See artwork from
Manchester Art Gallery Summer Course (2007)
Start Project at Manchester Art Gallery, leading to the Held exhibition
Viewing the Blotter Figure
Over July and August 2007, in partnership with Manchester Art Gallery and the Royal Northern College of Music, Start delivered a unique summer course for people using our service. Replacing usual studio based groups, where we specialise in ceramics, mosaic, painting, photography and textiles, students (service users) had the chance to attend the course at Manchester Art Gallery. The course aimed to raise appreciation and awareness of art, and in parallel to boost skills in personal self-expression ("emotional literacy"), using the Gallery's collection and facilities.
Raising Mental Health Awareness
Partnership working gave Start an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health issues for Gallery staff and musicians. They reported that the whole experience of working with Start was enlightening. Musician Ros reported: “Working alongside the Start team, seeing how they put sessions together, and how they deliver them was the most useful experience”.
Music Workshop
Transferable Skills
The major focus of study was a sculpture by Juan Munoz, a featureless person mysteriously branded a ‘Blotter Figure’. Faced with this not-too-accessible character, students completed a number of visual, written and musical exercises to see him in new and unexpected contexts.
Input from the Gallery’s Community Development Manager, Leisa Gray, included a fascinating tour of artworks which added depth and insight to the Start students' experience.
New Challenges
An important focus for Start is to help our students with ‘Moving On’ strategies, a daunting challenge to those used to the safe environment of healthcare settings, often for many years. Yet students found themselves comfortably utilising the gallery’s facilities, sometimes under the public’s passing gaze. Already familiar with visual self-expression, students were gently challenged to verbalise emotions and ideas in discussion, or other exercises, thus developing new skills.
Designed to provide a positive step forward, the course boosted students’ confidence with a rewarding mainstream-style learning experience, with the back-up of familiar support from Start staff and peers.
This project eventually led to the exhibition Held which you can read about in the exhibition pages of this website.
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