Chiara Hamilton: Jumped-Up Theatre, New Creatives and the funding that I received.

I applied and got accepted in the New Creatives programme, Jumped-up theatre last year (2024) in October. New Creatives is a creative programme for 16-25 year olds. The arty theatre programme includes workshops, masterclasses and trips related to art, performance and comedy with the themed topic of 'Climate Change'.

From October to now, we have participated in many workshops and comedy sessions. In these, we have learnt about improvisation, acting, comedy and storytelling. As well as learning the impacts of climate change; from the climate change cycle to litter picking, fossil fuels, renewable energy and wild weather. As a group, we have learnt about a diverse range of climate change topics as well as learning the facts, details and specifics of it also.

In April 2025 the New Creatives group are going to do a day of activities relating to the theme of climate change to secondary school children. Such as picking up litter, doing a dance of the climate change cycle and a quiz game show. We hope to make it fun for children but also that they can get something out of it and learn something from the day.

The new creatives were also given funding to help with our art endeavours. With the small pot of money, I decided to use it for art books to help aid my progression and improvement as well as growth in the creative arts. This funding I used specifically for a number of stylized colourful illustration books. I found these books online on an art website called 3dtotal shop which has a number of different bespoke art books from well known and well respected illustrators and digital artists. The books are varied and have different topics in each of them. At the end of this page are the images of the cover, inside and some details as well as a review of the art books that I got.

One of the books that I purchased is called sketch every day, Simone Grunewald. This book has many 'how to draw' pages and sketches on step by step processes on how to draw character design, for example. Another book, is titled 'How to become a children's illustrator'. This has detailed biographies on illustrators and how they got to where they are now, (as a child's illustrator), detailing the steps that got them there. This includes being self taught or taught in art illustration techniques, the world of illustration from style of book covers to target audience of children and suitability for different age ranges covers of books. I found this book in particular fascinating because I can learn so much, absorb a lot and use the book for creative advice and motivation in illustration.

The funding I received has helped me with my finances for art supplies and art resources. I could buy books and put the money to one side to fund art materials. Having this funding to buy creative things has made me realise how much I can invest in art and how much I need to invest. As well as, learning about costs, quality of materials, quantity of substances and finding the creative resources. Purchasing and having art books that cover fantasy, drawing from the imagination and mythical creatures has helped me get excited about reading and learning about different artists and artworks. It has allowed myself as an artist, to have the possibility of growing in my arts knowledge and skills but also to have a growth mindset and to keep going and finding new possibilities, opportunities and creative resources for my creative journey.

Below, are some images of the art book covers, titles and the insides of them of the books that I purchased as well. This funding, has been a good fortune towards my art journey and career and I cannot wait to read more of these books and go further with the new creatives art project with more events and activities with Jumped-Up theatre.