Catherine Grimaldi gave a talk at University Center Hastings about her varied career and practice. She has a background in textiles, puppetry and illustration. She has done a great deal of work with Creative Partnerships
who specialise in placing artists within schools with the aim of introducing a more creative approach to delivering the curriculum....and yes this might be maths. Both Ed and Peter have worked with Creative Partnerships in schools in Hastings and Eastbourne and if you are interested in working within education they would be well worth looking at. Catherine has also written and illustrated a number of books for Tango publishers. Whilst it doesn't seem to have impeded her creativity the books are linked to the national curriculum and reflect concepts with which a younger age group are becoming conversant. Catherine remains a puppeteer working with her sister. Inevitably they are called the Grimaldi sisters.
Whilst we didn't know it beforehand the session was also about developing a sense of what it was that you wanted to be doing in the future and Catherine asked people to write a postcard to yourself which listed five things you would like to have achieved in five years time. She gave us information about Keri Smith's scheming and dreaming site and livingthecreativedream.com/becoming.html, both sites which concern themselves with achieving your aims
Information is everything and we all need some support and inspiration. Brighton Illustrators group is ideal if you live in or near Brighton. But there are others including the Association of Illustrators and Arc- http://www.aspex.org.uk/arc.htm
If you are wanting to establish a studio or need money for developing a project it is well worth looking at the Princes Trust The aim of the trust is to support people aged from 16 years to 25 years often with ventures which develop their careers or career opportunities. The Arts Council is also another port of call in the quest for information and opportunity. Finally for business advice which is arts specific try ArtQuest and Cockpit Arts
