Introducing - Spirit: Conversations with Creative Womenhttps://www.thecreativecollectivespirit.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/conversationswithcreativewomenIT ALL BEGAN WHEN….an idea was sparked between two friends, writer Jannine Wilkinson and photographer Ann Orman, to produce a book celebrating creative women in New Zealand. This week the result of this powerful union and vision comes to fruition, with the release of their book Spirit Conversations with Creative Women. Jannine and Ann worked their way across New Zealand to talk to and photograph 34 creative women and learn the stories of their life, their work and the challenges they have faced when following their passion.  https://www.creativematters.co.nz/blog-podcast About your host:Mandy Jakich is the Founder and CEO of Creative Matters, an award winning business providing creative, educational opportunities to enrich the lives of our children, educators, artists and community. https://www.creativematters.co.nz/She is a practising artist www.amandajakich.co.nz and a primary school teacher, with more than 30 years in various capacities at primary and intermediate schools across Auckland NZ.She worked for 4 years as an art educator at the Auckland Art Gallery - New Zealand's largest and finest gallery - designing and delivering visual arts programmes to primary, secondary and special needs children, as well as Professional Development courses for teachers.​Mandy founded Creative Matters in response to an increasing need and demand for creative visual arts opportunities for children - both in and out of school - with a genuine belief in the value of a rich creative process and developing creative experiences and connections through art.Six years on, Creative Matters has blossomed into a well known company with a team of 15 passionate art educators and administrators.  Creative Matters  facilitate Professional Development visual arts courses for primary teachers: https://www.creativematters.co.nz/professional-developmentVisual art creative workshops and experiences for children:https://www.creativematters.co.nz/for-childrenPublic art projects and creative opportunities  in the communityhttps://www.creativematters.co.nz/for-communitiesNgā mihi, thanks for listening!See the artist's work on our blog https://www.creativematters.co.nz/blog You can follow us for updates on https://www.instagram.com/creativematterspodcast/ Please rate and review our show to help others find us https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/creative-matters/id1561034043