Category: Project Posts

As part of our Creative Conversations in Isolation programme, we commissioned creative technologist, Emily Godden to test her idea of using technology to connect people. She was inspired by the speaking tubes at Ickworth House. Similar to an intercom, speaking tubes allowed people on different floors of the house to communicate with each other. 

Emily developed the idea by creating a gadget connected to a phone number and we asked people to tell us their #LockdownGuiltyPleasure’ – what got you through lockdown?

Emily worked with Brandon Creative Forum and set things up at The Hare Salon in Brandon. Customers and visitors at the salon were asked the question and sent their answers to the phone number. The answers showed on a scrolling text display. Here’s how it turned out…

Over the few days Speaking Tubes ran, we had over 50 responses from visitors to The Hare Salon and on social media.

The project got people thinking and talking about their lockdown experiences, good and bad. Something that really came across was the importance of small moments, little things that were noticed and appreciated more than ever.

What was your #LockdownGuiltyPleasure?

Neelie – “Have to admit food has been mine. Went on to 4 meals
a day and as soon as I had finished one meal was thinking about the next.”

Lorna – “the days we had shopping delivered have become very exciting”

Desiree – “Jane Austen adaptations of persuasion, discovered the 1940 version of pride and prejudice, Indian styled bride and prejudice. Meditation, yoga, going for walks, reading my sons’ book Skyward, singing and dancing around the house”

Hayley – “Wine, mostly.”

Lorna – “well I didn’t mention the cocktails but yeah, we’ve learned some new ones”

Siobhan – “I read a great book called belleweather rhapsody by Kate Racculia”

Desiree – “German cake. It is Zwetschgen – plum season”

Ali – “Gherkins and Cadbury Wholenut!”

Anna – “Working with some amazing people! Rediscovering our beautiful local parks & green spaces and a more local community feel – feel blessed”

Louise – “G&T”

Nigel – “Eating 5 meals a day!”

Tim – “A larger glass!”

Alice – “My cat Jeeves, I adopted him at the start of lockdown and now I can’t imagine my life without him now!”

Lorna – “I have to say telly has been a big one – 2 seasons of The Rockford Files and watching Dr Who from the ninth to twelfth doctors has been ace!”

Leanne – “Books, finally learning to cook curry from scratch, and buying a new bicycle!”

The Fens Mag – “The hope that lockdown will end soon!”

Emily – “Puppies!”

Roger – “Gardening”

Sophie – “Being in my garden”

Jack – “Home improvements and games”

Patrick – “Fish and chips…and curry sauce”

Regina – “Reading old favourite books (again!)”

Claire – “Fancy Dress Quiz nights with the family and all the beach walks”

Geniveve – “I have to agree with Jack – DIYing, painting, upcycling and having a good clear out has been cathartic!”

Dom – “Cadbury’s Giant Chocolate Buttons… at least a bag a week”

Holly – “Trying out new arty activities and making/eating lemon drizzle cake”

Julie – “Good people”

Like many artists, Jenna Bristow and Steve Hubbard immediately responded to the Lockdown situation by taking photographs and examining the changes taking place around them and in their community.

Capturing the first few weeks after the government announcement revealed a sense of empty spaces and silence in the usually noisy Market Town of Wisbech.

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Over the course of the summer the Jenna and Steve cast their eye over the various elements of the town and explored just how different the landscape of familiar buildings, river and parks became.

As photographers interested in using digital cameras to support people’s welbeing and mental health, they also invited people to contribute three words that summed up their experiences of life during Lockdown and the summer months.

“worried, unsettled and alone; sad, scared and concerned; frightened, anxious and emotional; missing my family; stuck at home; never ending story; shops are empty; depressed and lonely; concerned, apprehensive, anxious; no way out; everyone’s become selfish; no food left in stores; see no ending; cannot motivate myself; on my own; stay at home; can’t sleep; life goes on (for some); television is depressing; life on hold; lost my motivation“

One voicemail message broke the three word rule but Jenna and Steve felt it deserved a place in their collection. Below is the transcript of the voice message left by ‘E’.

The gut wrenching feeling going into Tesco, to buy flour.

