Cambridge Art Makers – #PotsForPoTS Charity Auction

Susannah Bangham, Creative Director at Cambridge Makers, is fundraising for a charity close to her heart – quite literally! Susannah lives with the debilitating health condition Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) and to coincide with PoTS Awareness Day this Sunday 25th October she will be facilitating an online auction of locally handmade pots in aid of PoTS UK.

Pots For PoTS 2020 was due to take place at the Cambridge Makers studios in Linton, Cambridgeshire but due to the current situation the event is now taking place online through the organisation’s website here.

The web-based auction is live right now and running until 5pm on Sunday with a wonderful selection of ceramic wares to bid on including bowls, dishes, mugs, jugs, vases and a range of miscellaneous pots which would be perfect for plants and trinkets. On Sunday there will also be an Instagram Live at 4pm to showcase all of the pots – you can join the tour via Facebook too – and at 5.15pm a select 16 will be auctioned live virtually on Zoom.

You can see what will be available and get your free ticket to the live event here!

Susannah says: “The fundraiser came about because I have PoTS and I started potting as a way to heal a few years ago after I lost a job I loved because of my illness. A friend brought round some clay and I just sat and squished it and cried! Eventually I started going to her house once a week and started learning to throw. During lockdown the same friend lent me a wheel, which I set up in my Grandpa’s potting shed so that I could keep potting all summer for the fundraiser.”

Unfortunately there are not many places to get information about PoTS and it can often take a very long time to get a diagnosis. Susannah waited 10 years for hers and has told us how vital the charity PoTS UK are as a resource for both patients and medical professionals.

PoTS UK states: “Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) can be a life altering and debilitating health condition. Simply standing up can be a challenge for affected people as their body is unable to adjust to gravity. PoTS is due to an abnormal response by the autonomic (automatic) nervous system and is characterised by orthostatic intolerance (the development of symptoms when upright that are mostly relieved by lying down). Symptoms include palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue, sweating, nausea, fainting and headaches, and are associated with a persistant increase in heart rate from the lying to upright position.”

Money raised through the Pots For PoTS fundraiser will go towards helping educate and support patients, their carers and medical professionals across the UK. A small donation will be made to Cambridge Makers, who are also a registered charity, to cover resources provided.

The live auction is expected to be a fun, friendly and welcoming event – we hope to see you there! The fundraiser has been made a reality due to the kind donations from and collaborative efforts of potters Frank Logan, Janet Edwards, Joy Voisey, Lucy Blake, Pip Hughes, Steel Haughton, Victoria Ashdown and Caroline Amory.

You can follow Cambridge Art Makers on Facebook and Instagram for updates and to tune into the live tour. If you have any questions you can contact Susannah and her team at: potsforpotsuk@gmail.com

Keep up-to-date with what is happening across Cambridgeshire’s creative scene by subscribing to receive our latest news posts via email – and follow our #CambsCreativeScene tag on Instagram.

If you enjoy content from The Trove Cambridge then please consider supporting what we do by buying us a “coffee” at: ko-fi.com/thetrovecambridge

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Community Art Project: West Chesterton Animal Trail

On Saturday 3rd October the West Chesterton Mutual Aid group launched their community animal trail art project bringing colour to the streets of Cambridge through a series of installations. This public initiative is designed to encourage local residents of all ages to stay active and creative throughout Autumn/Winter and the project is set to evolve well into early-Spring next year!

The West Chesterton Animal Trail is one of many inspirational creative responses we have witnessed throughout the Covid-19 pandemic – with so many communities coming together to keep smiles on faces and show their support to key workers through various artistic endeavours.

We have also admired the way in which organisations have adapted events to enable them to go ahead this year and are thankful to those who have made events more accessible to people who are house-bound, in quarantine or shielding. West Chesterton Mutual Aid say: “What differentiates the Chesterton Animal Trail from some others is its inclusivity. The trail is available on a map and will be documented with photographs available online so that people can take part in different ways.”

*Image by Lucinda Price, West Chesterton Mutual Aid*

West Chesterton Mutual Aid is one of many local volunteer community groups that was established earlier this year to support residents due to the coronavirus – and over the last six months they have done vital work helping to complete hundreds of essential tasks for those shielding in the area.

