Coming soon

Our theme for June is PATTERN. It was chosen by our Chennai chapter and illustrated by Nishant Saldanha.

Recognizing, forming, and breaking patterns are core components of creativity. Visuals, sounds, movements, and the passage of time all form patterns that shape our existence and our work. 

Our Chennai chapter’s selection of this theme was inspired by the art form kōlam; which features patterns of dots that are encircled or connected by straight and curved lines. These intricate, geometric designs are created on the thresholds and floors of houses, temples and businesses using rice flour. The practice is deeply rooted in South Indian culture to welcome guests into the home and bring good fortune and prosperity.

Traditionally created by women, our Chennai chapter shared that these beautiful designs are often created by family members and neighbors as a communal activity. Connections between people form patterns in our lives too. 

Which patterns in your relationships, work, and habits are worth repeating? Which ones should be changed? What new pattern do you want to create?

Our theme for May is VIBRANT. 

When was the last time you experienced something that made you feel more alive? 

Heard a melody pulsing with a beat that made your body move. Taken in the view of a lush landscape or sparkling city skyline bursting with light and shadows. Locked eyes with a striking stranger. Poured yourself into prose that crackles off the page with electricity. Lost track of time in a conversation punctuated by spirited laughter. Stopped in your tracks in front of a canvas in a museum or a mural on the street with colors so bold and bright it popped from the paint straight into your synapses. 

It might not happen every day. But you can live a life full of energy and enthusiasm. You can strive to bring brightness into every interaction. 

Because our world is full of all kinds of vibrant masterpieces. And you are one of them.

We’ll be in Derby Museum and Art Gallery from 09.30am on Friday 17th May.

Wow! Time flies when you’re having fun.

🎈 Join us tomorrow for CreativeMornings/Derby’s 5th birthday 🎈

This is a celebration of YOU our amazing community!

In the last five years, we’ve:

🎂 Welcomed over 60 marvellous local speakers

🎂 Grown a community of over 600 creative people

🎂 Shared a brew with nearly 2000 attendees

🎂 Made friends across the globe

🎂 Hosted events in 14 locations across the city and county

🎂 Shared our local stories across an international platform

🎂 Had a jolly good time celebrating being creative in Derby

Register now for your slice of cake, on the CreativeMornings/Derby website.

Doors open at Derby Museum and Art Gallery on Friday 19th April from 09.30am

#CreativeMornings #Derby #CreativeCommunity

Check out April’s CreativeMornings/Derby speaker Dr. Gemma Marmalade.
She’ll be taking us from lemon and herb 🍋 to extra hot as she explores this month’s theme of Spicy 🌶Dr Gemma Marmalade is a British artist and academic in the transformative potential of creative performativity. Gemma is a senior academic and leader in photography at the University of Derby, UK, and Cultural Contributor to the Creative Industries in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. With extensive experience in Higher Education and research, inter- and trans-disciplinary practices, management, curatorship, and writing within the arts globally, Gemma is a powerhouse of cultural contribution and social change-making.Think you can take the heat? Then join us on Friday 19th April from 09.30am at Derby Museum and Art Gallery. Sign up now >>

Our theme for April is SPICY. It was chosen by our Tucson chapter and illustrated by Sophie McTear.

Oh yeah, that’s hot! 

When you’re cooking, spices add flavor, depth, and complexity to an otherwise plain culinary dish. Spicy foods interact with receptors in our mouth and can trigger sensations of heat and even pain. Can you handle it? Being open to trying new and bold tastes is a good lesson for bringing daring and originality into all of our creative endeavors. As they say, “variety is the spice of life.” 

Spicy can also be exciting and suggestive. A spicy comment or joke is provocative or controversial. Such “spicy takes” often challenge conventional beliefs and ignite strong, passionate reactions from people. 

So, how can you make your work and approach to life spicier?  Let’s bring the heat!

