Dominika (ArtWorks)

 

Story

 

At ArtWorks, we support our service users to access lots of different volunteer placements and other opportunities to build up their professional skills and increase employability. One example of this is our gardening group at Wentworth Woodhouse. Every week, participants from ArtWorks help to maintain the grounds of this stately home, practicing practical gardening skills and learning about different plants and animals from head gardener Scott. Our group benefits greatly from this placement as they find the outdoor activities really therapeutic and they love contributing towards the upkeep of this historical landmark. 

 

There are many ways in which we support our artists to access professional opportunities from the art world as well. We have held exhibitions to showcase our artists' talent in prestigious places such as Millennium Gallery and Bloc Projects in Sheffield, The Civic in Barnsley and Clifton Park Museum in Rotherham. We also support our artists to create prints and merchandise to advertise and sell their artwork. This year, we ran a curation project through which our artists had the opportunity to work on all the 'behind-the-scenes' work which goes into producing exhibitions. Through this project they practiced the skills of curation and marketing and took part in the physical installation and takedown of artwork in the exhibition space. 

 

Another aspect of our creative programme are the fantastic murals which our artists are often commissioned to do. Our artists are presented with briefs and work collaboratively to come up with designs which fit set themes and are appropriate for the surface on which they will be painted. They then work together to prepare and paint walls, transforming them into beautiful pieces of artwork. Our group really enjoys working on murals and they particularly love the fact that the outcomes of their work are permanent and often in highly visible public places where they are seen by thousands of people. In the past we have completed murals for Sheffield Wednesday Stadium, Wentworth Woodhouse, Bloc Projects and Woodhouse Train Station. Our most recent and proudest piece is in the front window of Millennium Gallery!