A new year and a time to think about what we would like to achieve in 2022 and how to make this year better than the last. Or maybe even the last two years.
I started working with Creative Aberdeenshire Network last Autumn. Work so far has resulted in the CAN Survey, this blog It Starts with C... and our new social media channel. The next stage will be the launch of our Listening Circles events on 27th January and 1st February. With times throughout the day to suit flexible working, these Listening Circles are a democratic way of ensuring everyone can contribute their thoughts as well as listen to what others in the circle are contributing. It's an insightful way of connecting with others. You can sign up for the Listening Circle events here.
Listening to Woman’s Hour the other day I was taken with a discussion about New Year Graces instead of Resolutions. The idea is, rather than take away things or deprive ourselves in the quest for improvement, we focus on kindness to ourselves and others, the gifts we give, and at a time when the idea of a “fresh start” may seem a challenge, we can put our New Year energies into something that will make our network feel supported, rather than feel like things are hard or difficult.
As someone who has worked with communities, particularly rural communities for many years, I’m familiar with this notion. We can feel deprived of support, of connection and of the opportunity to celebrate our work. It can feel hard if you don’t feel supported. So very often it feels like the work of the creative and cultural sector outwith the central belt can be overlooked for something grand, sparkly and new.
This is an invitation to members of this north east creative network to use 2022 as an opportunity to change this. Let’s focus on the support we need, let’s allow ourselves to make new connections and let’s celebrate our achievements. The last two years have been hard enough without depriving ourselves of the opportunities we need to improve our craft, our practice and expand our wider network of creatives.
I like to think of networks as another form of community, and communities work best when everyone contributes. This year I am seeking contributions from Aberdeenshire’s creative sector to help make the network happen. We launched the blog It Starts With C… as a platform for creatives to share their practice, their work and to invite a conversation, to contribute to the network and how we take it forward this year. We really want this blog to be led by the creative community. As a result of our current survey we are already beginning to understand how the network can support creatives. This blog is an opportunity for you to connect, raise an issue and shape the narrative for our wider conversations. If you have had time to input to the survey, thank you. We love hearing from you. We want to read your contributions to this blog, to make the connections, then we can start to celebrate the achievements of the network throughout 2022 and beyond.
So, these New Year Graces allow me to invite you to contribute. Get in touch if you would like to know how! Looking forward to hearing from you.
Lindsay Dunbar, Creative Aberdeenshire Network Coordinator, Jan 2022