WORKSHOPS

For over four years, Becky has worked independently and in conjunction with other artists to facilitate creative writing and combined arts workshops with a wide variety of community groups and schools.  Her experience includes facilitation of drama and performance workshops and editing and compiling material for publications.

 
Sessions are tailored to organisations’ requirements, held in an open and supportive environment and are often themed.  Becky creates a warm yet challenging environment for her participants.  She uses a variety of techniques and stimuli to provoke written responses from participants.  These include literature, discussion, visual art works, objects, exercises, games, guided visualisations, cut-outs, photographs and music. 


Becky was trained in community arts by Artlink West Yorkshire in 2003, in Child Protection in 2007 and is qualified to deliver The Bronze and Silver Arts Awards.
The thinking behind Becky’s work:

‘Creativity and playing are intrinsic to us as human beings. As children, we use our imaginations instinctively. Yet in this stressful and technological era, our imagination is a part of ourselves which is often lost long before we reach adulthood.


I run creative writing workshops with the primary aim of reviving the imaginary lives of those I work with. I work on the philosophy that creative writing is something to be explored not taught. I aim to facilitate sessions as opposed to teach them in a traditional sense, to allow people a little space to play because through play we move closer to realising our full potential, through play we learn to become more ourselves’ – Becky Cherriman.

If you are interested in discussing how Becky could work with your organisation or school, please call her at 07792266816 or email her at write@beckycherriman.com

 

CURRENT AND FORTHCOMING PROJECTS

Becky teaches creative writing courses for the WEA at Osmondthorpe Resource Centre and Headingley Community Centre for 30 weeks per year.

She is currently working with African widows in Burley on a creative writing, textiles and digital art project in conjunction with Artlink and two other artists.  The group are producing a banner compiled of images and text based on the themes of strength, faith and joy. 

Signposts has contracted Becky to work with the Barnsley Black and Ethnic Minority Initiative to deliver a creative writing workshop for people from divergent cultural backgrounds during the summer.   

Becky is setting up a private creative writing course for adults, which will begin in September and last for 8 weeks with a view to establishing something longer term.  The course will be held in Roundhay, Leeds and will cover various aspects of writing including poetry, fiction and autobiographical writing - though topics will be negotiated with the group.  There will be an opportunity during each session for participants to receive feedback on their work. Workshops will be held on a Thursday afternoon between 1.30 and 3.30 pm.  The total cost of the course is £64.  

If you are interested in discussing how Becky could work with your organisation or school or want to book a place on Becky’s private course, please call her at 07792266816 or email her at write@beckycherriman.com

 

PAST PROJECTS

Work produced during Becky’s workshops has been performed at Breeze Festival and Holocaust Memorial Day 2006 and published in One Thing Leeds to Another (Lifeforce Productions, 2005) Waiting for the Future (Shelter, 2006) and online at the Scope site http://www.childreninthepicture.org.uk/

Organisations and schools Becky has worked with include Artlink West Yorkshire, Leeds City Art Gallery, Shire View, Scope, CASAC, Leeds City Council, GATE, Burley Lodge Centre, Shelter, Ripon Community Link, Yorkshire Art Circus, Canopy, Education Leeds, A Child’s Place, Lifeforce Productions, Ebor Health Matters. Bracken Edge Primary, Hillcrest Primary, Moortown Primary, Agnes Stewart, Outwood Grange College, Rossington Hall School, Humber Mouth Literature Festival.

Groups she has worked with include 9-10 year-olds from inner city schools, Key Stage 2, 3 and 4 children, young travellers, young women leaving care, adults with learning difficulties, adults with mental health issues, women, adults with physical impairments, homeless people, ex drug users, unemployed people, blind women and women with visual impairments, voluntary sector and mental health workers, writers, young refugees and asylum seekers, parents and carers of disabled children. 

If you are interested in discussing how Becky could work with your organisation or school, please call her at 07792266816 or email her at write@beckycherriman.com