GALLERY EXHIBITION: Adventures in Design!
Adventures in Design! Saturday 24th June – Saturday 26th August 2017
We are very pleased to have been awarded funding from the Local Sustainability Fund to commission three established local artists to work with our volunteers for four months!
The three artists, Tamzin Forster, Lydia Meiying and Pentimento Ceramics and Print started working as Arc Artists in Residence in March 2017.
The artists will be leading sessions with Arc’s team of volunteers to help them develop their skills, product development of ‘Arcware’ to sell in the gallery shop and raise funds for the charity, and running paid-for arts workshops and training available to the public in April, May and June.
“It’s a natural progression that everything we do at Arc offers opportunities for people with mental health difficulties to develop business and entrepreneurial skills if they wish to develop a career in the creative sector.”
June Saturday Art Club at the exhibition launch on the 24th of June is BLOCK PRINTING with Lydia Meiying.
The products and a display showing the process will also comprise an exhibition entitled ‘Adventures in Design!’ launching on Saturday, June 24 alongside a Midsummer Art Sale, featuring work from a number of local makers. The exhibition will then continue for two months and include 3 public Last Saturday events.
In 2016 we increased our commercial offerings in a bid to raise our own funding in response to reduced public funding, coupled with an increase in demand from vulnerable people and artists alike.
“We recognise that developing a range of Arc products for sale will increase the charity’s sustainability. The residencies are also providing some great opportunities for our volunteers, many of whom are dealing with mental health issues, to be trained in practical art, design and product development skills. Learning any new skill helps build confidence and is great for mental wellbeing!”
The artist’s workshops are part of a new programme of affordable creative workshops and training at the centre available to the public, including throwing on the potter’s wheel, painting, printmaking and artist development.
Three of the Residency workshops include;
Caroline Hewitt of Pentimento Ceramics and Print said,
“We are delighted to have been awarded this residency. We have already been made very welcome at the centre and we look forward to developing a range of new ceramic products with the Arc team and their enthusiastic volunteers.”
Keep updated on our Facebook Page, and check back here soon for Q&As with the artists.