We’ve another corker for you this month at CreativeMornings/Derby - Tom Andrews speaking on the global theme of Perspective and sprinkled I’m sure with some interesting insights from his time and research in policing.

Tom is a lecturer in policing at the University of Derby, teaching new police officers on the Police Constable Degree Apprentice (PCDA) programme. He has been lecturing for three years, before which he was a uniformed police sergeant working on emergency response in Nottingham for thirteen years.

During this time he researched and co-authored a history of women in policing within that force. He is the editor of the annual Journal of the Police History Society since 2020 and has published three books: The Greatest Policeman? A Biography of Capt. Athelstan Popkess CBE, OStJ: Chief Constable of Nottingham City Police 1930 – 1959; The Sharpe End: Murder, Violence and Knife Crime on Nottingham’s Thin Blue Line; and Women in Policing: A History Through Personal Stories. He has also published articles in various academic journals.

#CivicEngagement#Derby#CreativeMornings

Our theme for March is PERSPECTIVE. It was chosen by our Fargo chapter and illustrated by Fred Gaye Wremeo. 

Every creative act is an attempt to share a unique perspective on some slice of the world. What you see — and how you see it — shapes your beliefs. So, what’s your point of view? And how are you putting it into your work? What was the last piece of music, writing, illustration, or film that opened a new window on the world for you? 

One of the most impactful artistic innovations was linear perspective; widely credited to Fillipo Brunelleschi in the early 15th century. This breakthrough enabled artists to create the illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat canvas, paving the way for the ornate art and architecture of the Renaissance. Today, it feels like we are at another precipice with AI generated images and video. We don’t know how this rapidly emerging artistic tech will shape our perspectives. The machine is already capable of evoking real emotions. But only we can understand those feelings. 

Because seeing someone else’s point of view is uniquely human. Considering another perspective fosters empathy. And we all desperately need more empathy. Remember, looking at a problem from multiple angles generates more possible solutions. So, change your perspective and you can change your world.

Ohh it’s nearly FriYAH and another CreativeMornings/Derby!

Join us for the best free Friday morning in Derby. We’ll be at Derby Museum and Art Gallery from 09.30am.

Everyone is Creative and Everyone is Welcome.

We’ve not one but two brilliant speakers for this month’s CreativeMornings/Derby.

Trevor Todd is a self-employed, finance professional and program manager. He works primarily with the NHS. Born and raised in Derby… a child of one of the pioneers who travelled to England from Jamaica after the Second World War to bolster the rebuild of Great Britain.

Trevor is also the Managing Director of DACCI – Derby African-Caribbean Community Initiative. A new CIC was established to cultivate the togetherness and build the resilience necessary to uphold a strong sense of community. He also sits on the board of Baby People Limited and The Jamie Simpson Trust.

A passionate advocate of communities being better together… he is looking forward to discussing and exploring what it means to be a native from a Caribbean perspective.

Ndukwe Onuoha is an advertising copywriter, Creative Director, and Spoken Word Poet. Throughout his career, he has created memorable ads for brands in Nigeria and West Africa, across a wide variety of sectors. His works focus on crafting messages that resonate with the cultural and lived experiences of his target audience, whomever they may be.

Last year he was endorsed by Arts Council England for his work in poetry and has since moved to the UK with his family.

When he’s not creating advertising or doing the Derby spoken word rounds, he’s working on his short film that’s inspired by Nigerian mythology and philosophical thoughts.

Ndukwe is a copywriter by day and a poet by design, and you can listen to his second Spoken Word album, Nwa Chukwu, on your favorite music platform.

Have you signed up yet? Connect with your creative community and register now for free.

Friday 16th February from 09.30am at Derby Museum and Art Gallery.

This month at CreativeMornings/Derby we’ll be looking at place, the past, pride in our history and where we fit into the world as we tackle the global theme of Native.Everyone is Creative. Everyone is Welcome!
Register now for free.