Mothers Who Make is an international grass roots movement, dedicated to supporting the dual role of mothers and maker/artist/creative. Our Northamptonshire hub was established in 2020 with Carbon Theatre with the aims to connect local mother makers through peer support meetings and events.
Who is it for?
Every kind of maker is welcome- professional and/or passionate – writers, painters, performers, film makers, musicians, technicians, producers, bakers, crafters, taxidermists, academics …. Every kind of mother/non binary parent is welcome - biological, adoptive, step, surrogate, foster, bereaved, grand, great grand, to be ….
We want as many people as possible to be part of the unfolding MWM conversations. Our reach is across generations and art forms – we are thrilled by the plurality of voices that are part of this discussion.
Children, of any age, are welcome. Your dual role as mother and maker is given equal status at all our events.
what to expect:
Our monthly peer support meetings aim to give you the space to explore your creative practice and identities alongside your caring roles. We have a core peer-support talking circle structure which we explain at the start of every meeting. Each meeting is facilitated by a local mother-artist and together we explore the emergent themes in our mothering and making, points of connection between the two roles, points of dissonance, particular challenges, helpful resources. The meetings are non-hierarchical, the facilitator acts as a guide to take you through the meeting, but also share as a fellow mother maker. Every MWM hub shares a common ethos and practice but is able to grow and develop in response to the needs and interests of the regional artists that attend it. You are invited to join and help shape this inspiring and growing movement.
The hub will launched in July 2020 facilitated by Matilda Leyser (MWM founder), Courtenay Johnson (Carbon Theatre) and Jo Blake (Co-Founders of MWM Northamptonshire).
Information:
We are currently reviewing plans for 2021 following the peer support meetings of 2020. Please check the Facebook group for updates or get in touch with Courtenay directly: courtenay@carbontheatre.org.uk
Image: Lisa Whiting
Where:
2020 meetings took place on Zoom
When we meet in person, we will hold meetings in 2 venues:
Royal & Derngate, 19-21 Guildhall Rd, Northampton NN1 1DP
The Core at Corby Cube, George St, Corby NN17 1QG
MWM Northamptonshire is led by
Courtenay Johnson (Mother and Theatre Producer) and Jo Blake (Mother, Storyteller and Dance Artist)
“I can’t wait to start this hub in Northamptonshire and meet more local creative mothers. I’m a freelance arts producer and mum to my 2½ year old daughter. Taking on the dual roles of ‘mother’ and ‘maker’ is such a challenge, especially when you are breaking down notions of old-fashioned professionalism or gender roles. Having a group of mother-makers, creative womxn who understand a part of what your life is like and support you 100% is hugely valuable.”
Courtenay Johnson
"Isolation has always been an issue for mothers with young children. And in these challenging times, where isolation is enforced to protect us all, and we are witnessing such devastation to the cultural sector, it is even more important that those of us who are mothers who make reach out and stay connected. We intend these gatherings to provide a virtual space for reconnection, support and inspiration to women in the area.”
Jo Blake
Courtenay Johnson is a Creative Producer who runs Carbon Theatre, a female-led company specialising in producing complex and divergent, free-form theatre. She also works as Executive Producer for 60 Miles by Road or Rail, a cultural project based around Northampton and Corby’s New Town heritage. Previous work includes: WHEN WE DIED by Alexandra Donnachie (★★★★ The Reviews Hub) VAULT Festival 2020; LOOP by Ryan Leder and Helen Crevel (Tour, 2019); BLODEUWEDD UNTOLD by Jo Blake (★★★★ Broadway World UK) Pleasance, Edinburgh Fringe 2019; MISSION ABORT by Therese Ramstedt (★★★★ The Stage) Edinburgh Fringe 2017, VAULT Festival 2018 and London/Sweden/UK Tour 2018-19; 60 MILES BY ROAD OR RAIL (Royal & Derngate, Northampton 2018); BABY DADDY by Elinor Coleman (★★★★ Scots Reviewer) Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018); WELCOME...? by Lily Lowe-Myers (★★★★ Spy in the Stalls) with Hatstand Productions at Nottingham Playhouse and Bridewell Theatre; and HEAD ROT HOLIDAY by Sarah Daniels (★★★★ Broadway World UK) co-produced with Weighed in Productions at the Hope Theatre.
Find us on Facebook: /CarbonTheatre Twitter and Insta: @CarbonTheatre
Jo Blake works across the disciplines of storytelling, theatre and dance. Her dynamic, poetic performance style draws upon traditional and contemporary storytelling and dance practices, exploring current cultural and personal questions through the lens of the mythic. Her latest work, Blodeuwedd Untold - a reimagining of an ancient Welsh myth – successfully ran at the Pleasance during the Edinburgh Fringe 2019 as a supported show on the Regional Theatre Partnership Programme with Pleasance Futures and the Royal & Derngate. In 2019 she also launched an annual 6-month long training programme in embodied storytelling practices called Body, Breath and Story. She has a PhD in Storytelling Practices at the University of Chichester, an MA with Distinction in Dance Theatre from Trinity Laban and a First Class BA (Hons) in Performing Arts from the University of Winchester. She was nominated for an Arts Foundation Fellowship Award for Storytelling in 2009 and was Resident Storyteller at Royal & Derngate theatre in Northampton from 2010–2013. Jo continues to perform, teach and collaborate with prominent national and international institutions, including the National Trust, National Theatre and British Council, as well as established and emerging artists from diverse disciplines.
Website: www.jo-blake.co.uk
Supported by the Avon Fund (Northamptonshire Community Foundation), Royal & Derngate and The Core at Corby Cube.
“I’m thrilled that Royal & Derngate and The Core are able to support Mothers Who Make. As a mum of two boys myself, I’m so aware that it is the most invigorating and sometimes the most isolating job in the world. Mothers Who Make is a safe and supportive space for mums of kids of all ages to come together, in this case with a fundamental connection – that of being an artist, or a maker - a skillset and identity that can often be put on hold in the early days of motherhood. While we can’t wait to welcome the groups to our buildings when it is safe to do so, the launch of Mothers Who Make online is an exciting moment for Northampton and Corby.”
