Creative Ways to Survive Lockdown
Creative Ways to Survive Lockdown
With our February Lockdon Creative Calendar
What’s been the most difficult part of lockdown for you? Perhaps the isolation, the change, the uncertainty. Are you secretly finding some aspects of lockdown quite enjoyable with the reduction in social pressure or reduced need to be out in the world? Are you noticing not only your emotional wellbeing, but that of those around being damaged by these unprecedented times? Is it difficult to know what you need or what will help?
You are not alone, a study last year by the University of Glasgow last year concluded that lockdown had a major impact on the UK's mental health, including increased rates of suicidal thoughts1.
To top it all we are now entering February, which seems to top the list for most depressing month in many an internet survey2, so can we assume that this period of lockdown is going to be a tough one?
Here in the Potting Shed we are HUGE advocates for getting creative; as a way to self-care, a way to connect with others (albeit remotely these days), to stay mentally flexible, to find expression and to encourage playfulness. We know that this helps our emotional and mental wellbeing. It has been interesting to see the proliferation of creative responses to lockdown from Grayson Perry's art club (1 & 2 soon to be aired), to playful online posts - like the wonderful spate of people recreating famous paintings with things found at home.
Perhaps we get creative just to relieve the boredom as we look for things to do through yet another Groundhog Day, perhaps we have found the additional space and time that lockdown has afforded us has allowed us to return creative enterprises once lost or left behind in the business of the working week, or maybe we recognise the intrinsic benefits of creative expression now, more than ever.
“We gleaned that some of the characteristics of everyday creativity (the importance of process over product, being given permission, finding activity in your local area, driven by local people) offered great starting points, for people finding their own way into individual creativity and culture more broadly. We looked at how developing a culture of everyday creativity across the country might contribute to a more democratic, accessible and open culture for all.”
We are offering an everyday starting point for art: a word, phrase or idea that can start as inspiration for art-making - something simple, something complex, you decide. Let’s get those creative juices flowing.
The invitation is to see where each word takes you; scribble an image, cut out pieces from a magazine to collage, take a snap-shot on your phone, sing a song, paint a picture, write a poem, the choice is yours.
We would love to see what you create sp please share your images with us on Twitter & Facebook. We have shared this calendar on all our social media platforms, please share with friends and get creative!
For our latest Potting Shed events see our Eventbrite page:
Grief wokshop online event Feb
1. Covid: Lockdown had 'major impact' on mental health – BBC article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54616688
3. Arts Council Everyday Creativity Project https://64millionartists.com/everyday-creativity-2/
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