Connecting Creative Women in Cornwall!

As a creative woman, making work in Cornwall can be challenging. I've been co directing performance company Hotch Potch for over ten years (most of that time based in Cornwall) and I often feel disconnected to the wider arts scene here. Cornwall- as beautiful and inspiring a place to live as a creative, can be an isolating place to exist as an artist. It's just the nature of living somewhere rural, but I believe artists should have a community - a meeting place to share ideas, issues and important news. As a multi-disciplinary artist I also really value exchanges with artists from various different creative disciplines and backgrounds. Much of my work within Hotch Potch is about exploring the fusion of different arts practices- as suggested in the name.

As I've navigated through my creative work and lifestyle whilst home educating two children, I have felt even more isolated, and often feel torn between the roles of caregiver and artist - where does one begin and the other end? It doesn't leave a lot of space and time for connection, meaning making and development as an artist. I talk to many women who feel the same.

I also get the deep sense that female artists are faced with more challenges within the creative arts sector than compared with males. I cannot speak for every woman but I know I have felt disadvantaged primarily because of my gender and very specifically as a mother. There are a lot of factors to unpick and as we know, this kind of inequality is historical but I do feel its important for us to acknowledge it and for women to support women - there is a kinship there that we intuitively understand. Last year I returned to academia and Ive been studying an MA in Arts Health and Wellbeing. Its been very humbling and eye opening to look at my practice up until this point and really begin to understand the good that the arts do for people, the environment and society. I often find myself thinking about artists though- especially those who engage with communities, who pour themselves into their work, who are committed to making positive changes and helping people through the arts. What support systems do they have? and how do they fill their cup in order to continue holding space for others. I decided to start simple and facilitate an online monthly meet up for creative women working professionally in Cornwall. The feel is informal and its an opportunity to engage, reflect and inspire each other with our creative contribution.

I hope to invite those attending to participate in a short artful exercise, as we kick off the session to allow us to ground ourselves and get creative together. I know that finding the time to be creative, playful and self- curious as an artist is often not at the top of our to-do list. I would love to hold a space for artists to nourish their needs and feel good about great work they do. During the sessions we will explore different themes such as; applying for jobs and funding, dealing with rejection, juggling childcare with work and share tips on great ways to be creative just for fun. Its also an ideal opportunity to meet others in the sector, form creative collaborations and feel a little less alone.

If you feel you would benefit from this or know someone who would, please spread the word- The arts matter and..... artists matter!