As cases start to rise again across the country the group were keen to do something to lift spirits, lead organiser and local photographer Lucinda Price says: “We are really excited to launch a project to help create some safe and fun activities for our community over the winter.”

Pictured above is illustrator and designer Ella Beech who is currently studying for an MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Anglia Ruskin University. Ella has created a wonderful window display for the trail featuring a squirrel monkey and tiger – see Animal 18 on the trail map which you can access here.

More and more creatures will be making their way by land, river and air to the north of the city throughout October. From cuddly animals to creative masterpieces, residents are encouraged to join in and can get their animals added to the map by contacting the group. Keep an eye out for the flock of flamingos and other animals currently installed at the entrance of Victoria Park as well as for Gordon the Giraffe who has settled in nicely with those at Cambridge Manor Care Home; as seen below with Sheila Cracknell, George Bacon, Howard Varey and Marissa Worrell.

Cambridge City Council have worked closely with many groups to help build local resilience. Lucinda Price, Clara Todd and their team of volunteers at West Chesterton Mutual Aid have been well supported by Cllr Jamie Dalzell and Cllr Mike Sargeant (pictured above). If you are in Cambridge – or further afield – you can see if there is a community support group in your area via the Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK website here.

Find out more about the animal trail by following the group on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to tag any images you share on social media with #ChestertonTrail and you could also use our community tag #CambsCreativeTreasures too – we would love to see what animals you spot along the way!

Keep up-to-date with what is happening across Cambridgeshire’s creative scene by subscribing to receive our latest news posts via email – and follow our #CambsCreativeScene tag on Instagram.

If you enjoy content from The Trove Cambridge then please consider supporting what we do by buying us a “coffee” at: ko-fi.com/thetrovecambridge

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What’s On: Cambridge Open Windows – #COSArt2020

Across all four weekends in July, members of Cambridge Open Studios are taking part in the #OpenWindows2020 initiative founded by Denise Harrison, a fine-art painter based in Brighton. This fantastic project encourages artists, some of whom would normally show their work through open studio events, to display their artwork in their windows to brighten up people’s daily walk.

The popular annual Cambridge Open Studios event had to be cancelled this year due to COVID-19 but it has been great to see our local artists pulling together to find an alternative way to showcase their work. There has been a real sense of excitement building over the last few weeks within the local creative community ahead of the Cambridge Open Windows trails which start today, Saturday 4th July.

Cambridge Open Windows offers members of the public here in Cambridgeshire the opportunity to enjoy art and embrace community spirit at a time when things are still very uncertain.

Cambridge Open Studios have put together a map of the artists taking part in Cambridge, another for out-of-town artists and two further trails for Histon and Ely – you can download and print the maps here and start planning your artwork treasure hunt!

The idea for Cambridge Open Windows came from Kate Green Art, a member of Cambridge Open Studios and #WeAreCambsCreatives, who says: “COS is sadly one of the many many things to have been cancelled this year for artists due to coronavirus. Being the biggest event in my calendar income wise, this is really disappointing – but it’s not just about money, it’s also a deadline to work towards creatively/professionally, and an opportunity to increase ones audience and connections.”

When Kate heard about other artists getting involved with alternative events across the country she approached the organisation with her ideas for open windows. She has since helped to organise the event and says it is important “to invest in our communities at this challenging time, bringing colour to our streets and cheering people up.”

Throughout lockdown we have been inspired by the connections formed within communities through creative activities – rainbow window installations and rock snakes to name just two! You do not need to be a member to get involved in Cambridge Open Windows and Kate says, “the more the merrier”.

Head over to #COSArt2020 on Instagram to see more posts from the artists themselves – we will definitely be following along and are looking forward to heading out to discover the trails ourselves! If you are unable to get out at the moment then this is also a great way of accessing the event virtually and getting to know your local artists online.

Keep up-to-date with what is happening across Cambridgeshire’s creative scene by subscribing to receive our latest news posts via email – and follow our #CambsCreativeScene tag on Instagram.

If you enjoy content from The Trove Cambridge then please consider supporting what we do by buying us a “coffee” at: ko-fi.com/thetrovecambridge

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#ShopCambridgeshire Virtual Showcase

The Trove Cambridge is pleased to be hosting a virtual exhibition and market to support creatives and businesses from across the county who have been affected by the by the cancellation of events and other disruptions due to COVID-19.

