Creative Minds; Shaping the Future

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Martin is a Live Poet, Creative Educator, Musician, Writing Tutor: Young People's Laureate for Wales 2013-16. He is also in a global folk band. 

Martin began his practice as a creative educator in Liverpool in 1996 when he was put on a scheme for artists claiming unemployment benefit. Since then, he has facilitated workshops with 40 000+ participants in a very wide range of settings including Schools, Youth Groups, Youth Detention Centres and Adult Prisons to LGBTQ+ Groups, Homes for the Elderly, and Psychiatric Wards to mention a few. 

 Martin's work is centred on his belief that through creative practice we build key life skills such as self esteem, resilience and the confidence to communicate in a range of ways. His most popular workshop is on rap music which he can tailor to address any specific topic, theme or issue. 

I’m delighted to have met Martin at a gathering of creative minds in London and so pleased that he has joined me today so that we can dig deeper into why he feels poetry, rap and creative expression in general is important for us all.

Interesting links:

A spoken word archive: 

https://www.spokenwordarchive.org.uk/content/category/resources

Farrago Poetry 

http://london.e-poets.net

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Thanks to Chloe Clayton - @clomyster on Instagram for creating the music for this podcast. 

Please remember to follow so that you stay up to date with monthly episodes from 'Creative Minds; Shaping the Future'.

You can also find me on various social media platforms, click here for signposts: https://flow.page/t5jnq-1668599555434

What sparked your curiosity in this episode? Please send a text or voice note here...

Chloe Clayton is a pianist, musical director, composer and teacher. 

Chloe studied at Exeter College where she discovered a love for musical performance when playing within pop and rock ensembles. She then went on to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to pursue a career in piano performance and graduated with first class honours. Chloe has performed regularly not only as a soloist, but as an accompanist for solo singers, choirs, musical theatre ensembles, and as part of experimental music groups. Since graduating in July 2024, Chloe continues to perform alongside teaching the piano and composing original works. 

You will all be familiar with Chloe’s work as she is in fact the composer of the theme music for ‘Creative Minds; Shaping the Future’. She listened carefully to the brief and was both creative with her musical skills and patient with me as I tried to explain my ambition for the piece, after several small revisions we had achieved the perfect soundtrack for a thought provoking podcast on creativity. 

Today Chloe joins me to explain why she feels creative expression and music in particular are an essential feature of the school curriculum. 

Useful links:

https://linktr.ee/chloeclaytonpiano

@clomyster Instagram

Support the show

Subscribe today: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2140148/supporters/new

Thanks to Chloe Clayton - @clomyster on Instagram for creating the music for this podcast. 

Please remember to follow so that you stay up to date with monthly episodes from 'Creative Minds; Shaping the Future'.

You can also find me on various social media platforms, click here for signposts: https://flow.page/t5jnq-1668599555434

What sparked your curiosity in this episode? Please send a text or voice note here...

Would you like the opportunity to write and be published? Listen to this Creative Spark to find out how!

This publication opportunity expired as of 1/7/26

Find me on LinkedIn for more information:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-palastanga-b-ed-ma-ed-npqh-npqsi-mcct-ivetfa-970899101/

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Thanks to Chloe Clayton - @clomyster on Instagram for creating the music for this podcast. 

Please remember to follow so that you stay up to date with monthly episodes from 'Creative Minds; Shaping the Future'.

You can also find me on various social media platforms, click here for signposts: https://flow.page/t5jnq-1668599555434

What sparked your curiosity in this episode? Please send a text or voice note here...

Caroline Preston is a unique and contemporary origami artist. She has featured in global advertising for HSBC with Saatchi and Saatchi, Channel 5 TV, Vogue Magazine and exhibits nationally and internationally. She is also the Education Leader at Beaford Arts where experienced arts practitioners inspire imaginative learning techniques in which the arts can enrich education. 

