Katy Doncaster: CV
Art forms and skills
I have worked as a creative practitioner for eleven years, developing work with people of all ages and abilities, in mainstream and special schools, with a variety of community groups and in many different settings. My work is broadly in the visual arts, and includes sculpture and installations, work with willow, print and textiles, poetry and stories, and many craft based activities, such as glass and silk painting, papier mache, kite making, weaving, mask and puppet making.
I love working with natural materials, and in environmental settings, including allotments, regeneration areas, national parks and buildings. I like to include folklore, stories and social history. I enjoy working on community celebratory projects, such as processions, or events celebrating local diversity, heritage and creativity. I also collaborate with artists from other disciplines, both on projects and commissions.
My work in education is focused on encouraging staff and students to explore and believe in their own creative potential, and for this to expand across all areas of the curriculum. I encourage people to focus on learning through play and exploration of ideas, to foster a love of, and excitement for, learning.
I am interested in how artists are supported in their community and participatory arts practice, and have worked on this through research projects and retreats. This has lead to collaborative projects with artists from different regions, presenting and sharing findings at forums with international representation.
I have a recent CRB check, and public liability insurance for £5 million.
Qualifications and Experience
MA Integrative Arts in Health and Education
BSc (hons) Psychology
Cert HE Art and Design
- associate researcher, Centre for Community Arts Research and Practice, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, ongoing
- Creative agent, Creative Partnerships BAM, 2006-07
- visiting lecturer University of Derby, 2003-2006
- P/t Education Programme Manager for Junction Arts 2004
- artist mentor for People Express, Swadlincote, Derbyshire 2005-06
- freelance textile design, 1993-95
Selected recent projects and events
2007
- Creative Partnerships Exploring Creativity projects, Kingsway and Farmilo Primary schools. Residencies working with children in various year groups to explore independent learning and creative environments.
- Instrument making for VSO ‘Your Voice Against Poverty’ event, Westminster, London
- Stories Out of Place: Arts Council England funded residency project in partnership with The National Trust.. Installation and written work, with Claire Simpson.
- Curriculum enrichment for Y3/4 pupils and staff, whole week project. about the Celts, Whitwick St John CE Primary School, NW Leics.
- Curriculum development with Y3, workshops around the Celts. Park Junior School, Shirebrook, Derbys.
2006
- Creative curriculum development projects using TASC wheel tool: Creative Partnerships project with Y1 (science) and Y2 (geography) in Model Village Primary School, Shirebrook.
- curriculum enrichment weekly workshops, Whitwick St John CE Primary School, NW Leicestershire. Y2-Y6. Ongoing workshops that take place every other term.
- community lantern event, Lochgilphead, Argyll: working with the community over two weeks, towards their 10th annual lantern procession event. Lanterns of all sizes created from willow and tissue.
- Living Literacy Project. Now in its third year, working with schools in the Bolsover District to enhance Literacy teaching in Y5. Tailor made projects with each of ten school, including costume, sculpture, mask making, textiles, print. Junction Arts.
- ‘Hidden Worlds’ art in allotments and public open spaces. Groundwork Trust - installation for allotment space, relating to my own allotment space. Textile print and sculptural installation.1
- instrument building workshops with Britten Symphonia, Cambridge City Council and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Various venues, family drop in sessions.
- ‘Inside Outside’ exploration of using spaces outside school to teach Art, English, Science and Maths in a special school. Creation of environments using installations around the school, and painting a playground. Shepherd School, Bilborough, Nottingham + Creative Partnerships.
- Gifted and Talented project for Derby City G+T strand and Excellence Clusters. Eight schools, Y2, Y5, Y8 culminating in an exhibition in the city.
- Research for Centre for Community Arts Research and Practice. including residential facilitated retreat in Inverness for Scottish creative practitioners.