Join us for the first ever #ShopCambridgeshire Virtual Showcase where you can browse and buy online from over 60 local artists, designers, makers and indie businesses! We invite you to discover the fantastic range of artwork, products and services brought to you by sellers across the county – from Cambridge, Ely, Peterborough, Huntingdon, St Neots, Ely and many villages in between.

The event is running from Monday 15th to Sunday 28th June 2020 across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We have also launched a unique marketplace with over 200 listings – head over and you will find a range of original artworks, digital craft patterns, handmade jewellery, accessories, new and vintage clothing, artisan chocolate and baked goods, refurbished furniture, candles, fine art photography prints, embroidery art, woodwork, greetings cards, gifts and much more!

Find exclusive discounts and offers from our sellers at: #ShopCambridgeshire Marketplace

FEATURED SELLERS

Desk Organiser – Hexagonal Series (Set of 3) by Millar Made – £44

Misheard Song Lyrics A4 Print (Chips For Free) by Daft Cow – £10

Kindness Cards (Set of 4) by Clare Gray Makes – £8

Vulnerable Species Alphabet Print by Stephanie Le Cocq Studios – From £60

‘Dream’, Oil on Board (42x59cm) by Cheryl Liston – £175

Clavering Bag by Red Bike Leatherworks – £360

GIVEAWAYS

Keep an eye out for a series of giveaways over on Instagram – yesterday we announced our first 48-hour giveaway in collaboration with Snowtap who are kindly gifting one winner their brand new ‘Collective Nouns’ 2021 Calendar. Enter for your chance to win here!

Snowtap are also offering a 10% discount over on Etsy with code: SHOPCAMBS10

You can find out more about the #ShopCambridgeshire Virtual Showcase event over on Facebook – RSVP to be updated with features, special offers and further details about our weekend Instagram Live sessions!

Keep up-to-date with what is happening across Cambridgeshire’s creative scene by subscribing to receive our latest news posts via email – and follow our #CambsCreativeScene tag on Instagram.

If you enjoy content from The Trove Cambridge then please consider supporting what we do by buying us a “coffee” at: ko-fi.com/thetrovecambridge

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What’s On: Easter with The Norris Museum

The Norris Museum in St Ives, Cambridgeshire had organised a children’s Easter Bonnet crafting competition as part of an event that was meant to be running today. They have now announced that this will be taking place across social media and are asking you to share photos of your wonderful creations with them over the Easter weekend!

The competition is open to all children aged 16 and under and you can enter by sharing a photo of your bonnet anytime from Good Friday through to Easter Monday, 13th April 2020.

The winning children will be presented with a voucher that will allow them free entry into the museum’s family event days for six months. The Norris Museum is currently closed but the vouchers will be valid from when they reopen.

So how can you get involved? Head over to The Norris Museum’s Facebook page and download the template they have provided. You can also find a list of simple instructions to follow on how to craft your mini bonnet! Your entries should be decorated with an Easter theme and you will need to share a photo of you wearing your make for a chance to win. Be sure to include your name and age with your entry – the winners will be announced after the Easter weekend.

I had a go at making one of my own inspired by the Cambridge Art Makers’ #CovidCrafting challenge! From a pizza box to a fancy Spring bonnet – I downloaded the template, followed the instructions provided and used a few supplies from my craft stash.

If you have some yarn at home then have a go at making some pom-poms using just a fork! I painted my bonnet with some white acrylic paint, used petals from faux flowers and then added some ribbon too.

What do you think? I am really pleased with how it turned out.

I will be sure to check out the entries of The Norris Museum‘s competition throughout the weekend. Let us know in the comments below if you are going to take part or tell us about what other Easter crafting projects you have planned!

Keep up-to-date with what is happening across Cambridgeshire’s creative scene by subscribing to receive our latest news posts via email – and follow our #CambsCreativeScene tag on Instagram.

