Koan Arts has taken over management of Eye Arts Club, which runs arts projects for 7 to 17+ year olds, with and without additional needs, who live in Eye, Suffolk, and surrounding villages.
Children and young people at Eye Arts Club have the opportunity to work with arts professionals and high-quality equipment/software, learning skills in different art forms including dance, scriptwriting, electronics, film-making, acting, animation, art, puppetry and costume.
Excellent opportunity for M to work creatively in a small group. This has really helped develop his confidence and learn things not necessarily covered in school. Liz and Caroline are very supportive. (Parent)
I have enjoyed the experience of doing things I wouldn’t do at school. It’s been fun and would like to do it again. (Participant)
I really enjoyed my time doing all the dancing and making the props. It’s so much fun (Participant)
E is normally quite shy to do groups but she felt so comfortable straight away. Thank you for making it so much fun for her. (Parent)
I enjoyed the time at the club. I liked the drawing of the painting and I would like to do this again in the future. I would like to come next time. (Participant M)
Wonderful opportunity for M to try out new technologies and being creative in new ways. Very well supported and encouraged. These sessions are really helping his confidence. (Parent)
E loved performing, it gave her confidence. She loved listening to the music and being able to express herself in new ways. As her mother it was great to see her use movement in new creative ways. She is sometimes quite a sedentary child, so it’s nice to see her enjoy moving and exercising.
Treasure not Trash project 2023 to 2024 builds on Eye Arts Club’s Make…Better! exploring further ways to upcycle waste paper, plastic and textile products while initiating discussions and devising performances about treasuring our natural world, ourselves and others. Treasuring our meadows was the theme for the Summer term with dance, drawing and animation and in the Aufumn treasuring insects, including drawing, printmaking and dance. The fun and sensory sessions are led by artist Liz Waugh McManus and choreographer Caroline Mummery.
Make Better! project was about making art, craft and performance, and even decisions in general life, better for our planet. Spring 2022 focused on textiles, clothing and sustainability. Felting taught children and young peple iin a practical and sensory way about the foundation element of textile production-ie fibres. They also practiced sewing skills which will help them care for clothing in the future. What they learn about the production of textiles is translated into dance using the movements of felting, spinning and weaving.
Make Better! helped children and young people upcycle and recycle materials in art projects, express themselves in dance-drama and learn how to protect our planet. Former projects focused on the materials paper and plastic.