BPMA Picture Post Project
More details to follow.
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Working with United Community Lunch Club
In October 2009 Tom Harris and Mandy Lenard set up an extension to the lunch club held at Broadgreen Community Centre, an art club, held on Thursdays from 1 – 4pm. Tom wanted some help with the running of this art group, and Artsite were approached by Mark Feeny of Swindon Borough Council to have someone tutor the group. Paula Sullivan was approached to do this as she had experience of working with elderly people and was very interested in tutoring the group. The tuition and buying of materials has been achieved by funding organised by Mark Feeny. It started in February of this year initially for 3 months and then was extended to 5 months until the end of July 2010. Hopefully, more funding will become available for the group so they can start again in September!
The art group, like the luncheon club, brings elderly people together to learn new skills and to form new friends and be part of a fellowship. It has great community spirit, relaxed atmosphere, an abundance of tea and biscuits and often home cooked food.
When asked what they achieved from this group all said:
* “Enjoyment! Fun, no pressure, progress at own pace, social companionship, gaining knowledge, developing own ideas, gaining confidence in their painting and drawing, looking forward to class each week, friendly atmosphere, enjoyable!!”
* “Helping them overcome established ideas about how to draw and paint.”
* “Giving them a sense of satisfaction and empowerment.”
An exhibition of their work will be on show at the Post Modern in October.
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The Lost Parade
The picture was created by the group led by Sheena Dean in workshops and set construction work leading to the final shoot. You can see the set building and the shoot day in the time-lapse video.
All participants in the final image are people who have used mental health services and were using the photograph to present aspects of their condition or their recovery in the character and costume they put together over the course of the workshops and in the final shoot. The project was aiming to address the marginalisation of people with mental health issues and to show that they could work creatively together so countering preconceptions of and negative attitudes to those who have used mental health services.