The Space
Funded by an initial grant from NHS Central Lancashire The Space was a gallery and workshop facility in the city centre of Preston. Working as an arts health centre The Space provided a score of amazing and stimulating programmes of participatory creative workshops, exhibitions, music recitals and social gatherings.
The primary objective of these was simply to provide a safe, non judgemental and appropriate environment for people to explore their own capacity for creativity, regardless of ability.
Contemporary Art Exhibitions:
There have been four ambitious art exhibitions at The Space displaying works which have been produced through the associated Creative Events and Activities alongside works created by local professional and emerging contemporary artists. All the works displayed are done so without distinction. All artists are equal in title and none is labelled or singled out as a ‘service user’.
It is all too common it seems to hold special exhibitions of art produced by ‘people who suffer with mental health issues’. This only segregates the producers further by labelling and isolating them in this category promoting a division between people who have positive mental health and those who do not.
Exhibitions at The Space include:
A comprehensive exhibition of artworks made through the previous 3 years of Creative Links art workshops, devised and delivered by Bluestreak Arts and facilitated by community artist Amy Marshall. Large scale banners made through workshops with Lancashire Education Medical Service (L.E.M.S) Leyland and emerging local artists.
An exhibition of photographic works of art inclusive of Creative Links photography workshops devised and delivered by Bluestreak Arts and facilitated by award winning photographer Denise Swanson (BIPP photographer of the year 2005). Emerging local artists and Sue Angel and Claire Thomason (former mental health service users and now artist’s in residence at the space)
An introduction to installation (a contemporary art movement) with interactive art works from Creative Links, STUFF art collective, Chris Davies of Soundskills and emerging local artists Joanna Greenan and Vicky Jones.
Celebrating the completion of a series of four workshop strands funded directly by NHS Central Lancashire and showcasing the works created by participants of this scheme. This exhibition was the final part of the initial funding which saw the The Space established.
Alongside the creation of The Space the initial funding provided by NHS Central Lancashire was used to deliver a series of exciting new visual arts opportunities both at The Space and Faringdon Community Centre in Fishwick, Preston. This activity scheme was the primary set of work undertaken during the months of March – September 2009. These workshops were:
The drop in session was not a ‘led’ workshop scheme but an opportunity for people to have access to a studio space on a regular ‘non-directional’ basis. The participants were mentored by long standing Bluestreak artist Amy Marshall and Garth Gratrix , alongside voluntary input form emerging artist Joanna Greenan. The works produced were inspirational and testament to what pleasure can be gained if you ‘drop in’ rather than ‘drop out’.
This group was facilitated by Manchester based artist Gosha Gibek at Faringdon Park Community Centre. The group explored techniques of printing, stencil and page making. Each participant worked to produce pages of books which were then bound together into individual volumes. Each participant was encouraged to find their own way to use the materials and resources at hand producing expressions of the heart.
Facilitated by experienced textiles artist Jane Dennerly this group explored various creative techniques of textile art. Building their skills through practical experiential exploration the participants then made direct choices as to how they wished to display their new found skills, designing and creating the unique works of art which included bags, cushions and brooches. This session was delivered at Faringdon Park Community Centre.
These workshops ran at The Space and allowed participants to explore and create through the use of mosaic and clay based sculpture. The works created reflect the diversity and creativity that each individual brought to the workshops; whether through the colour choices, patterns, scale of medium the participants all expressed themselves in a new and unique way. The sessions were facilitated by Preston based Artist Garth Gratrix.
