WELCOME TO COOLTAN ARTS E-BULLETIN MARCH 2011

Events take place at CoolTan Arts Unit B 237 Walworth Rd SE171RL unless otherwise stated.
www.cooltanarts.org.uk www.afunnyfarm.org.uk info@cooltanarts.org.uk
Tel: 020 7701 2696. Open Mon-Thu 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-5pm.
Twitter: @cooltan4 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cooltanarts

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – DON’T MISS THESE EVENTS

New art exhibition at CoolTan Arts Independent Gallery – Women’s Stories
Wed 9 March, 11am-4pm: International Women’s Day Conference at CoolTan Arts
Tue 15 March, 3pm-4.30 pm: Community Advocacy Meeting
Fri 18 March, 11am-1pm: New workshop and filmmaking / podcasting project
Sat 19 March, 12noon: CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle: Celebration of International Women Day
Sat 26 March, 12noon: Largactyl Shuffle: March against the Cuts

UPCOMING EVENTS
International Women’s Day Conference and new art exhibition ‘Women’s Stories’
Wed, 09 March 2011 at 11am – 4pm
Celebrate 100 years of International Women’s Day with CoolTan Arts’ conference.
We will explore and celebrate the lives and works of inspirational local women from
the past 100 years, and personal stories of women we know. There will be particular
emphasis on stories of women from marginalised and excluded groups, including
disabled women, women with mental distress and refugee women.
It will be an exciting afternoon with speakers and discussions about women and their
stories, hands-on arts activities, workshops in Self-confidence and self-worth, visual
arts, poetry, screening of the film ‘In the Studio with Maggi Hambling’ and a social event for all to enjoy.
The conference will also showcase CoolTan Arts’ new art exhibition ‘Women’s Stories’ with artwork by
CoolTan artists, with powerful images including the personal, political and iconic figures, taking inspiration from
art, literature and personal lives.
Get creative, have fun, meet like-minded people and make friends. All welcome!
Entrance to the conference, film screenings and exhibition are free, but there will be a small charge for
refreshments and £1 for each workshop.
For more information and to RSVP, please contact Rosie on rosie@cooltanarts.org.uk or call 02077012696.

CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle: Celebration of International Women’s Day

19 March 2011, 12noon; Meet at Imperial War Museum
Join CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle, a fun guided cultural walk for mental and physical wellbeing, celebrate
International Women’s Day and inspiring women.
This walk will look at women issues in society past and present, women rights and wellbeing, famous and
inspirational women in the areas of art and mental health.
International Women's Day on 8 March is recognised by the United Nations and is celebrated by many
countries across the world. It honours the social and political achievements of women since 1911. 2011 sees
100 years of International Women's Day having been celebrated around the world.
The walk starts at 12noon at the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Rd London SE1 6HZ, and we walk to Tate
Modern. A fun day out for the whole family!
Call CoolTan Arts on 07985658443 if you cannot find the group of walkers on the day.

CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle: March against the cuts

26 March 2011, 12noon; Meet at CoolTan Arts, walk to the Imperial War Museum
CoolTan Arts and Disability Lib join forces and organise a Largactyl Shuffle against the cuts, a history walk
about disabled people’s rights and an alternative inclusive demo for disabled and no disabled people to march
together and make their voices heard against the cuts.
The walk organised as an alternative to the big national rally ‘March for an Alternative to cuts’ by the TUC in
response to the government's programme of fast and deep public spending cuts and enables people with
disabilities, who might not feel safe in a big crowded environment, to make their voices heard.
Disabled People Against the Cuts are planning online campaign pages to allow people to contribute without
having to attend the main march. See http://www.dpac.uk.net/2011/02/light-up-a-map-of-the-uk-online-in-
solidarity-with-the-protesters-on-the-streets-on-26-march/
Get involved, we look forward to seeing you on the walk! For more info, email kathrin@cooltanarts.org.uk.
WORKSHOPS FOR ALL
New workshops!! *open to everyone*
Relaxation through movement and music: Mondays 5pm-6pm *Please contact Rosie to RSVP*
Theatre creation: Mondays 6pm-8pm – only £6 (concessions) or £8 for a 2-hour session *Please RSVP*
Food for Mood: Tuesday 3pm-5pm
Card-making: Thursdays: 11am-1pm – free, cards will be sold to raise money for CoolTan

Food For Mood – New series of workshops: until March 2011 *Free and open to all*
On Tuesday afternoons, CoolTan Arts is running workshops around the
production of the Food For Mood cookbook. Everyone is welcome, and
there will be a variety of artistic and practical activities relating to books
and food:
- contributing recipes and discussing food
- creative writing, local research, interviews
- writing, editing, design and layout
- learning about the world of book publishing
- food heritage of Southwark

Come along and take part in this exciting project. We look forward to seeing you there.
For more information, please contact Elizabeth, Rosie or Clara on 020 77012696 or email
rosie@cooltanarts.org.uk. More info on http://www.cooltanarts.org.uk/category/food-for-mood/.

Free Workshops for Southwark Residents! Starting in April *sign up now*

We are running again free workshops for Southwark residents – starting mid-April. You can attend 1 workshop
of 5 sessions, tuition is fee but materials are not included. Workshops include: Visual Arts (painting), drawing,
digital photography, Photoshop, Basic IT, machine sewing.
For people outside Southwark, or additional workshops the cost is £250 for 10 hours of learning (5 sessions).
Please look out for more details, call us on 020 77012696 or email rosie@cooltanarts.org.uk.

