Impact Arts

10
exceptional Makers and Artists have been on a professional training and
mentoring journey for the past 9 months, using their creativity and newfound
skills to collaborate with 20 community groups in North Ayrshire.

A showcase of
their work is taking place at beautiful Barony Centre, from Monday 14^th–
Saturday 26^th June and we are encouraging the public to go along and
check it out!

Delivered by Impact Arts on behalf of Craft Town Scotland,
West Kilbride, The Makers & Artists Mentoring Programme (M&) has
been training ten Makers/Artists for the past 9 months. Working with Makers/Artists
who are currently unemployed or under-employed, and focusing on a structured
programme of training and hands-on experience in participatory arts practice,
reaching up to 300 people in communities across North Ayrshire via bespoke
projects.

Artist and
participant Katie Lowe said; “I joined M& as I felt that it was an
amazing opportunity to explore community arts and discover more outside my own
discipline of silver jewellery. I have never wanted to, or felt motivated
focusing on one thing. I have really enjoyed motivating others to have a go at
drawing within my community arts projects. Feedback has been so positive and
many have said that they find drawing relaxing, good for the mind and
meditative. Some have even said they will continue to keep drawing in a sketch
book, which is extremely encouraging! I have really pushed sculpting and
printing as much as I could during this past year.”

The group have been working with Schools and community
groups across North Ayrshire on various different projects, including;

Primary 7’s from Hayocks
Primary in Stevenson, where they pupils have been decorating fabric flags
to brighten up schools gates. The classes are studying WW2 at the moment with a
theme around hope and transitioning from a dark time to a more uplifting time as
well as the changes coming out of lockdown.

St Anthony’s Primary,
in Saltcoats, through North Ayrshire Active Schools programme, the P6s are
exploring clay figures and shapes, and re-imagining a story inspired by a
ceramic scavenger hunt around the school yard.

South Ardrossan
Larder & Food Bank have been taking part in abstract line drawing
challenges and a scavenger hunt book to inspire children to see their everyday
places a little bit differently.

They have also worked with residents at Abbotsford Nursing Home in Ardrossan, running craft activities,
including decoupage glass jars, ‘painting with scissors’ collages and stitched
coasters.

These are just some of the amazing groups the markers and
artists have been working with across North Ayrshire. If you want to come along
and see some of the work then be sure to head along to The Barony Centre
between the 14^th – 26^th June.

Kay Hall, from
West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd, said; “It has been such a privilege for Craft Town Scotland to be able to
offer this project particularly during such challenging times. We have
enjoyed watching the educational programme roll out, offering creativity and
business skills, and to see experienced mentors encouraging individual
development and providing support. The group of 10 artists and mentors have
created a diverse network and bring many creative experiences to be shared with
community groups. I am looking forward to seeing these creative arts projects
documented and displayed in the ‘Create Connect Celebrate Exhibition’ at the
Barony Centre in mid-June. We hope sincerely that many of those involved
will continue creating with us well into the future.”

Address: The Barony Centre, Main Street, West Kilbride, KA23
9AR.

Open 10-4, closed Sundays.