Here’s some images from the launch event that I had to miss as I had to come to Surrey for half-term childcare cover. Gutted. It looks great.
Swindon Open Studios 2024 – At the launch event, Labour Parliamentary candidate Heidi Alexander with featured artistsThe launch event of Swindon open studios 2024The featured artists at SOS Pop-Up Gallery
A community organisation, Swindon Open Studios happens thanks to volunteers supporting local artists. They hold an exhibition in September each year. The artists invite members of the public into their studios, homes, and exhibition spaces to see where and how they make their art. Swindon Open Studios is super delighted to have the support of the Swindon Designer Outlet centre. It offers their artists another opportunity to share their work with the public.
The first Open Studios took place in 2004 with a follow up in 2006. From 2008 onwards the open studios event has been held annually until the intervention of COVID in 2020 and 2021.
2022 saw the welcome return of this popular community event and last year, we saw the largest number of artists participating since the event’s inception.
In celebrating twenty years of SOS, 2024 looks set to be another bumper year.
Pablo Picasso once said …
… the purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls. Well back in 2014, in this now rather dated blog post about the purpose of art, I argued that, by stretching that analogy a little further ‘we could consider he wealth of art – and even architecture -of all kinds that we have here in Swindon, we can find ourselves washing the dust off our souls in a veritable ocean of creativity. Much of which has featured at various times on Born again Swindonian.’
12 Free Tomorrow Festival Activities. With half-term upon us, the Festival of Tomorrowhas a whole week of fun ahead to help keep all the family entertained. All including loads of free events and experiences. We’ve picked a dozen of our favourite things for families to see and do, completely free!
At STEAM, Museum of the Great Western Railway
1. Meet Luma, the giant soft-robotic snail! Monday 12th – Saturday 17, 10AM to 5PM/ Sunday 18 Feb, 10AM to 4PM
Luma is a huge 9m long inflatable robot snail who loves an audience. Inspired by nature, Luma is a stunning and enormous interactive being. It brings wonder, joy and escapist magic! Accompanying Luma is a programme of completely free, drop-in activities and live shows.
Get up close and hands on with live giant snails and other amazing animals.
3. Tuesday 13 February – Amazing Air – every hour from 11am-4pm
Join Dr Sarah Bearchell for this interactive show, where everyone joins in the multi-sensory experiments to gather proof that air really is there!
4. Wednesday 14 February – The Cloud Factory – every hour from 11am-4pm:
Join Dr Sarah Bearchell for this interactive show, where everyone joins in the multi-sensory experiments to gather proof that air really is there!
5. Thursday 15 February – Fun Science Shows – Every 30 minutes between 11.30AM and 2.30PM
Amazing, hair raising live demonstrations and experiments.
6. Friday 16 February – Make your own slime and build and race robots!
Have a go at building a robot racer, or make your own snail slime to take home.
7. Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 February – Super Sonic Science Show – 11am-3.30pm
Embark on a journey of marvels with the Super Sonic Science Professor! Behold the electrifying dance of lightning, soar on a magic carpet, see the world from inside bubble and witness the mesmerizing eruption of a bubble volcano.
At the Swindon Designer Outlet
8. What the Tortoise Taught us – Monday 12 to Friday 16 February 11am-3pm
Look out for Zelva, the beautiful animatronic giant tortoise. Designed and built by The Flying Buttresses. They’ve lent their making talents to films such as Prometheus, Guardians of the Galaxy and Artemis Fowl, Zelva represents a unique approach to animatronics.
12 Free Tomorrow Festival Activities – Zelva the animatronic giant tortoise
Neon Dance presents this nature-themed robotic exhibition and installation in collaboration with Bristol Robotics Lab. Meet and interact with the robots and share your own ideas on what you think the robots should do!
10. What is a robot? And can we trust them? – Wednesday 14 Feb, 11am-3pm
Meet the University of Bristol’s Trustworthy Autonomous Systems researchers on Wednesday 14 February. Try out some robotic demos and talk to them about their work. Ask the engineers, roboticists and sociologists anything, as they take you through some surprising robotics.
11. Augmented Reality Space Trail – Sunday 11 – Sunday 18 February
See if you can spot all the Augmented Reality, space-themed models hidden around Swindon’s Designer Outlet. Find the Swindon’s Space Trail boards, scan the QR code with your phone, and see the models come to life!
At The Deanery CE Academy
12. Festival Finale – Friday 16 and Saturday 17 February 10am-5pm
The highlight of the week is bound to be the popular Festival Finale extravaganza. From the latest e-sports gaming kit, racing model hydrogen cars, to arts and crafts, festivalgoers will be able to explore:
Amazing exhibitors
Chat with leading researchers scientists, engineers and artists
Watch live demonstrations
Or get hands-on with a huge range of FREE activities and workshops for all ages.
New Recruit for Scott Media. Media and PR expert Fiona Scott didn’t have to look far when it came to recruiting a new team member. Because her step-daughter, Lauren Roberts, is stepping up to the plate.
