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The Big Issues - Street Level Arts

Watts Gallery organised a series of workshops over summer 2008 in collaboration with local ceramic artist, Adrienne Roberts. Typically there were six to nine members present at each session. Group members had the opportunity to visit Watts Gallery and Watts Chapel to learn about the history of pottery making locally and gain inspiration from the collection.

Adrienne Roberts then provided five workshops on Monday evenings at Guildford Community Centre. Group members learnt about the importance of setting up and planning materials, the basic techniques of pottery making and gained further inspiration from Adrienne’s insights. Each workshop provided an educational as well as social opportunity where people could spend time learning a new skill as well as relaxing, socialising and sharing their experiences with fellow group members. This helped to reduce feelings of isolation often experienced by people whose lives are restricted by mental health challenges, substance abuse and homelessness.

The project enabled us to forge and strengthen relationships with the wider artistic community in Guildford that will continue to grow. We now have a number of group members who would like to take part in pottery classes on a regular basis and are considering taking adult education classes locally subject to the availability of finance. We have raised awareness of the importance of creative arts as a tool to aid recovery and rehabilitation.

Adrienne worked sensitively to engage every individual group member in the workshop and encouraged them to participate and contribute to the sessions. The opportunity to try new things and learn about the different techniques of pottery making was particularly welcomed. This led to discussions on pottery, art and an exchange of ideas between members which helped to improve communication skills, confidence and self-esteem.

We are extremely grateful to Watts Gallery for providing this project which has helped make a real difference in the lives of people living in Guildford and those disadvantaged by mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness.

 

Miranda Ash
Street Level Arts Co-ordinator

‘I was delighted to learn that one of the members felt that the project had started a new focus and “new beginning” for him and his passion for art. Some time ago he had been an art student on a course which he had been unable to finish. He told me that this had given him a new focus, he was clearly very inspired.

It was very pleasing to see the group so engaged in the project and I think they got a lot out of it because various technical processes were worked through, which helped to achieve a good end result. They particularly enjoyed the new experience of working with the plasticity of the clay and experimenting with texture and pattern. As there were several workshops this enabled members to embrace the work in more depth and get a feel of continuity.’

Adrienne Roberts, Workshop Leader