Curious Minds

Meet Curious Rosie

Continuing our series of interviews with the Curious Minds staff - this week we introduce you to Rosie Crook, our Programme Manager based in Burnley. Rosie is the baby in the picture above with the quite interesting hairstyle. A hairstyle that was to influence much of the punk movement of the 1970's and Robert De Niro during the making of the film Taxi Driver. Rosie would like to make it clear she no longer has this haircut.

1.     What or who inspires you?

Every time I visit a school I feel inspired – not just by the creative work I see but also by the day to day stuff that people do with and on behalf of children and young people.

 

2.      What is ‘curious’ about your mind?

I love the connections between things – the way ideas link to each other.

 

3. Tell us a ‘Curious Story’ about yourself

I once dressed up in a Victorian nightie as the Ghost of Local Democracy being murdered by a colleague wielding an axe. This powerful piece of political drama was enacted outside a Council Headquarters and was intended to impress a Government Minister as his car sped in for a meeting. Sadly the audience was his bodyguard – he’d gone in the back way! But I still have the nightie and I’m not afraid to use it...

 

4. If you could be a famous artist/performer from present, past or future who would you be and why?

Dame Nellie Melba the Australian opera singer – she could break  recording equipment with the sheer power of her voice  and she inspired a pudding.

 

5. What is your favourite book of all time? And Why?

My curious mind is a bit indecisive on books! Persuasion by Jane Austen – everything there is to say about love, grief, constancy and real versus imagined status ... and Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons because it’s brilliant parody and laugh out loud funny.

 

6. Young people in the driving seat – discuss.

I’m always struck by the way children see the world – their minds are utterly different from the adult brain. For this reason, much of what happens to them is `done’ to them. What I like about Curious Minds’ approach is that when you have the confidence to step back and let children lead, the results can be right for both children and adults. If adults have the humility to listen to and learn from children, we can change the world!

 

7. Traffic roundabout art – discuss.

Gateway? Gateway? !! If it isn’t beautiful, humanising, fun or uplifting – don’t do it! Plant flowers instead. Road (or roadside) art I love...`Dream’ by Jaume Plensa; Twin Cones’ by Thomas Heatherwick.

 

8. Desert Island – three luxuries  - what are they?

Well Kirsty, I know you won’t allow me to take my husband and daughter – so I’d like some fabric, some needles and some embroidery thread so that I can make a creative HELP banner.

 

9. If you didn’t work for Curious Minds where and what would you be doing?

Striding through some lovely wood with a daft lurcher, hoping we don’t meet a rabbit.

 

10. What do you like about working for Curious Minds?

It’s a fantastic team, really professional, warm and open. I also love the impact we have and the moments you see every time you visit a project in a school – it feels like you are encountering something genuinely life changing and worthwhile.