Art for the Heart 2023 - Project Blog
Courses and Workshops for Children and Young people that promote good mental health.
We are delighted that we will be able to bring this course and workshop for children and young people fully funded in 2023.
We hope that through these activities young people can manage and improve their mental health and well being independently using art.
We will equip young people with lifelong tools and skills that will enable them to manage their mental health into adulthood.
Through this project we will equip young people with sustainable skills to improve their mental health and well-being and improve mental health and wellbeing of young people through art, provoking joy and relaxation in a calm creative space where our young people have privacy to explore difficult issues that teenagers experience.
We are partnering with North Down YMCA, UHub, Codo Drops and North Down Community Network
Our partners deliver a range of activities and services for young people in and around Bangor including youth clubs, support services advice or therapy and specialist groups.
We also work in partnership with our art facilitator. Oonagh Linden is an experienced Art Therapist, with an active and engaged art practice.
The project was piloted in August 2019 and continued when possible through the pandemic.
The session grew in numbers with participants gaining the skills and then moving on to use them independently.
Since August 2019 we have delivered 8x 6 weeks of activities in the wellness theme, 48 sessions to 72 participants.
The sessions from April 2021 - June 2022 were well attended and self sustainable.
However the sessions in September 2022 have had lower numbers, attributed to the impact of the financial crisis. This financial impact is a barrier to participation by our young people.
Through the delivery to date , we listened to and reacted to the young people's exploration of art processes and allowed space for them to develop processes.
We have learned that allowing space for “Rule breaking” is beneficial.
We have also learned that the 6 week program works well for teens ( ages 12yrs - 15yrs). However at 16 years - 18 years, it is more difficult to sustain the weekly activities for a number of reasons. However we know that the techniques are being continued to be used independently. Our solution is to create a monthly session that can provide the group setting and continue to develop the skills and habits already established.
Teen Journaling 1
This workshop provides a creative space in which young people can connect visually to their thoughts and feelings.
Each week we will be filling our journals with art, imagination and words. Participants will mainly create journals from upcycling old books. We will make our own journals, there are plenty of different ways to create our own bespoke journals.
The journal becomes a visual diary, a space to record thoughts, memories and feelings. We will explore new techniques and learn creative ways to use recycled materials such as vintage paper, magazines ,basically any, 'found' materials, the list is endless.
The benefits of art journaling come from the process, the 'doing', the experience of creating, the opportunity to make art for self expression where there is no right or wrong. Art journals become a safe place to explore and unload and it realistically fits into daily lives to help self regulation and to build resilience. With guidance and encouragement participants will take inspiration from themes offered each week. Making art in this way can help to ease difficult thoughts, feelings and stress. It can be relaxing and time to create freely and play. Learning this skill has lifelong benefits.
Teen Journaling 2 - Making and filling a journal.
This workshop provides a creative space in which young people can connect visually to their thoughts and feelings.
Each week we will continue to create our journals, then continue to fill them with art, imagination and words.
We will learn to make our own journals, mainly creating journals from found materials (papers, maps, magazine, etc).
The journal becomes a visual diary, a space to record thoughts, memories and feelings. We will explore new techniques and learn creative ways to use recycled materials such as vintage paper, magazines ,basically any, 'found' materials, the list is endless.
The benefits of art journaling come from the process, the 'doing', the experience of creating, the opportunity to make art for self expression where there is no right or wrong. Art journals become a safe place to explore and unload and it realistically fits into daily lives to help self regulation and to build resilience. With guidance and encouragement participants will take inspiration from themes offered each week. Making art in this way can help to ease difficult thoughts, feelings and stress. It can be relaxing and time to create freely and play. Learning this skill has lifelong benefits.
Art for the Heart
These workshops provide an opportunity to experience creativity in a small group that is gentle and supportive. The focus is on the making, the doing, a space where there is no right or wrong. We will explore new techniques and learn creative ways to use recycled materials and mixed media.
Our instinct as a young human is to pick up a crayon and make marks, something we easily forget as an adult. We are all creative, we can all put a pen to paper and allow something to emerge.
With guidance and encouragement participants will take inspiration from themes provided.