2018 -2020
Full time stock video producer
Creating stock content on a full time basis. Loving the freedom this has given me and also quality time with my children :)
July 2016 –2018
Creative Agent for Arts Council Wales
Currently working with six Primary Schools in North Wales. My role is to: Devise and implement a project or programme of work linked to individual school development priorities; l find creative approaches to improving literacy, numeracy and attainment to reducing the impact of deprivation on educational attainment; l embed changes in teaching practice leading to sustainable impact; put the arts and creativity at the heart of school life.
April 2014- 2016
Lead Artist and Technical
MediaActive is a creative agency and social enterprise, delivering a range of services and products including: film and digital media production, print design, digital arts training, mentoring, and arts consultancy. Working to commission and in working with people and agencies on creative projects and strategic arts development.
Working in the community, educational and industry settings collaborating with a diverse range of people, organisations, and creative practitioners.
Find out more at http://www.mediaactive.org
May 2003 - April 2014
Media Arts Project Worker
Thomas Adams School, Wem, Shropshire
Delivery of specially funded projects with Thomas Adams School and it’s feeder primary schools. I was the lead workshopper on numerous digital projects ranging from sonic audio to experimental animation techniques.
I also ran a weekly animation and filmmaking after school club. I gave technical and practical support to all the teachers I had the pleasure to work with.
For the past 14 years I have been the lead artist on many projects within Primary and Secondary Schools across North Wales and Shropshire. All of these projects have required me to work closely with young people, school staff and external artists. Whilst being employed at Thomas Adams School (Media Arts Specialist Status) my role was to plan, deliver and manage numerous projects with Thomas Adams students and our feeder primary and secondary schools. These projects had a range of different creative objectives and used a wide range of creative media, for example a few of these projects are:
I have a good understanding how schools operate and their technical and supportive needs. I understand the pressures and demands on school staff- I am married to a Teacher! I am aware of the National Literacy and Numeracy Framework for Welsh schools. I understand that creative projects can be extremely valuable in developing Literacy and Numeracy skills in an imaginative way. I have seen first hand the impact that Creative Teaching can have upon learners. Many of the projects I have worked on have not only been entered into competitions and celebrated when they have won prestigious awards, but it has been equally as rewarding seeing the Learners and Teachers gain a new set of skills and confidence in their practice.
I understand rapidly evolving technology and its impacts on education. As my job within education changes from day to day this has enabled me to have frequent training updates. My job often relies upon computer software, then it comes naturally to train myself up on the most recent software whenever the opportunity is available.
I believe that animation and film is a wonderful tool to engage and inspire learners and I have seen amazing results from all the learners I have worked with including some hard to reach youngsters. My time management is good and I can work to deadlines and under pressure, which is evident in my portfolio of projects. I am always committed to the vision on each project and I have excellent communication skills.
Animation and film is a wonderful tool to engage and inspire learners and I have seen amazing results from all the learners I have worked with including some hard to reach youngsters. I am always committed to the vision on each project and I have excellent communication skills. I would love the opportunity to further my own skills in supporting and promoting Creative Learning. I am a firm believer that there is always something new to learn and that sharing skills and collaborative working is the key to moving forward. The opportunity to be an Arts Champion would be exciting and I believe that I would be able to empower others and help move them forward in Creative Learning.
If you need any help or want to hire me for future projects then please get in touch
Full time stock video producer
Creating stock content on a full time basis. Loving the freedom this has given me and also quality time with my children :)
July 2016 –2018
Creative Agent for Arts Council Wales
Currently working with six Primary Schools in North Wales. My role is to: Devise and implement a project or programme of work linked to individual school development priorities; l find creative approaches to improving literacy, numeracy and attainment to reducing the impact of deprivation on educational attainment; l embed changes in teaching practice leading to sustainable impact; put the arts and creativity at the heart of school life.
April 2014- 2016
Lead Artist and Technical
MediaActive is a creative agency and social enterprise, delivering a range of services and products including: film and digital media production, print design, digital arts training, mentoring, and arts consultancy. Working to commission and in working with people and agencies on creative projects and strategic arts development.