Today I am joined by Caroline and her colleagues. From their many years of experience, Beaford know that Arts based learning can support significant improvements in oracy and cross-curricular learning. Currently they are delivering a 3 year project,  ‘A Voice To Tell Our Story’. This project explores storytelling in four artforms aimed at developing creativity and inspiring greater confidence in speech, language and communication. Working with researchers from the University of South Wales and schools and artists from North Devon, the project funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation aims to help the next generation to speak up about what matters to them. 

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Thanks to Chloe Clayton - @clomyster on Instagram for creating the music for this podcast. 

Please remember to follow so that you stay up to date with monthly episodes from 'Creative Minds; Shaping the Future'.

You can also find me on various social media platforms, click here for signposts: https://flow.page/t5jnq-1668599555434

What sparked your curiosity in this episode? Please send a text or voice note here...

This episode is the first in a new series which hosts relaxed conversations with a panel of experts passionate about creativity. These episodes vary in length but are typically longer than the regular ones due to the nature of multiple voices in conversation.  Contact us in the link above to 'send your musings' or pose questions for us to discuss. 

Please continue to support the podcast by:

💡Sharing with a friend 

💡Rating the show and writing a review

💡Providing feedback on what is working well and what could work better. 

Support the show

Subscribe today: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2140148/supporters/new

Thanks to Chloe Clayton - @clomyster on Instagram for creating the music for this podcast. 

Please remember to follow so that you stay up to date with monthly episodes from 'Creative Minds; Shaping the Future'.

You can also find me on various social media platforms, click here for signposts: https://flow.page/t5jnq-1668599555434

What sparked your curiosity in this episode? Please send a text or voice note here...

Karen Greaves is a children’s writer, tutor and workshop leader. She has worked as a tour guide, classroom practitioner and literacy intervention teacher. Her writing career has included a range of well-received stories and playscripts commissioned by the BBC, Channel 4, and Granada TV.

Karen is a great believer that reading for pleasure empowers children to find the voice inside themselves and her workshops are aimed to develop writing skills, 'out-of-the-box' thinking, and an ability to understand the 'power' of writing.

Her books focus on stimulating imagination and creative thinking and in this episode we explore why creative expression through writing is important in our schools.

Links from the episode: 

Trailer for 'What If...?' https://youtu.be/AQaEKDsKdw0

https://www.kdgreaves.com/

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Thanks to Chloe Clayton - @clomyster on Instagram for creating the music for this podcast. 

Please remember to follow so that you stay up to date with monthly episodes from 'Creative Minds; Shaping the Future'.

You can also find me on various social media platforms, click here for signposts: https://flow.page/t5jnq-1668599555434

What sparked your curiosity in this episode? Please send a text or voice note here...

Where in the world are listeners located? Listen to this micro episode to find out!

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Thanks to Chloe Clayton - @clomyster on Instagram for creating the music for this podcast. 

Please remember to follow so that you stay up to date with monthly episodes from 'Creative Minds; Shaping the Future'.

You can also find me on various social media platforms, click here for signposts: https://flow.page/t5jnq-1668599555434

What sparked your curiosity in this episode? Please send a text or voice note here...

Claire Sundin has worked as a professional actor across the UK, in the West End and New York. She is the Artistic Director of Embracing Arts, making high quality theatre experiences interactive & accessible to all.

Embracing Arts is a theatre company dedicated to creating work for children with special educational needs and/or life limiting conditions. Interactive, multi-sensory shows, parties and workshops are tailored to the unique needs of each audience and they use storytelling, song, music and puppetry to entertain, engage and educate. They are delivered by a team of experienced professional actors, supported by fantastic puppets! Their shows are designed for children who are often excluded from experiencing and enjoying the arts due to barriers they face through disability.

Claire joins me today to share her views on my creative expression is important especially for individuals with Complex and Multiple Learning Difficulties.

