The Creative Co-Op is a group formed to establish a supportive community and network for all Creative people. What ever your Creative outlet is; artists,crafters,designers, writers,musicians, singers,photography, sculptures,potters, card makers, jewellery designers,dancers, silversmiths,glass engravers, silk painters etc etc etc … Creative Co Op is for you! We are based in Eastbourne, East Sussex,England. Everyone,where ever you are, is welcome to join in and share inspiration. Picture; Reah and Pet by Tania Long The Creative Co-Op; Aims to be a totally open Care and Share Community; non discriminatory, non racist, non sexist. Open to all whatever their skill levels, from beginners to master craftspeople, no degrees or a B.A., everyone is equal and welcome. Membership is now £6 per year, due in April each year. This includes: Free advertising on our site and in newsletters, lists of events and information,access to data base,transport and recources pool,reasonable space prices at Co-op events,social evenings/days and network moral support. Our quaterly news letter is free by email. We are an independant collective,a non profit organization, and receive no public funding.Run entirely on a volunteer basis,by artists for artists. If you would like to sponsor us,please contact me! We aim to raise public awareness of the huge diversity of creative talent we have in this County, and our country, that ‘homemade, hand made locally’ is good for everyone in our community. We aim to promote awareness of the value of art, crafts and creative pursuits, the time and care it takes the cost of materials. Many people don’t know the difference in value between hand made and home made, individually created items and mass production. Our arts and crafts are fighting against a rising tide of cheap imports and mass produced 'craft' items,which are 'hand made' but in a production line style by one person doing the same thing over and over; one person sticks the beads on, one person paints each colour of a pattern ect ect. Of course, they only get paid a pittance for this monotony. This has nothing to do with creativity. Many people tend to think ‘hand made’ or ‘homemade’ is something they could do themselves, but if they actually tried they’d find they couldn’t or it was too much bother when they found how much work,time and effort was actually required! The Creative Co-Op is about Care and Share. It’s about building a community spirit and a support net work for creative people. Its about helping ourselves and others by coming together, working together ,sharing; not just costs and materials but also time,skills,ideas,inspiration,motivation,emotional and moral support,friendship,fun and laughter. It’s about equality and having our voice heard, having strength and respect when dealing with the world of commerce and beurocracy. Remember that advert for Unison a few years ago? A tiny ant wants to get past a huge bear. He says “Excuse me. Excuse me!” but the bear ignores them. Then a huge crowd of ants join the first one and there is an enormous shout of “Get out of the Way!!” The bear jumps, and gets out of the way! It’s about the idea that CREATIVITY MATTERS!!! Creative Co-op aims to raise the awareness of the Value in what we do, that it’s NOT a second class option or a hobby, that it’s a way of life. That it’s OK to Be Creative and follow your heart. Some Aims and Ideas of the Co-Op and What we do. 1 Getting creative people together to break isolation, share moral support, enable collaboration between people on creative projects. 2 Share ideas, information, advice, skills, equipment, resources and costs. 3 Encourage communication between creative people, in a caring community that works for US, not ‘administrators’ and ‘middlemen’. 4 Share of work in rotation among members, so one person doesn’t have to do everything; share of responsibilities. 5 Book as a group at large events/venus,so being able to share costs/stalls/insurance/time/selling (for example; not having to be alone at a stall all day needing the loo or running out of change and being unable to leave your stuff!) 6 Hold regular events where members can show/sell their products or services with equally shared costs. 7 We have a data base of information, events, names and addresses members can use and add to. This is ongoing. 8 We have a Resources Pool, a list of equipment members willing to share with others. 9 Setting up of a Transport Pool – share of cars/petrol costs. For out of town events, this could extend to hire of coach and vans for large group of members. (There is a limit to what can be carried on the bus or a bicycle!) 10 We have monthly social meetings to share ideas, advice, inspiration and fun; a chance for members to talk/give demos of their skills of knowledge/experience/and other skills for example selling, legal, book keeping. 11 We have a quaterly news letter with a ‘Swap Shop’ where members can advertise their needs and swap things,list events. 12 We have this website to share news, tell people about the Co Op, and advertise events/members skills (if they wish this) and link to members own websites. 13 Enable members to group together and bulk buy items at wholesale price. 14 Set up our own ‘Community Market’ in Eastbourne; making sure the dates do not clash with those in Hastings so members can attend both events if they wish. 15Work with alternative venues and spaces. 16Work with alternative funding ideas; Charities and companies hosting ;we can hold events for a charity and give 20% sales to charity; We can hold event for a school, % sales to school and they could charge a small entrance fee for the school funds too. 17 Work in co-operation with other co-ops and groups across the region and country, so that we could enter large prestigious national events as a team. Imagine…three or more regional co-ops of say, 100 members each, getting together and holding an event at the Brighton Center, or even Olympia 2!! Come along to our next I Made This event and get chatting to other artists. We often bounce ideas off each other. Or pop in to our next Artists Cafe (see events page for dates) for a chat. We have lots of reference and art books you can browse for ideas/technical help. I sometimes run an informal workshop at the Cafes, using paints and mixed media; especially during the dead winter months of Jan-March.We simply have a fun creative afternoon,where we support each other and its totally non-judgmentel. Two books we have here which I recomend you to are 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' by Betty Edwards,which is wonderful for helping you to 'get your eye in' drawing wise; and 'The Artists Way' by Julia Cameron. The Creative Co-op hope to work together with other co-ops and arts organizations so that the South Coast can be better covered with like-minded creative communities! If you live in another area and fancy starting your own co-op, please call or email and we'll be happy to help! All picture images on this site are copyright of the artist named next to the picture.