Working in the community, educational and industry settings collaborating with a diverse range of people, organisations, and creative practitioners.
Find out more at http://www.mediaactive.org
May 2003 - April 2014
Media Arts Project Worker
Thomas Adams School, Wem, Shropshire
Delivery of specially funded projects with Thomas Adams School and it’s feeder primary schools. I was the lead workshopper on numerous digital projects ranging from sonic audio to experimental animation techniques.
I also ran a weekly animation and filmmaking after school club. I gave technical and practical support to all the teachers I had the pleasure to work with.
For the past 14 years I have been the lead artist on many projects within Primary and Secondary Schools across North Wales and Shropshire. All of these projects have required me to work closely with young people, school staff and external artists. Whilst being employed at Thomas Adams School (Media Arts Specialist Status) my role was to plan, deliver and manage numerous projects with Thomas Adams students and our feeder primary and secondary schools. These projects had a range of different creative objectives and used a wide range of creative media, for example a few of these projects are:
- How The Ddraig Came To Fly For Wales. A film with animation working with Foundation Phase pupils to re-write a Welsh myth. This film was nominated for Best Animated Short Film in the First Light film Awards. This film was a valuable experience for the children as it developed their literacy skills. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RAtSrchaYs
- Sounding The Word. A poetry and digital arts initiative that led to the creation, and exhibition, of sonic landscapes driven by the spoken word. Over a three year period, the project worked with young people from 20 schools - from primary to sixth form - across a large area of rural Shropshire.
- BFI Film Academy. I’m the lead filmmaker and Mentor to all the students who participate. I have been involved with this for the past 4 years and all the films we have created have been very successful within the Film Festival circuits and have been nominated for awards such as Your Voice Sings not So Soft was nominated for ‘Best Animation’ in the FirstLight awards and has been screened in Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frc-QXRbO0Q
- Dyslexia Film. I worked with the SENCO and 8 Key Stage 3 film club members at The Maelor School in Penley. We created a documentary about living with Dyslexia. This was an After School Club, which I planned and delivered alone over several weeks.
- Illustrative Book project. I worked with Young Offenders, Travellers and young people with Additional Learning Needs to create an Illustrative Book on their life experiences. I managed this project and led a group of practitioners including an English Teacher, Digital Artist and several support staff. https://issuu.com/spencerwhalen
- Teacher Training. I have experience of planning and delivering Training for Teachers within Primary and Secondary Education teaching them how to animate and produce films in schools. I designed the course content and received lots of positive feedback on the course evaluation.
I have a good understanding how schools operate and their technical and supportive needs. I understand the pressures and demands on school staff- I am married to a Teacher! I am aware of the National Literacy and Numeracy Framework for Welsh schools. I understand that creative projects can be extremely valuable in developing Literacy and Numeracy skills in an imaginative way. I have seen first hand the impact that Creative Teaching can have upon learners. Many of the projects I have worked on have not only been entered into competitions and celebrated when they have won prestigious awards, but it has been equally as rewarding seeing the Learners and Teachers gain a new set of skills and confidence in their practice.
I understand rapidly evolving technology and its impacts on education. As my job within education changes from day to day this has enabled me to have frequent training updates. My job often relies upon computer software, then it comes naturally to train myself up on the most recent software whenever the opportunity is available.
I believe that animation and film is a wonderful tool to engage and inspire learners and I have seen amazing results from all the learners I have worked with including some hard to reach youngsters. My time management is good and I can work to deadlines and under pressure, which is evident in my portfolio of projects. I am always committed to the vision on each project and I have excellent communication skills.
Animation and film is a wonderful tool to engage and inspire learners and I have seen amazing results from all the learners I have worked with including some hard to reach youngsters. I am always committed to the vision on each project and I have excellent communication skills. I would love the opportunity to further my own skills in supporting and promoting Creative Learning. I am a firm believer that there is always something new to learn and that sharing skills and collaborative working is the key to moving forward. The opportunity to be an Arts Champion would be exciting and I believe that I would be able to empower others and help move them forward in Creative Learning.
If you need any help or want to hire me for future projects then please get in touch