Anita Holford
@anitaholford.bsky.social
120 followers 140 following 56 posts
Freelance comms, copywriting, bid-writing - for music, arts, charities involved in education, wellbeing, social justice. Adoptive Mum, neurodivergent daughter. Www.writing-services.co.uk
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In the latest episode I’m talking with the authors of a new book called Resonant Minds – the transformative power of music, which explores how we can use the powerful response that our brain has to music, with intention – to feel more, focus better, connect deeper and lead more resonant lives.
I am really excited to share my 50th podcast episode – which sees the return of my 1st guest, music education advocacy superstar Dr Anita Collins.

Anita describes herself as an educator, researcher, writer in brain development & music learning but she's so much more than that. Hope you enjoy it!
Thank you so much for sharing this 🙏 it's been a pleasure to work with you
➡️ Read more, and get the link to @bluecabin.bsky.social 's podcast exploring Mary-anne Hodd's experience of being in care, here: writing-services.co.uk/why-lifestor...
In music and arts education, we often talk about giving young people a voice.

But to really support care-experienced young people, we need to be aware of the sometimes fragmented and complex stories they carry with them - and the impact this may have on the way they show up in creative spaces.
A black journal on a table. The journal has things stuck onto it - a postcard saying 'forever and always' and some other bits and pieces. Beside it are a couple of pens and some sticky tape.
Thank you so much, it was a pleasure working with your brilliant team, making such a difference to lives and learning 🙏
We're so grateful to @anitaholford.bsky.social & Rachel Pedley (Avant Cymru) for helping make Taith more inclusive after looking into barriers faced by neurodivergent applicants. Their review of P1 materials is already leading to meaningful change
Read more: writing-services.co.uk/my-work/tait...
writing-services.co.uk
My latest Music for Education & Wellbeing podcast episode - with Pete Dale, Pam Burnard & Raphael Travis from the CUMIN network. We talk hip-hop, youth work, impact, & inclusive music education.

Listen now on your fave app or DM me for the direct link to the audio on my website along with links.
What if funding processes were genuinely neurodivergent-friendly?

That’s the ambition behind the work Rachel Pedley (Avant Cymru, Y/The Lab Wrexham) & I did for @taithwales.bsky.social, the funder of international learning exchanges.

Link in comments 👇

Contact us if you’d like to do similar.
Image of fence gates, held together by a locked chain, ahead is a road leading away from the gates
What could youth voice in #musiceducation look like if shaped by activism, systems thinking + relationships? I explored this with Mac Makes Music – it led to a report + conference talk: Beyond Youth Voice. Links in comments.

👋 DM me if you need help shaping + sharing your org’s story.
Three women seated on a conference platform, one holds a mic and is looking at the other two. The women are white and all with shoulder length to long brown hair
Listen on your favourite podcast app (search Music for Education & Wellbeing) or on my website in the podcasts section.
In the latest episode of the Music for Education & Wellbeing podcast, I talk with Jenny Young, Director and founder of Blue Cabin, a charity based in the NE of England that strengthens relationships between care-experienced individuals and the people in their lives through creative activities.
EDIT: apologies for the error - audience development is 35 years old not 25 years. It seems like yesterday!
Fascinating & useful article 'What if we think of the arts as knowledge rich' by @patthomson.bsky.social on Cultural Learning Alliance website.

Useful for anyone working in #artseducation.

How do we translate into practical framing/messaging?

www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk/think-of-art...
www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk
Listen on your favourite podcast app or on my website. I hope it's of interest! @artsprofessional.co.uk may be of interest?
Thanks to everybody who listened to my last mini podcast, 'Do the arts culture and music have a framing problem?'

Here's my latest, talking about how we might make a systemic shift to our arts CPD system to make sure the arts, music and culture are properly valued in public policy.
Mentioned: @musicmarkuk.bsky.social
@frameworksuk.bsky.social @mattgreenough.bsky.social @powerofmusic.bsky.social @artworksalliance.uk and many more.

Podcast prompted by conversations with Sandra Schembri, Sally Bacon and many more.