WORKSHOPS AND ACTIVITIES – OPEN TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING MENTAL DISTRESS

Community Advocacy meeting Tuesday 15 March 3pm-4.30 pm:
Come along to our next community advocacy meeting, meet like-minded people, get your voice heard and
discuss what’s happening in mental health and disability services both locally and nationally. More updates are
available from Rosie Agnew on rosie@cooltanarts.org.uk or call 02077012696. We look forward to seeing you!

Filmmaking/Podcasting project about Personalisation *New project*

Launch date: Fri 18 March, 11am-1pm
Would you like to be a part of a unique and exciting art projects aiming to explore the process any individual
need to go through to access a personal budget?
Are you interested in filmmaking, want to meet new people, learn new skills?
CoolTan is now recruiting participants for a Filmmaking project about personalisation!
Personalisation is a major shift in the way care and support is provided and it will affect all of us.
Get involved and join the workshop on Fri 18 March 11am-1pm to find out what it’s all about!
The meetings/ filmmaking workshops will take place Fridays, 11am-1pm at CoolTan Arts.
Interested? Please e-mail Asia on asia@cooltanarts.org.uk or call 020 701 2696.

Self-Advocacy Training Skills Programme and Recovery Star

Self-advocacy skills training can assist in knowing and accessing your rights and getting your
voice heard in many situations.
Workshops continue: Wednesday mornings from 11am, Thursday afternoons from 2pm at
CoolTan Arts unless otherwise advertised.

The full Programmes 2 and 3 Self-advocacy Skills Training courses are near completion, 11 confirmed topics,
for example Mental Health Law, the Equalities Act and tackling discrimination, the benefits system, consumer
rights areas, non-verbal communication, amongst a wide range of relevant and topical subjects. All
underpinned by exploring self-advocacy skills. Thanks too for the extremely generous response from trainers
who are confirmed in principal or booked - although thoughts are with those colleagues and organisations still
awaiting funding decisions to take them beyond April 1st.
Phil will be re-contacting people who’ve expressed an interest in joining these programmes, and information
sheets/flyers distributed from early March.
More details and updates available at CoolTan Arts, or phone, email or write to us and ask for Phil Ruthen,
Advocacy Training Coordinator.
T: 020 7701 2696 or
M: 0798 565 8443  phil@cooltanarts.org.uk

Join a regular workshop at CoolTan

Do you need to get out of the house? Come along to one of CoolTan’s workshops to meet people, learn
new skills, have fun, and break out of isolation with like-minded people. Our workshops are open to any
adults experiencing mental distress with access to direct payments or other funding. Please contact
CoolTan Arts on 020 77012696 or email referrals@cooltanarts.org.uk for more details.

Workshop Timetable
Day Morning Afternoon Evening
Visual Arts 1-3pm
Batik 2-4pm Theatre Creation –
Mondays Closed for staff meeting Sculpture 3.30-5.30pm 6pm -8pm (£6 per
Relaxation through movement and music: 5-6pm session, concessions)

Basic / Intermediate IT 12-4pm (please book)

Movement Therapy: 2.15pm-3pm
Drawing 11am-1pm
Tuesdays Photoshop 2pm-4pm Volunteering
Volunteering
Food for Mood workshop 3-5pm
Video & filming 4-6pm
Self advocacy 11am-1pm Visual arts women only 1-3pm / 2-4pm Web design 6-8pm
Wednesdays
Volunteering Knitting 4pm-6pm Volunteering
Poetry 11am-1pm Largactyl Shuffle workshop 2-4 pm
Thursday Volunteering
Card making 11am-1pm Self advocacy 2-5pm
Friday Volunteering Visual Arts 1-3pm N/A
rd
Saturday’s N/A Largactyl Shuffle Walk 12noon, every 3 Saturday N/A

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
Why volunteer? – Need help getting back into work, want to give back to the community
Opportunity of the month: Media and press assistant
We are currently looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Press and Media volunteer to work with the
Communications Officer and support CoolTan’s media presence and press work, delivering a wide range of
communications activities.

Volunteers do a wonderful job and CoolTan couldn’t exist without the work they do. Volunteering at CoolTan
Arts can help you gain confidence and new skills, get work experience, make new friends.
Volunteer opportunities are available every day. If you would like to help us, please speak to Asia at CoolTan,
contact her on 020 7701 2696, email volunteers@cooltanarts.org.uk or check the website
http://cooltanarts.org.uk/category/voluntary-position/ for more details.

Services for Health and Social Care Organisations, mental health practitioners, GPs, social
workers, key workers…
CoolTan Arts can work with GPs and other health professionals to meet the social care needs of their clients.
We are very keen to meet you and your teams and tell you more about the services CoolTan Arts offers.
If you are a community mental health practitioner and you would like to refer clients, please contact us on 020
77012696 or email referrals@cooltanarts.org.uk.
If you are interested in finding out more about us and how we can work with your organisation, or want a
CoolTan representative at your team meetings to give an introduction to CoolTan, please contact us on 020
77012696 or email rosie@cooltanarts.org.uk.

Last, but not least, a big thanks to our donors, funders, supports, and to all the people who give their time and
energy to CoolTan Arts and make what we do possible.
CoolTan Arts believes mental wellbeing is enhanced by the power of creativity.
We are proud to have as Patrons: Maggi Hambling, Sokari Douglas Camp, Ali Smith, Clare
Allan and Rosemary Shrager
Unit B 237 Walworth Rd London SE17 1RL T: 0207 701 2696 M: 0798 565 8443
W: www.cooltanarts.org.uk E: info@cooltanarts.org.uk
Twitter: @cooltan4 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cooltanarts
CoolTan Arts Registered charity number 1064231 Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales reg. 3244552