Working with People
Engagement in the arts improves all of our lives and I am passionate about art and about getting people involved in the arts. I organise and deliver a wide range of sessions and projects across a range of settings that give people the opportunities, skills and confidence to tell their own stories through art. As well as working on my own I often work with other artists and organisations to deliver inclusive, innovative and exiting community arts projects.
To find out more about this strand of my work you can contact me directly or have a look at some of the projects I've been involved in previously. If you would like me to run a session for you or your group please get in touch.
Part of The Laal Collective's 'Welcoming the Stranger' Project. I worked with early years at Thursby School to create an installation inspired by their story 'Bear and the Magic Bracelet.' We explored felt making, drawing, weaving and clay. We then drew all the work together to create a magic tent for the school quiet area which the children can use when they need a bit of space and calm.
Working in a healthcare setting (Midpark Hospital) offering regular creative textile sessions open to patients staff and visitors; clay and print sessions are also on offer as part of the project all with a focus on wellbeing and participation.
OutPost Arts Art Journal project is a creative wellbeing programme offering guided creative online and in person sessions. Throughout the programme participants are encouraged to experiment and explore with different media and to develop their own creative practice which can help support mental health and build resilience. I love being involved in the project and seeing individuals development, both creatively and personally.
Working with The Stove Network I ran workshops in the community and with D&G College to create fabric swallows which were then installed in Dock Park, Dumfries. May 2022
A partnership project between The Laal Collective and Cumbria Wildlife Trust. I worked with students at Houghton Primary School to design and make a series of flags inspired by plants from the local reserve that were then used as part of a youth theatre performance at the reserve. We explored different drawing and print making techniques over a number of weeks. 2022
An online project run by Green Close addressing key mental health issues exacerbated by the Covid lockdowns. 21 artists were commissioned to run virtual workshops; my sessions involved creating a soft sculpture phoenix using a set of materials and patterns I designed and sent out to participants.
A co-curation and exhibition project between Prism Arts and Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery. I worked with 3 of Prism Art's neuro diverse artists and Tullie curator Claire Sleightholme to select, curate and create an exhibition exploring the links between Carlisle and Japan. 2019/2020
Prism Arts were one of 100 arts organisations commissioned by Artichoke to create a banner to celebrate the centenary of The Representation of the People Act 1918, which gave the first women the vote. Supported by artist Katie Lock I led this project with women from the community to design and create our banner. The banners were processed in all 4 UK capitals in May 2018.
A partnership project between Prism Arts and Cumbria's Museum of Military Life. Working with schools and community groups to create patches to make a commemorative textile in the form of a long strip (like a roll call) for the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. As well as organising and running the workshops I constructed the final piece which was unfurled on Armistice Day at Carlisle Castle.
Prism Arts/Carlisle Library's 'Seven Stories' project involved schools and community groups creating work inspired by the library with Prism Arts artists (including myself) during 2015. The project culminated in an exhibition at Carlisle Library on show from November 2015-March 2016. Response work took place in early 2016.
Audio Visual installation in the grounds of Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery. Myself and sound artist Mark Newport worked with students from James Rennie School and Beaumont College (both of which support children and young people with disabilities) to create this installation in response to the work of Anselm Kiefer. Over a period of three months we explored different techniques and ideas to create this installation. It was on show between June and September 2015.
A participatory project to commemorate the centenary of the Quintinshill Rail Disaster. I asked people to decorate a train ticket with either a drawn or stitched forget me not (to symbolise eternal memory) and I then stitched all the tickets together to make a quilt. This project was run by The Laurie Brewis Trust. 2014