If you enjoy content from The Trove Cambridge then please consider supporting what we do by buying us a “coffee” at: ko-fi.com/thetrovecambridge

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3 Instagram Challenges To Inspire You

We love an Instagram challenge and have discovered three that we wanted to share with you today. Whether it is bringing joy to your feed with colourful posts, finding ways to craft with items in your recycling bin or improving your account with tips from a social media expert – we hope these are a source of inspiration and positivity!

First up is the week long #CMMakingRainbows photo challenge from Cambridge Made – the Etsy Made Local team. Join in and share a photo each day that represents a different colour of the rainbow! This is a fun challenge and a great way to get to know your local artists, designers and makers:

View this post on Instagram

On Wednesday 1st April we are launching our week long instagram photo challenge. #CMMakingRainbows 🌈 We’re asking our makers to join in and create a rainbow on your grid. This challenge is inspired by all the adults and children decorating their windows with rainbows during lockdown. We’ll run through the simple guidelines of a photo challenge… Each day we’ll post a prompt (a colour) and it’s up to you to post your a photo featuring that colour on your Instagram feed. E.G if the prompt is pink, you might share a photo of your latest make, your outfit or your favourite tipple! Remember to tag your images with #CMMakingRainbows so we can scroll through and share our favourites each day here on our @cambridgemade instagram. By tagging your images, other members of our community can also check out all those fab images that you share. By the end of the week long challenge you will have posted 7 images that form a rainbow 🌈 This photo challenge is a great way to get to know the rest of your local community, find some fantastic local makers, designers and friends to follow and most importantly, it’s fun! We’re also hoping to let everyone know that despite isolation in these challenging times our members are still busy working away on some beautiful products. Screen shot this image to remind you of the daily prompts. We’ll also be posting a reminder each day 😊 Let us know is you have any questions or if you are joining in below… 👇 #cambridgemade

A post shared by The Etsy Made Local Team (@cambridgemade) on Mar 27, 2020 at 11:54pm PDT

The second challenge is from Cambridge Art Makers – who run various creative courses at their studio based in Linton, Cambridgeshire. They have come up with a 7-day #CovidCrafting challenge! Retrieve the seven items listed from your recycling bin, get creative and share your makes. You can find plenty of inspiration on their feed:

View this post on Instagram

COVID-19 is here and whether you are in quarantine, self isolating or social distancing we thought everyone could do with a bit of creativity to encourage action, wellness and sense of remote community. We have 7 prompts for 7 days of 7 crafts you can do with things you might already have at home. We will be posting 7 activities over the next week with tutorials for makes you can try at home with things from your recycling! Please share your own makes and ideas too. Using the #covidcrafting be inspired by our prompts or come up with your own. Lets make this viral! (the good sort!) Remember to use #covidcrafting and tag @cambridgeartmakers so we can see your creations! #maketimeformaking #covid19 #claimyourcreativity #creativecommunity #cambridgemakers #recycle #upcycle #creativechallenge #pandemic

A post shared by Cambridge Art Makers (@cambridgeartmakers) on Mar 14, 2020 at 9:52am PDT

Last up is Social Pip‘s challenge which is aimed at small businesses looking to improve their Instagram account during the downtime brought about by lockdown. Pip is a Social Media Consultant based just across the border in Hertfordshire and each day is sharing a simple task you can implement. Keep an eye out for the new #PuttingThePipInSocial prompts daily in her stories:

View this post on Instagram

🌟 IT'S HERE 🌟 the 'no posting unless you want to' Instagram challenge!! Social media right now has never been more vital for your business. Now is the time, if you can't work IN your business to work ON your business.⁠⠀⁠⠀ ⁠⠀⁠⠀ Above is an outline of the focus for each day for the next 20 days. The 'task instructions' can be found each day in my stories. I'll be sure to save these as a highlight in my profile so if you miss a day or 2 or find this challenge after it's started no worries, you won't get left behind!⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ I'll aim to have the 'task instructions' up in my stories before midday each day but as I'm also doing the whole homeschooling thing please bear with me if it's a bit later than this sometimes!⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ I'm very much hoping this challenge will give you and your small business the boost 🚀 you might well be needing right now. My DMs are open for questions as always throughout the challenge and if you do happen to post either on your 'grid' or in your stories don't forget to tag me and use the #PuttingThePipInSocial hashtag!⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #instagramtips #instagramtipsandtricks #instagrammarketing #instagrammarketingtips #instagramforbusiness #instagramhelp #smallbusinessessentials #uksmallbiz #digitalmarketinguk #smallbusinesstips #smallbusinesssupport #smallbusinessmarketing⁠⠀⁠⠀ #smallbusinessmarketingtips #freesocialmediatips #learnsomethingnew #smallandmightybusiness #hitchin #hitchintown #hitchinbusinesses #stalbans #hertford #bedfordshire #cambridge #hertfordshire #hertfordshirebusiness #hertsbusiness #socialpip

