Brief
See Me North is a collaborative project between Northumbria University, Emmaus North East and Helix Arts. See Me North aims to develop and evidence an integrated creative care model for people with experience of homelessness. It is a project led by Northumbria University and is funded by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). It is co-created, trauma-informed and takes a broad and holistic view of healthSee Me North encourages services to see people who have experience of homelessness (past or present) as whole people with strengths, talents, resilience, and aspirations rather than defining people by their needs. Taking an integrated creative health approach to homelessness moves the system from a focus on meeting the most basic needs (food, water, shelter, safety) to one which is able to meet the more complex emotional, social, and spiritual needs we come with as complex human beings (acceptance and belonging, purpose and fulfilment) and to facilitate personal growth and development.
Helix Arts have partnered with Northumbria University on one of the 12 projects in the ‘Mobilising Community Assets to Tackle Health Inequalities’ programme. Helix Arts are leaders in Creative Health in North Tyneside. Our Creative Health programme, Better Connect offers evidence-based activities to improve the health and wellbeing of participants by creating projects that work with experienced, professional artists to respond to their needs.
We have carried out an active research first stage of the project led by an artist who has met with groups of women with experience of homelessness. Through this research key themes have emerged that can be incorporated into this phase of the project. Themes include; How that safe feeling flips, Homelessness isn’t a choice, Feeling Homeless at Home, Invisible Homeless.
Artist
We are seeking submissions from an experienced female visual artist. We require the post holder to be female. Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR), Schedule 9 (Work Exceptions), Part 1 (Occupational Requirements), of the Equality Act (2010) applies.
The Artist will work with a group of women to co-create an artistic response to their experiences of stigma around homelessness. The objective of the project is to reduce homelessness and raise awareness of the female experience. They also will incorporate the themes that have emerged from active research that has taken place in the first phase of the project through listening workshops with women across the North East. You will be a socially engaged artist who has experience working with vulnerable and marginalised people and has training or an awareness of trauma informed practice.
This is a female led project which is delivered in a female only space which explores issues connected to women’s experiences of homelessness. The project is trauma informed and means that due to the nature of themes being explored through the project a female artist is required.
A visual artist is required to work for x6 0.5 sessions. Aims of the project are:
- To introduce and explore visual art forms that you specialise in to an established group of women. This could include; working with clay, painting and visual arts, textile/ fabric design, pottery, mixed media.
- To explore the groups experiences of stigma
- To lead and support the group to develop artistic responses to the conversations and research points that have emerged from the active research stage of the project.
- Create a framework for the group to work through in the 6 week project that results in their work being shared with an invited audience.
- Post production work for an exhibition and sharing of the final artworks.
- Sessions will run May – June on Monday evenings in South Shields. You will work closely with and be supported by the Creative Producer working on the project.
Project Context/information
Artists will:
- Deliver x6 0.5 weekly workshops, from May- June.
- Monday evenings from approx 4pm-7pm
- Work closely with partners to review and reflect the process
- Provide high quality evidence of the process and outcomes
The artist must be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience:
- Ability to lead engaging creative workshops and/or sessions that are of the highest quality
- Ability to work successfully both independently and as part of a project team
- Ability to monitor and review their project plans and develop them accordingly as the project progresses
Participants
- A group of women who have experience of homelessness
- Safeguarding and established boundaries will be in place during the project
- A support worker from the project will support the sessions
- A trauma informed practice or experience working with vulnerable communities will be crucial
Partners
- Working closely with a Creative Producer from Helix Arts throughout the project
- The project is part of See Me North, Northumbria University research project
- Working with Emmaus North East an award winning charity that offers a home and life-changing support to help people progress after homelessness
The successful applicant will be subject to the Enhanced DBS, must hold or obtain public liability insurance for a minimum of £5 million, and ensure equipment is insured against loss or damages from fire, theft and other usual risks for the duration of the contract.