New art project led by experienced tutors
A new Arts Council funded Craft for All project will start in Okehampton in the spring, led by experienced art tutors from West Devon Art Workshops.
Craft for All is aimed at adults who are at risk of social isolation and is also running in Tavistock.
It will be an opportunity to make new friends in a natural way, develop confidence through learning a new skill and engage with the wider community through applying their new skills to community events, such as willow and tissue constructions for the lantern procession.
Andy Cairns, project leader, said: ‘The Craft for All project plans to build on the success of our Art for All project, by reaching socially isolated people who may lack confidence to try ‘art’ but would be inspired by learning a specific craft skill. There will be an opportunity at the end of each course to take part in a community event, coordinated with other local organisations.
‘We intend to run eight courses of eight sessions each, split between Tavistock and Okehampton. Sessions will be three hours long.’
The first four sessions of each course will be skill building, the other sessions will focus on developing outcomes for community events.
For each course there will also be two video classes and additional tools/equipment for loan should face to face sessions need to be suspended, or a participant need to self-isolate.
Guided by a skilled tutor, participants will:
- Be part of a group learning about new techniques, stimulating minds and promoting camaraderie;
- Be able to make friendships at a natural pace, with informal conversations about their work as a catalyst;
- Have personalised learning support to help develop confidence in their abilities and ideas;
- Engage in group discussions of work where positive feedback would help boost self-esteem and encourage participation
- Make a positive contribution to their local community
- Help plan future activities
West Devon Art Workshops, a community interest company, has been involved in several local projects over the last six years, including a textile hanging for the Okehampton Medical Centre, a mosaic project at Lamerton Primary School, a temporary sculpture trail at Burrator Reservoir, the Tavistock Young Artists Exhibition in 2016, Yelverton Art Festival as well as numerous classes and one off workshops. They run a sculpture studio in the Old Ropeworks, Lakeside, Tavistock and helped establish Tavistock Community Printing Group.
For more information, contact West Devon Art Workshops by email on westdevonartworkshops@gmail.co.uk or phone 07724 153381.