Playground comes to Burnbank
Published Tuesday, 04 September 2012
Babies and toddlers are getting the chance to have some creative fun as part of a nationally acclaimed Playground programme.
The programme is being introduced to the Burnbank area of Hamilton by Starcatchers, an arts organisation which works with 0-4 year-olds and their parents and carers in Scotland.
Since 2006 Starcatchers has already inspired creative activities for 75,000 babies and toddlers in communities across Scotland.
The Playground project, led by artist Jen Edgar, was granted funding from Creative Scotland First in Lifetime Fund as part of Year of Creative Scotland.
Jen Edgar will become a familiar face in the community and the Burnbank family centre over the next year as she explores plays and creates experiences for very young children and their carers, culminating with a final performance which will be shared in the local community next year.
Iain Munro, Director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland commented: "Starcatchers latest project builds on the great work done through Inspiring Communities and is a fantastic opportunity for children at an early stage of their development, and their families, to interact with artists in ways that can have a positive life-long impact."
And Rhona Matheson, Starcatchers Director added: "After delivering several successful residencies in past projects, we know that long term engagement in communities is both effective and powerful.
"We are looking forward to working in the Burnbank Centre in Hamilton alongside the community to learn, share and create some wonderful experiences for very young children in their own environments."
The programme has now been launched in Burnbank by South Lanarkshire Leisure & Culture in partnership with the council's Education Resources along with Starcatchers.
Hamish Stewart, the chair of the Board of South Lanarkshire Leisure & Culture, said: "We are delighted to be helping to develop a new artist residency opportunity which will also provide a programme of creative training for those working in professional childcare.
"Together we want to celebrate and share how early years cultural projects impacts on babies, toddlers and their families. This is an exciting and innovative new project that I hope families in our community will want to get involved in."