Arriving at the aisle, to be faced with empty shelves, but most of all the picture embedded in my brain forever, an old man hunch over shaking his head. I asked if he was alright, he looked deflated, he said, I only wanted one bag of flour for my wife.
People weren’t greedy in the war, they shared.

It upset me. I asked to speak to a manager. I asked if they could please put stock away for the elderly, as most are getting none, and there are no restrictions on the amount. They said they couldn’t, in the morning there would be more. I asked if they would put some away for them, no, first come first served.
Then I suggested that they only allow the elderly in first, as they won’t be greedy, again this was refused giving an excuse. I was talking about elderly being 70 onwards. I am 57. Our elderly went through a lot and should be treated better.
A lot of human kindness went out the window.

The thing with toilet paper. When asking Lidl, I was advised there were men buying the pallet loads as soon as they were on the shop floor. I asked why they are allowing it. They couldn’t stop them. Then came rationing, bit late but welcome by all. One flaw, you could shop, get two of everything etc. Pay, load your car up. Come right back in, do it all over again, go to a differnet till, this happened over an over. A cashier explanined how it was in Tesco.

Just have to shake your head at people who caused more suffering to those who didn’t need it.
No wonder our elderly were left with nothing.

‘E’ author

We are proud to add this collection to our Creative Conversations in Isolation programme and we have produced a book which is being distributed to local community centres, museums and libraries.

Click Therapy’s work also features in the Creative People and Places Case Study: Working With Artists Through Lockdown

The full collection of photos can be seen here on our Flickr gallery.

Contact Jenna & Steve to find out more about CLICK THERAPY.

Part of our Creative Conversations in Isolation programme.

The Walk n Craft group, define themselves as “a group of local women coming together for walking, crafting and a bit of banter over lunch”! Based in Mildenhall, Suffolk, they were used to meeting regularly, however following lockdown, the group were no longer able to meet in person.
Holly and Mel from Art At Work got in touch with the idea to set up meetings with the Walk n Craft group online, and create arts activities to do together. This would keep the group connected and also benefit the group in terms of health and well-being during a difficult period of isolation.

The creative activities included drawing variations of a shoe, continuous line drawing and drawing without looking at the object. They documented their meetings and creations on their Instagram account and they still meet regularly on Zoom.

The Walk n Craft group also took part in our #LetsTakeAWalk project with artist, Genevieve Rudd.

Take a closer look at the Flickr gallery of art work created by the group.

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Covid19 restrictions meant the March Can’t Sing Choir weren’t able to meet and sing together. Sally Rose, singer and music leader wanted to find ways of overcoming social isolation so the group could sing together again.

Following National Guidelines and with limited group numbers, Sally and the choir committee set up the Trinity Church Memorial Rose Garden for a socially distanced sing-along and choir rehearsal.

The positive effects of singing on mental health is a major focus for the choir and it was obvious that the singers were thrilled to be seeing each other and singing once again.

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The group are still in touch with one another and Sally discovered that small groups of 6 were actually a very positive way of singing together in a different way.

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Listen to Sally’s podcast episode from the series #ArtOfCovidChat here where she discusses the challenges and triumphs through lockdown with artist Michelle Brace.

A Creative Collective Sound Project.

As part of Creative Conversations in Isolation programme, artist Michelle Brace proposed that she wanted to to explore the use of spoken word and aural stories during the Lockdown period. We were drawn to the simplicity of the idea.

Members of our Creative Collective (a group of people who inspire events to happen in their towns) chose an object they felt represented them. Their objects are the ones below, taking pride of place on our Mantelpiece.

Click on an object sound file below to hear their stories…

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Click here to read about Ali’s object – her wonky tool.

Click here to read about Godfrey’s object – his didgeridoo.

Click here to read about David’s object – his Starship Traveller Adventure Game Book.

Click here to read about Jill’s object – her mouse.

Click here to read about Terry’s object – his Abbey Road Studios Mug.

Click here to read about Colin’s object – his duck.

Listen to Michelle’s podcast episode from the series #ArtOfCovidChat here where she discusses the challenges and triumphs through lockdown with singer/ music leader Sally Rose.