Useful links:

https://www.embracingarts.org.uk/

Instagram: @artsembracing: https://www.instagram.com/artsembracing/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtsEmbracing/

Support the show

Subscribe today: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2140148/supporters/new

Thanks to Chloe Clayton - @clomyster on Instagram for creating the music for this podcast. 

Please remember to follow so that you stay up to date with monthly episodes from 'Creative Minds; Shaping the Future'.

You can also find me on various social media platforms, click here for signposts: https://flow.page/t5jnq-1668599555434

What sparked your curiosity in this episode? Please send a text or voice note here...

https://www.routledge.com/A-Creative-Primary-Curriculum-for-All/Palastanga/p/book/9780367470722

The curriculum in many primary schools, in recent history, became worryingly narrowed such that children were being prepared for tests more than their lives were being enriched with a variety of knowledge, skills and experiences. It is clear that it is the latter that enables them to perform well in tests and in life, so the time for change is now! This book seeks to empower teachers and school leaders to better understand what is meant by 'curriculum' and what a creative educational diet might look like in each individual school.

The book explores curriculum intent, implementation and impact. It includes leaders' reflection boxes and practical suggestions for busy teachers. Emma L. Palastanga analyses the need for a broad and balanced curriculum, against the limitations of cramming for success, and delves deep into the process of curriculum planning, delivery and evaluation, using Ofsted’s terminology. Examples of lessons and a range of different approaches are shared throughout the book.

A Creative Primary Curriculum for All will give all subject leaders, classroom teachers and teacher trainees the confidence to provide a rich, exciting and varied curriculum, meeting the needs of learners whilst also letting the craft of teaching and individual inspiration shine.

https://www.routledge.com/A-Creative-Primary-Curriculum-for-All/Palastanga/p/book/9780367470722

Support the show

Subscribe today: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2140148/supporters/new

Thanks to Chloe Clayton - @clomyster on Instagram for creating the music for this podcast. 

Please remember to follow so that you stay up to date with monthly episodes from 'Creative Minds; Shaping the Future'.

You can also find me on various social media platforms, click here for signposts: https://flow.page/t5jnq-1668599555434

What sparked your curiosity in this episode? Please send a text or voice note here...

Paula Briggs is the author of 'Drawing Projects for Children' and 'Make, Build, Create: Sculpture Projects for Children'. She is a determined advocate for the importance of art, and art education, in all our lives. She studied sculpture at Norwich School of Art and later at the Royal College of Art. Paula is the CEO and creative Director of AccessArt, which she formed with her colleague Sheila Ceccarelli and it is now a self sustaining arts organization (a Charity, Limited Company and Subject Association) which in 2024 celebrated 25 years of existence.

The aim of the charity is to inspire & enable high quality visual arts teaching, learning & practice. It is now the leading provider of digital visual arts resources in the UK, providing inspiration and ideas to the whole community. Over 18,000 artists, teachers and facilitators use the resources and actively contribute ideas, a creative community, simultaneously the chicken and the egg!

The resources support teachers to plan art lessons and provide ideas, inspiration and guidance, inspire and develop practice for artists working in education, facilitators and education officers in a range of settings as well as for individual artists practice.The values which describe the way AccessArt endeavors to exist, also describe how creativity might be allowed to flourish in the world, including the way we enable creativity in ourselves and those around us. It is those values and the importance of the visual arts that we discuss in this month's episode.

Useful links:

https://www.accessart.org.uk

https://www.accessart.org.uk/teachers/

https://www.accessart.org.uk/primary-art-curriculum/

https://www.instagram.com/thethingsweholdinourhands/?hl=en

Support the show

Subscribe today: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2140148/supporters/new

Thanks to Chloe Clayton - @clomyster on Instagram for creating the music for this podcast. 

Please remember to follow so that you stay up to date with monthly episodes from 'Creative Minds; Shaping the Future'.

You can also find me on various social media platforms, click here for signposts: https://flow.page/t5jnq-1668599555434