Image via Instagram @barrefly
Creativity is widely known to make us feel better, there’s a feeling of joy and fulfilment when you’re making things. I know there is a wealth of creative activity taking place in homes across the world right now, and I'm sure those feelings of wellbeing are helping everyone involved feel a little bit better and stronger.
There’s another side to craft though that I’m really missing, and it’s the social interaction that craft brings. I’ve been in to New Brewery Arts regularly since lockdown to check on the buildings, and it has been hard for me to see everything empty, without all the people who fill our spaces and studios every day. I know many of our regular students see their class as a moment in their social diary as much as a learning experience. From our offices we can hear laughter and chatter coming from the studios. I often say that while we are an organisation that celebrates the importance of craft and creativity, what we are really here for is the people and our community.
I had thought that without the amazing people who come to New Brewery Arts all we would be left with is three empty buildings. But the corona virus shut-down has shown me that even with the buildings empty there’s something else, there is still a community. Each week I have been spending time (via video calls) with the craftspeople from our studios, and with the team of trustees who, now more than ever, support the organisation, I've been chatting to staff on the phone and emailing craftspeople and other organisations about future plans. I've been emailing our community to thank them for their donations of support, and for their kind words that are helping us to get through these difficult times. We might have ‘gone dark’ for a few months, but it’s merely the buildings that we have had to close, not the unique spirit of New Brewery Arts.
And its with that community in mind, with the positive comments from people who want to come back to New Brewery Arts for their social and creative 'fix' that we're making plans for the days when we can all come together again. We're making plans for special events, exhibitions and a whole programme of new and favourite classes to come back to. We’re even developing new ways that New Brewery Arts can help our wider community recover and recuperate when lockdown ends – we don’t know what people may want or need, but we’ll be here to make sure craft and creativity is available to everybody so we can all feel the joy that craft brings.
Beth Alden, CEO
beth@newbreweryarts.org.uk