An insight into the work of a Changing Relations creative practitioner
As part of our “Don’t Look Away” project, we will be recruiting a range of artists and creative facilitators to support us in using the arts & creative methods to raise awareness in Blackhall and Bishop Auckland around domestic abuse. We had a conversation with one of our longstanding Associate Artists, Jayne Johnson, to give new creative practitioners an insight into what it’s like to work for us…
Starting from January 16, 2023, Jayne began a one-week art residency at Blackhall Community Centre to engage local residents in “Don’t Look Away.” On the last day of the residency, we had a chat about this project and the range of work she does as a Changing Relations associate.
Here is what Jayne had to say!
What is your understanding of Changing Relations?
My understanding of Changing Relations is, creating and using high quality creative artwork and resources to ignite positive change as best I can.
What is your main responsibility for Changing Relations?
Since 2019, I have worked with Changing Relations in the capacity of Freelance Facilitator to deliver domestic abuse awareness training in organisations and communities using ‘Make Do and Mend’ and ‘Us Too’. The key here is help create communities and businesses that have zero tolerance of domestic abuse, to know how to respond to it, how to notice the signs and make us all a bit more responsible for each other. Reporting if we have our concerns and knowing how to do that.
It is a privilege to deliver this training. The quality of the resources available are outstanding, they reach participants on an emotional level. The training uses high quality artistic content that comes straight from survivors and is woven together in emotive ways that really creates a lasting impression on the participant. I have delivered to businesses and the community nationally and it makes me proud when I see changes happening because of the workshops.
You have been involved in different projects such as this residency and workshops at the university. Could you share more details about these?
Recently I have undertaken a weeklong residency at Blackhall Community Centre. The project is “Don’t Look Away” and the aim is to engage and work with the community to raise awareness and support people affected by domestic abuse but doing it in very much the creative way of supporting the communities to come together.
Each project at Changing Relations brings its own challenges, and I alter my approach depending on the need. We are currently working on a project with Durham University, which is developing through consultation with students. The students are creating their own engaging workshops exploring healthy relationships, consent and equality and diversity in leadership. This project is very different to the residency, and I have learned a lot about evaluation, consultation and project delivery that will support my professional growth as an artist and creative facilitator.
If other artists ask you about Changing Relations, how would you encourage them to get involved with us in the next stage? Could you sum up the range of themes, and ways of working as a creative artist, you have been able to engage in?
At Changing Relations, I have had opportunities to meet and work with other artists and shape project delivery using high quality creative resources. As an artist working with this organisation, it has helped me discover new ways of applying my specialist creative knowledge. It challenges my own thinking, as well as the thinking of others, to create positive changes around gender equality, gender norms and healthy relationships. I can use my own specialist skills and apply them to the projects and outcomes we aim to achieve, in a way that allows for me to develop as a creative practitioner.
Changing Relations has given me the opportunity to apply myself in different ways. It can vary and I love the challenge of thinking about how best to approach the next project!
Sometimes I will use my experience as a facilitator and artist to create smaller engaging creative activities for workshops that can stimulate discussion and conversation, creating a safe space to explore difficult emotive issues. I run creative workshops to support community engagement, bringing people together to build stronger more inclusive communities. I can also create my own artwork in response to the themes we are exploring.
The projects we work on push me to think outside the box, in ways I haven’t anticipated. The work is always rewarding and inspires me to think, how can I do more? Which is the motivation to on keep going.
