The #CreativeChallenge is back June 12-18!

In 2016 LIFEbeat launched the first ever community #CreativeChallenge. We challenged members of our network to create one piece of art every day for a week – a poem, a song, a dance, a painting, a t-shirt, a photograph – anything! The possibilities are endless.

Find out how you can take part in the 2017 Creative Challenge! 

The idea was inspired by our brilliant facilitator and Camp Director, Louis Levin. In 2014 he raised funds for LIFEbeat by creating something new every day for a full 30 days. We checked in with Louis to find out more about his experience:

Can you tell us a little about the experience and what you did?

For each of the 30 days of June in 2015, I made a piece of art. The one rule was that I could not plan any of them before the day and so I would base it on an experience or feeling of that day.

What inspired you to take on your creative challenge? Where did the idea come from?

I wanted to raise money for LIFEbeat Camps but I did not want to do the usual sponsored events such as running or cycling. I wanted it to have a connection with the ethos of LIFEbeat. My flatmate had just completed a painting for our lounge and he’s never done anything like that before. That inspired me to take on new creative challenges.

What was your favourite part of the experience?

Knowing I had to do it! It was quite liberating to know that each day when I got home from work, I had to produce a piece of art.

Were there any days when it was tough? How did you motivate yourself?

Only when I had something on in the evening and on those occasions I would use whatever event I was at for information. For example, when I went to the theatre, I wrote a poem about my observations of the behaviour of the audience.

How do you feel about other members of the community getting involved this year?

I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Any tips for others taking on the challenge?

Don’t think about it too much, just let it flow…
Ready to take part in the Creative Challenge 2017? All you need to do is create a new piece of art every day between June 12-18 and post it on social media with the hashtag #CreativeChallenge. We will be posting plenty of prompts and ideas right here on the LIFEbeat blog, as well as curating some of the pieces we see every day. We can’t wait to see what you create!

 
Take a look at some of Louis’ creations from his Creative Challenge:

The Ballad Of A Bad Lad.

Now listen in, so I can tell,
The tale of a bad lad.
Then see if you can work it out,
Why this lad is so bad.

He lost his mum when he was eight,
So he remembers well,
A time when life was full of love,
Protected from this world.

But just like that, his mum was gone,
His dad was never there.
His aunty said she couldn’t cope,
So he was put in care.

Post to pillar, pillar to post,
Our little lad was passed.
If he started to like a place,
He knew it would not last.

Into his teens, hormones ablaze,
His temper starts to fray.
Every person he’s tried to love,
Pushing him away.

The care professionals start to meet,
To try to sort him out.
But they neglect to hear his voice,
However loud he shouts.

‘A problem child, what can we do?
We’ve really tried out best.
It seems he doesn’t want to change,
He’ll end up like the rest’.

Now he’s running with THAT crowd,
Doing what ever they say.
He sees them all as family,
To them he’s easy prey.

It’s obvious, inevitable,
How this story ends.
Just a bad lad, done bad things,
How can he make ammends?

Eighteen years old and in prison,
And no one visits him.
Eighteen years old and in prison,
And no one visits him.

The ‘throw away the key’ crowd,
Rub their hands together.
‘Rehabilitation, what?
Never, never, NEVER!’.

At least in jail he’s got some friends,
And clothes and food, a bed.
That’s why the thought of his release,
Is messing with his head.

What happens next? What happens next?
‘I’m better off where I am’.
Make a guess, what happens next?
Entrenchment has began.

The ballad of a bad lad,
A boy-a man-a boy.
The ballad of a bad lad,
A boy, a little boy.
(LouisL.)


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