MY RE-ENCHANTMENT PROJECT IS ABOUT TO BE BEGIN

An image from my play EVE

4change coaching has been operating firstly out of Metro Arts for nearly 2 decades, and now out of Pullenvale, in the leafy western suburbs of Brisbane. 4change is committed to growing artists so they create excellent work AND ALSO that they also turn up as their best selves, regardless of the stresses and strains that the arts industry brings.

My Re-enchantment Project: a similar title (The Reenchantment Project) began way back at the beginning when I was specializing in adolescent health and welfare. As my children grew through adolescence, so too did my dreams. I wanted to dedicate my practice to helping creatives get 'over the line', both as artist and as self.

I am now very excited to announce that this project will begin in July 2020 and end December 2020. It is a five month indwelling of art and creative living.

Let me tell you a little about how I see it unfolding.

Getting over the line: I have had many big deadlines where I have had to turn up and get it done, despite the pressures of living, despite the pressures of work, despite the pressures of family. It takes enormous discipline, commitment, and ambition, but what happens to us when we are also mothers, wives, partners, fathers, husbands, and carers? What happens when we are trying to balance our creative practice with a full-time job, or even a part-time job at the same time as raising or caring for a family?

What I sought out when I was trying to finish my Ph.D. for example, was a mentor/coach who could help me organize my time and then journey with me towards completion so that I achieved the level of excellence that was required. I am forever grateful to the team I surrounded myself with: dedicated and loving creatives who were clear that I needed to get this done and get it done now!

I have done many online courses and most of them were unsuccessful because of the lack of connection between the provider of the course and me, sitting at home behind a computer. What I am wanting to create is a face-to-face experience, which, when necessary (sick child, or family member etc.) you can go online and talk to me directly. I want a very personal approach because that is what works for me, so I am going to be bold enough to suggest that it is possible that it can work for you too.

Having been in the theatre industry for over 40 years, I have managed to grow relationships with some very talented people. I am going to invite them to be part of our workshops that happen once a month. There will be workshops focusing on creative writing, choreography, physical theatre, voice, and visual art. But wait. I can hear you say, why do I need a choreographic workshop when I am writing a novel? It is a very strong way of opening the creative process, using a different art modality. Suddenly new ideas flood in and you see things differently to how you saw them before.

This is the 5-month program as I see it in the planning stages: PLEASE note that things change, and these dates are not set in concrete but they will help us understand the scope of what I am wanting to achieve.

ONLINE COACHING MATERIALS AND PROVOCATIONS: We will have our own Facebook page or equivalent, where we will be in continuous dialogue about the work and about our progress. I will be posting motivational and relevant materials throughout the weeks.

TENTATIVE 5-WORKSHOP PLAN

WORKSHOP 1: I will conduct the first workshop, where we will work on the culture of the group and our goals while exploring what we don't know we know. I will introduce you to Rituals of Practice (the outcome of my own 20 years of postgraduate research) which will guide us throughout the experience.

WORKSHOP 2: SUNDAY JULY 26th: Guest presenter: Creative Writing

WORKSHOP 3: SUNDAY AUGUST 23rd: Guest presenter: Voice and Body

WORKSHOP 4: SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27th: Guest presenter: Choreography

WORKSHOP 5: SUNDAY NOVEMBER 22nd: Guest Presenter: Visual Art

TENTATIVE WRITING/PLANNING 9 DATES

FACE TO FACE 9 Bootcamp writing sessions which can be online (live) or in Pullenvale.

3 HOUR WRITING SESSION: FRIDAY MORNINGS 24th, 31st July

3 HOUR WRITING SESSION: FRIDAY MORNINGS 21st, 28th August

3 HOUR WRITING SESSION: FRIDAY MORNINGS 18th, 25th September

3 HOUR WRITING SESSION: FRIDAY MORNINGS 13th, 20th, 27th November

PRIVATE SESSION DATES

Throughout the 5 months, we will have private sessions scheduled. The number of private sessions will depend on your requests. I think that we should schedule one session each month, so that is five private coaching sessions per participant. These coaching sessions can be online as well if needed.

They will be held on Wednesday morning or afternoon and last 1 1/2 hours.

WEDNESDAY 15TH, 22ND, 29TH JULY

WEDNESDAY 5TH, 12TH, AUGUST

WEDNESDAY 23RD, 30TH SEPTEMBER

NOTHING IN OCTOBER

NOVEMBER 11, 18, 25TH NOVEMBER

RITUAL OF CLOSING

SUNDAY 20TH DECEMBER AT PULLENVALE: a full day of sharing our work

I am still costing out the program but as soon as I have done this I will let you know. My sense is that I will provide early-bird prices (pay by May 17th, 2020) as well as pay-by-the-month opportunities so that it is manageable for all of us.

I hope that is enough information to keep you excited about your participation. I am probably the most excited I have ever been about a project.

warmest

Margi

Margi Brown AshPh.D. (Griffith University)M.Arts  (Queensland University of Technology)M.Counselling (QUT)Grad. Dip. Adolescent Health & Welfare (U of Melbourne)Grad. Dip. Experiential & Creative Arts Therapy (MIECAT)B.A. Dip.Ed. (Macquarie University)

+61410515637Latest Publications: 1. Free Download of "Social Construction in Action" (2020) See page 182  for our article, co-written with Assoc.Prof. Leah Mercer)www.taosinstitute.net/social-construction-in-action-contributions-from-the-taos-institutes-25th-anniversary-conferenceThe process (RICC PROCESS) we engaged in began as one of the creative outcomes of my Ph.D. “House of Homes” (2017)2. "Thriving Women Thriving World” (2019): co-written with Assoc.Prof. Leah Mercer: A Practice: Rip, Stick n’ Chat, a way of accessing and processing what we don’t know we know:  https://www.taosinstitute.net/product/thriving-women-thriving-world-an-invitation-to-dialogue-healing-and-inspired-action. This practice began as an outcome of my Masters and PhD 3.  "House of Homes”  (2017):My Ph.D., focusing on the artistry of belonging:  https://www.margibrownash.com/research4. "The Belonging Trilogy” (2020): A collection of the plays, including HOME, EVE and He Dreamed a Train, with discussion chapters and provocations for the reader,  regarding how my major works were created, with a foreword by Assoc. Prof. Leah Mercer. Published by Playlab. See https://playlabtheatre.com.au/shop-publications/new-releases/eve-by-margi-brown-ash/5. “Keeping Fabulously Fit” (2018) by Dr. Margi Brown Ash. Equity Magazine. Summer. You can access this article  on http://www.4change.com.au/margi-brown-ash-my-blog/