CoolTan Arts CoolWalks hosted  a free, guided Walk for mental well-being and to learn new things; make friends, get fit and have fun. 

The walk started at Grove Vale Library at midday on Thursday, April 17th and finished at Denmark Hill train station at 3.00pm.

Our theme for this CoolWalk  was Architecture – From Country Estates to Council Estates. We explored the ways land use had changed around Denmark Hill over the past 200 years, visiting sites where spectacular country estates once stood, saw one of London’s first garden estates and best preserved Georgian streets.

Here are some photos from the day:

Photographer: Andrew Black

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CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle would like to request the pleasure of your company at the launch of our new film and book from the Largactyl Shuffle @Science Museum LATES project.

After almost a year of dedicated work, the Largactyl Shuffle @ LATES project has come to an end. We have delivered 5 guided tours and activities in the Science Museum based on various visits and research on the history of mental health. If you have been to our events, this is your chance to see all the different tours together and if you have missed out completely, this is your chance to see what the project was all about!

On Monday 28th April from 6:00pm – 9:00 pm we will celebrate the completion of the Largactyl Shuffle at Science Museum project by launching the book and DVD with all our talks and footage of the walks.

The launch will take place at:

The Science Museum’s Dana Centre
165 Queen’s Gate
South Kensington
London
SW7 5HD

http://www.danacentre.org.uk/aboutus/location]

Light refreshments will be served on the evening.
Places are limited so please RSVP to olivia@cooltanarts.org.uk

We’re looking forward to seeing you all there!

CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle @ Science Museum LATES researched and led a series of guided gallery tours on mental health at the Science Museum during 2013-2014. The tours explore objects in the museum with a connection to mental health heritage, inspired by collections in the Medical, Psychology and Science Galleries. The resulting book and film are a record and celebration of this work.

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On Our Way Here

Thursday May 15th, 18:30 to 20:30
The Art Room, Durand Academy, Hackford Rd, London, SW9 0RD. 

A panel discussion between CoolTan Arts founder Michelle Baharier, artist R. M. Sanchez-Camus and Artangel’s Producer of Collaborative Projects, Rachel Anderson on how to walk and work collaboratively.

Tickets £7, £5 concession. Book Here: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-our-way-here-tickets-11051869439?aff=eorg

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When: Saturday June 21st 2014, 11.45pm – 5am, Sunday June 22nd 2014
Start: Tate Modern (outside The Turbine Hall entrance), Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Ends: Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 8AZ
Cost: free/voluntary donation

Celebrate the summer solstice with a guided midnight walk through South London. We will stop along the way for talks on night walking, mad buildings, surrealism and the anxious city!

CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle is a guided, stigma-busting cultural walk, designed to encourage mental and physical wellbeing, through art, exercise, humour and history.

The full walk is 4.8 miles. Largactyl Shuffle walks are suitable for all levels of walking and are accessible to wheelchair users and people with disabilities. You can join us for whatever tickles your fancy, whether it is half a mile, one mile or the full distance!! Please wear comfortable shoes and bring your own water.

The walk is free but voluntary donations will be appreciated. All are welcome!

The walk leaders wear orange high-viz vests and rucksacks. Call CoolTan Arts on 07985 658443 if you cannot find the walking group on the night.

How to get there:

Tate –
By Tube: Southwark (Jubilee Line, 600 metres approx.)
By Bus:   Routes 45, 63 and 100 stop on Blackfriars Bridge Road, Routes RV1 and 381 stop on Southwark Street, Route 344 stops on Southwark Bridge Road

Maudsley –
By Tube: Oval and Elephant & Castle.
By bus: Routes 40, 42, 68 (24 hrs) 176 (24 hrs), 185, 468, 484, service the Hospital.

For more information, contact emmathatcher@cooltanarts.org.uk or 020 7701 2696

Part of the The Anxiety Arts Festival London 2014.

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CoolTan are running a new series of free 12 week  workshops from the 12th May 2014. Workshops are open to all people 18+ with experience of mental distress who are currently unemployed and are not receiving a personal budget.

Come along, gain new skills, meet new people and explore your creative side. Friendly and relaxed environment, with small groups and professional tutors.

**Exciting new programme, book your place now**  Call 020 7701 2696 or email olivia@cooltanarts.org.uk

Workshop Dates

Women’s Poetry – Tuesdays 11-1pm – Start May 13th. An informal experimental workshop to get you going with that spark you always knew you had. Open to all self defined women. Beginners and published
poets welcome.

