haringey.

Good stuff, and it's free.

The Dugout is an Inclusive Women’s Arts Festival taking place on Saturday 2nd March 2013. The festival offers a variety of visual arts over a day long event in the Hoxton Arches including inclusive workshops, an exhibition, a film programme, stalls and collaborative projects. The Dugout has been researched and organised collaboratively by women with and without learning disabilities and Barnet Mencap.

We are looking for inspirational visual artworks by female artists to create an exciting exhibition to celebrate inclusive arts practices. There are no restrictions on size or medium.

Deadline for submissions is 14th February 2013.

To apply please download the application form and return it with your CV to jade@thedugoutfestival.com

If you have any questions, please contact Jade French the Festival Co-Ordinator