I really enjoy my work as an animation workshop facilitator, conceiving and developing ideas for exciting, creative, stimulating projects. Here’s some feedback from participants and staff I’ve had during the past few years:

“Where the Wild Things Are” – City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra  Education Project

“It’s great to work with an artist of your quality.”  – Jackie Tyler, CBS

 

Upton on Severn Bright Space Animation Project 

“Just watched the Upton film, it is lovely and made me giggle. The storyline was great and I loved the different characters and the beautiful quality of the art work. I hope the school were impressed by what the children have achieved with your help.

I think the film shows great depth and quality, you have clearly taken the children on a real journey with this project, developing and extending their ideas and building a convincing story. I bet/hope they were amazed by what they have produced and I hope the school could see the quality of the work and the benefits of working in this way.” – Bridget Crump, Creative Agent for Bright Space

This project was earmarked by Brightspace as a case study, and then…. the government cut all of Bright Space’s funding! It’s such a shame that years later there are still NO projects on this scale in schools. This was a terrifically successful project, not just because of the animation we made, but many of the “reluctant readers” in the class went on to win reading prizes that year, largely because of the story-writing element that we encouraged as a part of this project. A great example of the benefits of arts education.

 

St George’s Primary School, Worcester – Creative Partnerships/Bright Space project

“The project has been fun and exciting and creative, incredible!”  Pupils

“The practitioner has been excellent – clear knowledge of art form, great sense of humour, ability to criticise creatively/ constructively, good organisation, good communications … Receptive to staff suggestions and takes advice willingly – a true partnership.”  Teachers

“The project has inspired all staff in school to use and apply animation, particularly with reference to supporting ‘story telling’. The school has planned a new focus on story-telling to support literacy (talk for writing) and the animation will feature as an important aspect of this work. Particularly useful in enthusing more reluctant writers who have more of a visual and kinaesthetic learning style.” Teachers

“Our investment in this project, as inspired and developed through working with Claire has resulted in whole school buy-in of animation within the curriculum.” Teachers

Campaign for Drawing Award

Working with the brilliant Lucy Jackson and Emma Moloney for Exeter Museum (aka RAMM), we were awarded a Campaign for Drawing Award for our Big Draw project.

Let loose on the whole museum, we set up drawing activities based on making portraits and invited children and their families to experiment with loads of different materials, from sticks and ink to wax-resist and monoprinting.

I went to London to collect our award from one of my biggest drawing heroes, Quentin Blake, such an honour!

 

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Shambala Festival

“Of all the activities my children have done at festivals over the years this is the best.” Becky – Mum of  Sam and Billy

“I think my best Shambala memory is making an animation in the Kids’ Field. On the Sunday evening it was shown on the main stage. My mum told the crowd and everybody cheered for me. It was awesome…” Ethan, Age 8 (Excerpt from festival programme)

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