The Art Group started on 1st March, 2005. It meets from 10-12 on Tuesdays at the Hester Adrian Centre, Hawthorn Way, Cambridge.
- We chose to meet at Hester Adrian as it is in the centre of Cambridge. It is easy for people to get to.
- There are 10 members. We all make our own way there.
Who is the Art Group for?
- The Art Group is for men and women with learning disabilities who may:
-feel worried or anxious.
-want someone to talk to about their problems.
-feel isolated and lonely.
- The focus is on Art
- The Group members also try to listen and give support to each other.
Who supports the Art Group?
The Group is supported by clinicians in City Team, in the Learning Disability Partnership. They are:
- Karen Parker (Art Therapist),
- Paul Absolom, KirstyKing, Amy Bryan (Community Nurses) and
- Lorna Jones (Occupational Therapist)
The Art Group’s research
The research aims are to:
- find out about the lives of people with learning disabilities who are often isolated and do not find it easy to access support.
- find out whether an Art Group is helpful in increasing participation.
- help the Art Group members take part in and present research.
Consent to taking part
- We asked everyone to consent (agree) to taking part:
- 8 people gave consent.
- 1 person said we could include their work in the show.
- 1 person did not want to take part.
- The Art Group agreed to take part in the research with Members of the Centre for Participation (C4P).
What we have done
- Taken part in video interviews about our lives and the Art Group
- We have also written about our art-work.
- Chosen art-work for our Art exhibition at the Centre for Participation Conference on 2ndMarch 2007.
- Voted on the art-work for the invitations for the private view, for a poster, for the cover of a special catalogue for the private view, and for the conference catalogue.
- Taken part in the Conference.
- Arranged a private view of our show from 5-7 pm on Monday 5th March at the Faculty of Education.
- Arranged to show our art-work at Darwin Nurseries from Friday, 9thMarch.
What we’ve found so far
- The Group usually has 7-8 members each week.
-
Members
of the Art Group feel very positive about it.
”I like it. Good fun. It’s friendly. It’s boring at home”.
“It’s helped my confidence”.
“I enjoy the group and meeting people as well”.
“You get coffee provided! ”
“The group has helped me”
“They make you welcome”
- Some members of the Art Group really enjoy making art.
“I feel proud, it’s very good” (when talking about her work)
“I feel better in the group. I come to paint”
-
Others like to
come and be part of the Art Group.
“I like the art group. I like it a lot. I like meeting people, it’s friendly”
“It’s friendly. I make
friends. It gets me out. It’s the only thing I do”.
- Most of us have never been asked to be part of something like this before.