Film – Tuesdays 11-1pm – Start May 13th. Learn how to do your own film-making and editing. Use some of the latest cameras and sound microphones to make your own creative piece of work for internet or
DVD.
Along the way you will gain a good working knowledge of the Final Cut Pro editing programme. No previous experience necessary except basic I.T skills.

Creative Writing – Wednesdays 11-1pm – Start May 14th. Explore techniques, find inspiration and learn how structure your writing to make it exciting and engaging. Come along, learn, create and enjoy!

Textiles – Thursdays 2-4pm – Start May 15th. Learn how to make your own piece of clothing, from creating a design to pattern cutting to making up your finished piece. Gain skills in batik, embroidery and
beading. Suitable for beginners as well as those who want to build on existing skills.

Photoshop – Thursdays 11-1pm – Start May 15th. Edit and retouch your photography to a professional standard. Learn how to cut out and combine images. Use layers, filters, text and drawing tools to
create artistic effects. No previous experience necessary except basic I.T skills.

Location: CoolTan Arts, Third Floor, 224-236 Walworth Road, SE17 1JE.

With thanks to our funders:

 

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On Thursday April 3rd we had a fantastic performance by Julie McNamara of her brilliant one-woman show.

Let Me Stay is a tender and unique exploration of the impact of Alzheimer’s on family relations. Julie McNamara has recorded her Mother’s songs and stories, filmed and photographed her in all her glory, over many years. The result is a compelling piece of theatre, an extraordinary love letter straight from the heart welded with a wicked underlying humour.

Have a look at some photos from the event below…

For more information about Julie, click here to go to her website.

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Are you interested in the arts and would you like to find out more about CoolTan Arts?

• Are you, or somebody you know, experiencing mental distress?
• Are you looking for activities to help your recovery?
• Do you want to break isolation, meet new people and explore your creativity?

Come along to CoolTan Arts New Referrals Information Session:

Wednesday 14th May 2014, 1-3pm
at CoolTan Arts, Third Floor, 224 – 226 Walworth Road, London SE17 1JE

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This month, there is great news for our digital magazine CoolFruit – The CoolTan Arts Review. Following the success of last year’s pilot issue, we have received funding from the Maudsley Charity to produce a quarterly edition.

CoolFruit presents the best of CoolTan Arts’ creativity, including artwork, poetry, interviews with artists, reviews of events, articles about CoolTan projects, local history, benefits and services, health and well being … and much more!

The next issue is due for publication at the beginning of May. Meanwhile, you can read the pilot issue here: http://issuu.com/coolfruit/docs/cool_fuit_pilot

If you are interested in volunteering for CoolFruit, or you would like to submit an article, poem, artwork etc. for a future issue, please contact anniecooltanarts@gmail.com

 

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Michelle Savioz, CoolTan’s Advocacy Coordinator will be leaving CoolTan to move on to a new position, after two years with us. Her last day of work will be Thursday 24th April, come and say goodbye and good luck to her before she goes!
Michelle said:
“As some people may already be aware that I am moving on from CoolTan Arts (CAs) and leaving on the 24th April, and saying my good farewells to you all sometime soon, the date will be confirmed shortly.
When I leave CAs I will have worked here just over 2 years as a Self Advocacy Trainer/Project Administrator and the Advocacy Training Coordinator. Both jobs have stretched my understanding of participant’s experiences of health and social care services, and the need for people to assert their rights at every opportunity.  I have observed participants develop in areas where they may have never thought possible for example some Self Advocates have won their appeals against ATOS and the DWP, or asked to be heard by their Care Coordinator and as a consequence their Care plan has been renewed. This has involved a stretch of the imagination both for the participants and me.

I am moving on to a completely new borough and I will be doing almost the opposite of my current role, I will be an Advocate for people who are disabled, often made so by their society who disables them because of lack of proper infrastructures and attitudes. I will also be working in another job with children, developing them through activities such as play for a charity called Cause You Can.

I will miss my ground-control colleagues who have been really supportive and influenced my outlook. I’ll also miss the ad hoc discussions with participants, staff and volunteers about Personalisation. My 2 green companions on my desk will also be leaving CAs and instead receive playful attacks from my cat.
Wishing everyone the best, especially the Self Advocates and staff.”
Love Michelle

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