The Portsmouth Creates team are proud to be supporting ‘Take Time Portsmouth,’ a digital initiative, set up and run by the talented and inspirational local creative Ben Clabon.

Take Time was conceived to enable creatives across the city to connect via an online platform during lockdown when opportunities for face to face interactions had become pretty much impossible.

Following on from research we conducted for the DCMS call for evidence to explore the impact of covid-19 on the creative sector we discovered that a desire for pastoral support was a key theme highlighted amongst local creatives. We knew that people were suffering from a lack of interactions that were an essential part of daily life as a creative. Take Time provides online sessions via Zoom once a week to provide a safe and inclusive environment for creatives and enables them to explore and demonstrate new ideas, share research, meet like-minded people and forge new connections and collaborations.

The platform is free and completely inclusive, welcoming anyone with a creative interest, at any stage on their creative journey, whether they are just starting out and seeking peer support or are established within the creative community and perhaps looking for inspiration and feedback for new ideas.

Workshops have been diverse and include Origami, Puppetry, Drama for Zoom and Mental Health & Creatives with Ian Hurst- ‘We are Hummingbird.’ The sessions have also provided a platform for meets and shares with MP Stephen Morgan and Cllr Steve Pitt – Portfolio holder for Culture in Portsmouth.

Ben says:

“I started the idea for Take Time Portsmouth as I felt slightly stranded  as a creative in this vibrant city, I have always been outgoing and been able to put on brave face at a social or networking event but I don’t have that  forum anymore! I just thought how great it would be to have a safe place to have a virtual cuppa or something stronger and “Share, Connect, Support and Take Some Time”.

Ben’s aims for the Take Time forum

SHARE:

• To take time and share your practice with others, have the option to have a go and learn a new skill, or try something for fun and to support your well-being
• The ability to gain constructive criticism or just the need for a safe audience? Safety net to share a new piece of writing, song, painting or anything that falls within the creative field

CONNECT:

• As creatives, it is important to be able to connect with other creatives and have the chance to connect, thus providing opportunities for future collaboration

SUPPORT:

• We want to help to break down perceived barriers by helping to empower creatives with knowledge, whether it be sharing advice from private bodies and supporters of Take Time or individual creative knowledge amongst peers
• To be able to support creatives with creating work during the Covid-19 timescale but also after this period
• Take the time to listen to creatives’ worries and concerns and guide them towards funding bodies and other supportive platforms

TAKE TIME:

• This is one of the most important aims: we want to encourage creatives to take time to take a breath, have a moment to communicate with like-minded individuals, and support positive mental well-being.

Join up now and get a weekly briefing which will share the log-in and password.

taketimepompey@gmail.com
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