Artis launches a virtual creativity festival with Wordia
On Wednesday 17 March 2010, Artis is launching a two-week online festival in celebration of the importance of creativity in people’s lives and in children’s language development. The virtual home of the festival will be online living dictionary Wordia.com, a unique site that gives people the opportunity to express their thoughts and views on a word or subject.
The partnership with Artis will theme the site for two weeks with a new word released each day related to creativity. Various members of Artis and a select group of individuals connected to the creative world, from award-winning percussionist Evelyn Glennie, to Associate Professor in Drama and Theatre Education at Warwick University Joe Winston and one of the UK’s most prolific composers, Nitin Sawhney, have each volunteered their time to be filmed defining their favourite word as part of the project. Take a look below to see who is involved and what creative word they have chosen.
How to get involved
A highlight of the two-week festival will be a showcase at The Place in London, near Euston, on Monday 22 March from 2:30-4pm. The event will include a sample Artis session with a group of children from a school Artis has been working with for a number of years. If you would like to come along to find out more about Artis and Wordia, we have some places left for guests so please get in touch with Lucia Manzitti at cricri@artiseducation.com to secure your place.
You can also bring the dictionary to life during our creativity fortnight by adding your own definitions:
- think about which of our creative words has special meaning to you
- express your views on video
- upload your video on www.wordia.com and bring your definition to life
“To be literate you need vocabulary. Developing speaking skills is a critical stepping stone to education and learning in other subjects. We place a high importance on helping children expand their use of language. Many need extra help to bring them up to a standard that reflects their age group. Artis helps us develop pupil’s vocabulary through storytelling and drama, and of course singing songs.” Su Edwards, Head, Raynville Primary
Some Artis champions and their words associated with creativity:
Sir Michael Bichard, Director, Institute for Government and Artis Patron
Passion
noun, special ability in a task, sport, etc, esp ability acquired by training
Rebecca Boyle, Chief Executive, Artis
Stimulating
adjective, inspiring new ideas or enthusiasm
Terry Cox, Head of an Artis School, St Helen’s Roman Catholic Primary School
Oomph
noun, enthusiasm, vigour, or energy
Richard Gerver, former Headteacher and actor, creative educationalist
Possibility
noun, the state or condition of being possible
Dame Evelyn Glennie, Percussionist and Artis Adviser
Ambidextrous
adjective, equally expert with each hand
Nigel Mainard, Head of Professional Services, Artis
Acuity
noun, keenness or acuteness, esp in vision or thought
Lin Marsh, Voice Specialist and Artis Consultant
Shine
verb, to be conspicuously compenten; excel
Baroness McIntosh, Artis Director
Creation
noun, the act or process of creating
Maria Quevedo, Head of Operations, Artis
Expression
noun, communication of emotion through music, painting, etc
Nitin Sawhney, Composer and Artis Adviser
Pluralism
noun, the existence in a society of groups having distinctive ethnic origin, cultural forms, religions
Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive, RSA
Resourcefulness
adjective, ingenious, capable, and full of initiative, esp in dealing with difficult situations
Do Ho Suh, Artist
Sculptor
noun, a person who practises sculpture
Kenneth Tharp OBE, Dancer, Chief Executive, The Place and Artis Adviser
Instinct
adjective, almost unbelievable; astounding; legendary
Joe Winston, Associate Professor, Warwick Institute of Education and Artis Consultant
Beauty
noun, the combination of all the qualities of a person or thing that delight the senses and please the mind