Fiona, who runs Swindon-based PR agency Scott Media, has recruited Lauren to help meet the needs of her ever-growing client base.
In the first instance, Lauren is spending two days a week with Fiona and her VA, Hannah Edwards. But that role will expand in the future.
Fiona, who set up Scott Media sixteen years ago following a successful career in print and broadcast journalism, describes Lauren as a fantastic addition to the team.
Fiona Scott, left, with Lauren Roberts
Lots to learn
‘It will be a steep learning curve for her but I know Lauren is more than capable. And she’s very keen to get going,’ said Fiona. “She has all the raw talent needed to make a great PR professional and I’m very excited that she has come on board.’
Working in PR is a new venture for Lauren, who’s getting back into employment after a year’s maternity leave following the birth of her son, Oliver.
After taking A-levels in art, media studies and English literature, Lauren, 30, had planned a career in journalism. But she chose a different path during her gap year.
She went into finance and, before having Oliver, had been managing a credit control team with a fuel company. But she’s now keen to return to her creative roots.
After A-levels, I wasn’t sure about going to university so took a gap year, and ended up getting a full-time job in a loan company. That then led me into credit control,’ said Lauren.
I realised going back to a full-time role wouldn’t work for my family. I wanted something more flexible, and then this opportunity with Fiona came up. It’s great, because it gives me the chance to rediscover my creative side and I’m enjoying the challenge.’
Scott Media specialises in supporting businesses and entrepreneurs with their PR and works with organisations across the UK. For more Scott Media visit https://scottmedia.uk/
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR WINS AWARDFOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE SWINDON COMMUNITY. Fi Da Silva Adams, founder of Swindon and Wiltshire’s leading performing arts company for children and young people, Revolution Performing Arts, has won an award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community.
“I felt overwhelmed that I got chosen. Given the amazing work done in communities across the South West by all the shortlisted organisations. I can’t quite believe that this has happened. I’d like to thank my amazing team who support 100s of children across Swindon and beyond every single week.”
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR WINS AWARD – Fiona Da Silva Adams
Built it up
Fi, who lives in Wanborough, has built the successful Revolution Performing Arts and its sister company, Rapport CIC, both of which have strong social goals. She set up the company in 2007 as a drama group for toddlers and pre-school age children. She took this step after a long career in performing arts in the town.
It soon expanded to become a performing arts company for children of all ages. RPA was the first organisation of its kind to bring inclusive performing arts after-school clubs to the Swindon area.
Today it runs more than 1,140 performing arts sessions a year for children from a diverse range of socio-economic backgrounds. They stage five public shows across its annual calendar. In all, over 400 local children or young people attend sessions every week. And almost 5,000 children attend the RPA Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme in Swindon and Wiltshire.
Rapport CIC
RPA’s sister organisation, Rapport Community Interest Company (CIC), is a not-for-profit organisation. It’s aimed at young people aged 11-18. Its mission is to explore all forms of performing arts. This includes drama, singing and dance. Also ‘behind the scenes’ arts such as design, tech and stage management. Rapport offers free places for young people affected by domestic abuse.
The judges of the awards said of Fi that she was ‘making a huge impact in many ways and providing a much needed safe place away from abuse.’
Having experienced a challenging start in life herself, Fi is a keen advocate of the power of the arts. She uses it to support young people to express themselves in a way that is empowering.
Other Swindon winners included Shani Moore of Dash Couriers who won Female Entrepreneur of the Year and HR specialist Rachel Weaven who won the title of Networker of the Year.
The South-West Business & Community Awards ceremony took place on Thursday February 1 at the Doubletree Hilton.
Swindon charities put spotlight on mental health for national Time To Talk Day. Tell us what you mean’ is the message from a group of Swindon charities, coming together on Thursday 1st February to mark national Time to Talk Day.
Time to Talk Dayis an event that aims to get people talking about mental health and wellbeing. And to be honest and open about how they feel.
Events across Swindon will encourage people to talk, listen and change lives. Swindon Hub in the town centre will host a pop-up run by Swindon & Gloucestershire Mind. It’ll provide information and a welcome place to relax and talk.
Hazel Howe, CEO, Swindon & Gloucestershire Mind, said: ‘The path to mental health transformation remains extensive. It’s underscoring the importance of ensuring people receive timely support for their mental well-being. Time to Talk Day serves as a poignant reminder of the vital work mental health providers undertake to address these challenges from the outset.
The more we talk about mental health, the better life is for us all’ she said.
People can struggle to find the right time or place to talk about mental health. So Time to Talk Day is asking people to have a conversation wherever they are:
At home,
At school
Or even at the top of a mountain.
Involvement for all
‘We want to encourage everyone one to get involved and get talking’, said Jol Rose from Voluntary Action Swindon, one of the campaign organisers. ‘We all have mental health so it’s something for everyone.’