A post shared by Pip •Social Media For Smallbiz (@socialpip) on Mar 25, 2020 at 3:09am PDT

Are you taking part in an Instagram challenge we haven’t listed? Let us know in the comments below – and if you join in with any of these above be sure to tag @thetrove_cambridge so that we can follow along!

Keep up-to-date with what is happening across Cambridgeshire’s creative scene by subscribing to receive our latest news posts via email – and follow our #CambsCreativeScene tag on Instagram.

If you enjoy content from The Trove Cambridge then please consider supporting what we do by buying us a “coffee” at: ko-fi.com/thetrovecambridge

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What’s On: Virtual Visits at Kettle’s Yard

Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge is temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak and yesterday the gallery announced that they have now installed a webcam to provide a live stream of a particular location in the Kettle’s Yard House to viewers. The house and gallery have been closed since 17th March 2020 in order to protect the health and wellbeing of staff, volunteers and visitors.

In response to the current situation Kettle’s Yard invite you on a virtual visit – with the webcam allowing you to watch in real-time for the duration of the gallery’s closure. The webcam is situated on the first floor of the cottages, in the area known as the ‘bridge’. The live stream, which is being broadcast everyday from 5.30am until 8.30pm, can be accessed via the gallery’s website here.

The idea for the webcam was suggested by a member of the public @joolsburke on Instagram, they said: “Kettle’s Yard is a magical place and being able to sit in a quiet corner and see the light change in the room is something I’ve loved for years. Being able to see this online is brilliant, and a reminder of what we hope to get back to before too long.”

Kettle’s Yard says: “Our values reflect Kettle’s Yard’s creator Jim Ede’s support for artists and belief in art’s power to make us look again and change how we act in the world.”

The bridge is where Jim Ede created a small conservatory filled with plants, spherical glass fishing floats, pebbles, shells and artworks. In the sitting room adjacent to the bridge, Ede also installed a spiral staircase illuminated by a double-height window. This part of the House is both shadowy and light-filled, enabling virtual visitors to trace the light changes throughout the day.

The wide-angled shot takes in a number of artworks and objects, including Gregorio Vardanega’s suspended Perspex Disc, which refracts light and rotates with subtle movements of the air, as well as his smaller Spherical Construction, nestled among the plants in the top right corner.

To the left is a tall pot by William Staite Murray, called The Heron, and a small still-life by Ben Nicholson, titled 1944 (Mugs). Visible in the sitting room beyond is an ancient amphora, bought in the Sahara desert when Ede was living in Tangier, and a Japanese silk lantern.

In certain light levels it will also be possible to see two new glass works by Linder Sterling that were installed as part of the exhibition Linderism, which opened at Kettle’s Yard on 15th February 2020.

Kettle’s Yard also have an online tour which you can access here. Be sure to give the gallery a shout-out on social media and help to spread the word about their new #KettlesYardAtHome initiative!

Keep up-to-date with what is happening across Cambridgeshire’s creative scene by subscribing to receive our latest news posts via email – and follow our #CambsCreativeScene tag on Instagram.

If you enjoy content from The Trove Cambridge then please consider supporting what we do by buying us a “coffee” at: ko-fi.com/thetrovecambridge

The Trove Cambridge • Latest News from #CambsCreativeScene

Category Archives: What’s On

Cambridge Art Makers – #PotsForPoTS Charity Auction

Community Art Project: West Chesterton Animal Trail

What’s On: Cambridge Open Windows – #COSArt2020

#ShopCambridgeshire Virtual Showcase

What’s On: Easter with The Norris Museum

What’s On: Virtual Visits at Kettle’s Yard