Pearls of Wisdom Social Club, Kettle’s Yard Cambridge
Over the years Ruthie Collins developed an ethos of collaborating with, nurturing and capacity building community groups, networks, artists and grassroots practitioners and spaces on the frontline, fringes and in the heart of communities to create impact. She has applied best practice in socially engaged and participatory arts through a blend of research, seminars and training with bodies such as Family Arts Campaign, the Frieze and peer support from practitioners across the UK including Cambridge Junction and Cubitt Arts after training as an Independent Curator with Central St Martins.
Her own artistic practice as a social artist, writer and curator is guided by a blend of disciplines. Combining media, visual art, sound and text, with principles of play, making, connection and and community to produce projects that have appeared in non traditional spaces such as boats, streets and pop up art spaces, as well as institutions, museums and nature reserves.. As an artist, she applies participatory arts principles to heritage, literature, wellbeing and the natural world to facilitate learning and action with a sense of nurturing and care.
As well as working in this emerging field on frontline projects Ruthie Collins has facilitated training in community arts sharing the basics of participatory arts methodologies for National Centre for Writing with artists and arts leaders from across Norfolk, plus seminars on family arts to arts leaders and artists in Cambridge to encourage social inclusion for families and children in Cambridgeshire.
What People Say
‘The elderly clients’ enjoyment in accessing the project, tapping in to their creativity with professional support and then feeling motivated to see the end results by attending the AGM was clear for all to see and demonstrated how far the project had enabled them to overcome what had felt like insurmountable challenges.’ Kate Blackwell, Wellbeing Co-ordinator, CARE Network Cambridgeshire
‘Best Turtle Dove day by far!’ Young woman supported by Turtle Dove, working on an intergenerational tea dance at Eastside Creates 2015
‘Exceeded expectations’ – elderly participants on Enchanted Tea Dance, 2015.
They [the pupils] are all really excited over it. They were really focused and took their time over their pictures and just took complete pride in their work. A lot more are doing art challenges at school now, it’s inspired them.’ Jess Purvey, Year Two Teacher, Chesterton Primary School, on Family Arts Festival Competition, We Are Family 2016.
‘The staff and I have seen a significant improvement in children who have been learning and working with Ruthie through Natural Wonder. This has been self evident in self-disciplined attitudes towards learning. Children being more attentive, more engaged, interested.’ Julia Henderson – former head, Henderson Green Primary Academy 2021.
‘Our children live in one of the most beautiful region of the country and learning more about what makes it so special with Ruthie Collins and Nick Sanderson from the Broads Authority on their visit to help the children prepare for the exhibition at Norfolk Wildlife Trust was a wonderful experience for them. It gave them time to think about and appreciate our natural heritage and also how they might protect it. We have been thrilled with the whole experience and the poetry they produced shows how much they were inspired.’ Clare Thoday, teacher Blakeney Primary School , Wonder of Eels 2024.
