Try Your Hand - An Open Door Project

This really has been a great project to work on. One of those projects that seems to be coming to an end all too quickly. The project was set up in partnership with Feel Good Factor, a healthy living initiative in Chapeltown, as part of the Open Door Project. Mary Sunley House kindly provided their living room, and older people from there and the local area were invited to attend 8 sessions of creative activities.

We had no idea what people would like to do so our artists Bryony Pritchard and Barney George came up with the idea introducing people to things they hadn't done before by putting different art materials in all manner of boxes, bags, cases and containers. So for example one box contained a camera in a shoe box with the words “green” and “sharp”, and another had plastic straws, wool and a book about architecture. With lots of encouragement to experiment and have fun, everyone was free to see what they could come up with. And it's amazing just what people have achieved in such a short space of time.

Over the weeks people have been taking photographs, weaving, sculpture, painting with water colours and acrylics, doing origami, drawing, knitting, making clothes from newspapers and on our final day, for a treat, we’ll be biscuit making. Not just any old biscuits – art biscuits of course.

The great joy of this project has been to see people making new friends and having fun, as well as discovering some hidden talents. And even those who haven't taken part in the project have regularly visited the living room to see what

we've  been up to each week. I'll miss my Wednesday mornings with this group!

Re-Launch Event

Artlink celebrated it's Re-launch Event on 2nd November at it's newly renovated building.  I'm pleased to say that the event was a resounding success.  We had visits from our Capital funders, Arts Council England, Leeds City Council and also many different organisations across the region as well as our members from a variety of projects.  We were also visited by Joan Crofts and Nancy Stedman - two Artlink alumni from across the years.

Attendees listened to speeches from Artlink's Director, Sylvie Fourcin, Project Manager, Hayley Mason and Chair, Mary Robson.   The day opened up the whole building; showcasing the vibrant printed canvases which are now hung throughout all four floors together with the visual arts and audio tour which brought together artwork from the Open Door project together with audio from participants -listened to through Ipods as you walked around the building.

One of the highlights was the poetry reading which took place in the front room.  Becky Cherriman, creative writer, led the recital whilst three participants read their poetry to a packed room.  A daunting prospect in anyone's book, but one which participants gladly rose to.

There was also the opportunity for people to get involved with the visual arts and creative writing workshop taking place in the brand new studio, read the timeline of Artlink's 34-year history together with photos, watch the loop of projects showcasing work from 2004 and to enjoy the many films and animation Artlink has produced over the years.

Everyone was guided round the building by the plan designed by Studio 3 member, Howard Benn.  This plan was hand drawn, beautiful and a piece of artwork in its own right.

At the end of the event we were exhausted but so proud of Artlink, it's history and team work in producing such a great day.  Armed with this energy we are moving forward with the organisation with lots of plans in the pipeline, starting with Sylvie appearing on Real Radio on 30th November, so make sure you tune in! Hayley

Open Door at Leeds REACH

Recently visited the Open Door project taking place at Leeds REACH. Video worker and performer Cherie Taylor and visual artist Kevin Hickson are working there with 5 young people. Amazed to see how the classroom was transformed into an artists studio with huge canvasses covered in bold colours, stencils and lovely textures.

From speaking with our artists and the staff there it seems the project is really coming together. This is the first time Artlink has worked with Leeds REACH, who provide emotional and educational support for young people having difficulties in secondary education, but I'm hoping from what I've seen today that this is a relationship that can continue.

Everyone has been struck by how thoughtful and focussed the young people have been taking part in the project. And it's lovely to see how the work of the artists is complementing and supporting the staff at REACH.

Looking forward to seeing more artworks and watching how things develop.

Dianne