Canvas & Cream

Hi All, Joanna from Canvas & Cream here, nice to see a lively debate going on. We have been asking customers their opinions and ideas as we want o find solutions to the conflict between parents with babies/toddlers, those who want to work in quieter spaces and disabled people in wheelchairs who cannot negotiate a multitude of prams parked in the walkway. So far we have tried to accommodate everyone by: On Tuesdays we remove a table and chairs to allow extra buggy parking. We also have singing and stoytelling for little ones at 11am. We sell children?s artpacks to keep them creative and happy while parents relax, these are put together by us and so are much more interesting than the run of the mill bit of paper and crayon. We have children?s books for them to use at their will. We put on a Free crown making workshop for children during the jubilee weekend and are putting on a summer solstice flower garland making workshop in the garden this week. There will be more childrens? activities available as time goes on and when we work out what is best to offer and when. We offer fruit for sale, Ellas organic baby food, bear fruit snacks (dried fruit with no additives), vegetable crisps and childrens? portions from our menu. We offer Juice, water, milk, baby-chinos, hot chocolate etc. All our food is hand made from fresh seasonal ingredients by our chef, nothing is processed so its pretty similar to food made at home. We will try to accommodate dietary requirements where possible, would not stop people using formula and are delighted to see people breast feeding. I am at this very moment looking at the nook, it has six mums and babies in it, with pushchairs. Two others are parked further up the cafe. The limit on pushchairs was a guide to try and adhere to health and safety, especially regarding fire escapes and access for wheelchairs. We have spent the weekend creating an outside garden for those wishing to have a little more room and are sorting out a space for buggy parking out there too. We have a private disabled toilet which many people use for changing babies, Baby changing facilities in the toilets downstairs are provided as of this morning. We welcome comments on our rather unorthodox approach! We are trying to be inclusive to all our local community, sometimes their needs conflict and we are faced with the challenge of trying to satisfying everyone. We welcome any suggestions for solutions and came up with the above after consulting quite a few parents in the cafe. We have been open for four months, we are doing well and have had a multitude of positive feedback from a vast array of people including parents and their children, we hope to keep improving and can do so by people making positive suggestions, so thanks to those that take the and time opportunity to do so.

10 days to go! - and counting! - to get your application into the Canvas & Cream competition with the chance of being in the 6 week shortlisted show, taking advantage of our three Launches! And for the chance to win a publicly voted solo show later on in the year, free membership of Canvas & Cream and associated benefits etc. We are pleased to announce that International Artist/painter Yiannis Christakos and Renowned Sculptor Jeff Lowe will bejudging our competition for 2011. TO APPLY VISIT: www.canvasandcream.co.uk Email: [email protected]

Canvas & Cream -FULL STEAM AHEAD!!! Hurray!!!! we have signed the long awaited lease, as from today we have the keys! * We will be in our building 18 London Road every week from Wed- Sunday building studios, gallery, kitchen, dining rooms etc. There is a tonne of work to do... We have had many people offer a hand THANK YOU, if you let us know when you want to come down, put on some old clothes and get stuck in, just email a couple of days before to let us know and we will try to make sure we are there. * * Become a member and access our Secret webpage giving you details about our First 'One-time-only' Secret Event 3rd Nov - ARTS EXTAVAGANZA AND THREE COURSE MEAL (First Come frst served - Limited tickets) * * Do apply for our Competition! its only ?12 to apply and you will have the opportunity to be in our shortlisted 6 week launch show worth ?2400 and to win a potential show next year, worth over ?800Please spread the word about us Twitter, Facebook, Website, Word of mouth, Email out, Put our poster up (attached), Blogs etc * * Remember we have seven studios to rent - going already! - email for a plan, arrange to pop down etc * * Remember we have a gallery - do contact us for details * * We will have a beautiful therapy space for therapists to rent, so get in touch for more details * * And Finally we are keen for artists to approach us with ideas for workshops/classes they might run or any other creative venture * www.canvasandcream.co.uk

CALLING ALL ARTISTS OPEN ART EXHIBITION 2011 SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 1st November 2011 Canvas & Cream are having a complete refurbishment that we hope will be finished by the end of November, for a December opening. The exhibition will form part of a combined launch of all three of our ambitious ventures. You can follow our progress on www.canvasandcream.co.uk, Facebook or Twitter. THE PRIZE A Solo Exhibition worth over ?800 Silver Membership of Canvas & Cream for 1 year - including all benefits All shortlisted artists will take part in the six week launch show Along with the prestige and media coverage of being the winner of the first Canvas & Cream prize, the winner will also receive a Solo Exhibition in 2012. The winner will also be given patron status of Canvas & Cream with additional benefits. They will also have the opportunity to become a judge in the Canvas & Cream competition 2012. LOCATION Canvas & Cream: 18 London Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 2RW KEY DATES ? Application deadline: 1st November 2011 ? Notification of shortlisted artists will begin mid-November 2011 ? Delivery of artworks required 1st December ? Opening and Public Voting: December (TBC) ? Prize announced: (TBC) ? TO APPLY VISIT: http://www.canvasandcream.co.uk Email: [email protected]