Meeting on a weekly basis at The Blackpool Centre for Independent Living, the ‘Communication through Art programme’, is part of a community based daytime service for adults with a learning disability.
Since October 2019, Blackpool based artist, Tina Dempsey has been working with the group to test out new art making approaches, materials and techniques; a process that culminated in a pre-lockdown exhibition at the Grundy Art Gallery in March 2020 which sadly, was brought to an early close.
However, while the lockdown circumstance mean that meeting up and making art together in person isn’t possible at present – this hasn’t stopped the group from continuing its artistic explorations. Using bespoke packs of art materials carefully prepared and safely delivered by Tina to the artists’ homes, alongside professional development feedback tailored to the individual, new works are being developed that take inspiration from the artists’ immediate surroundings, the people that they are with and what is providing them with comfort in these difficult times. New artworks created during this period will be exhibited by Grundy Art Gallery in an online exhibition to be presented later this year.
The project is being delivered via a partnership between Grundy Art Gallery, Tina Dempsey, The New Langdale and Venture Arts, Manchester with financial support from Access Fylde Coast, a Coastal Communities funded project.