Impact Arts

Impact Arts has launched a pioneering new project working
with children aged 4 to 12 years who have been diagnosed with dyslexia, in partnership with
Glasgow Dyslexia Support
Service (GDSS) and funding from Big Lottery’s Investing in Ideas Fund. The ‘Creative Dyslexia’ programme is intended to be the
first step in creating a visual art toolkit, an on-line resource accessible in
schools across Glasgow for Dyslexic Children.

Impact Arts have delivered an exciting
programme through The Young Gallery, Scotland’s first gallery dedicated to
celebrating children’s creativity. In Glasgow 1 in 6 children are dyslexia
(GDSS Stats) and Impact Arts believe that through
engaging children in a creative process their needs will be better supported.

Workshops have focused on building
self-confidence, better understanding the impact of Dyslexia within the school environment, identity, learning new creative skills and communication
through a range of creative activities such as ‘me maps’, team games, 3D
modelling, drawing and painting, collage, printing, colour theory and a design
the perfect school challenge.

Children with dyslexia could face
difficulties with spelling, handwriting, listening, memorising verbal
information, organisation, numeracy sequences, phonics and timed tasks. Research
even suggests that children ‘with dyslexia whose needs are not effectively
addressed at Primary School can lead to (them) suffering from: frustration,
stress, shyness, negative thinking, uncertainty, depression and a life?long lack
of confidence.’[1]

The Creative Dyslexia programme has generated a
collection of artwork created and curated by children with dyslexia, which exhibition launches on the 24th of June. Children who
complete the programme will have increased self-belief and confidence, a
greater understanding of Dyslexia, a support network of peers and visual
exhibition of work that communicates their learning needs to teachers, friends
and family.

Natalie McFadyen White, Business
Development and Consultation Manager said:

“We developed Creative Dyslexia through
monitoring our own environment. As a creative organisation we have a high
percentage of employees who are dyslexic, a statistic replicated throughout the
creative industries and arts education.

“Further research into the link between
creativity and dyslexia also highlighted the importance of early detection
amongst children who run the risk of long term negative learning trends if not
diagnosed and/or supported effectively within primary school. The visual arts
toolkit will be developed on the back of the findings of this programme and we
hope, will do just that.”

-Ends-

Contacts

For more
information contact Rob on 0141 575 3001 or [email protected].

Details

Visit the exhibition 24th-5th July Tuesday- Friday 12pm-5pm, The Young Gallery 112 Sword Street G31 1SF.

Through
collaborative working with the Glasgow Dyslexia Centre 45 children aged 4 to 12
years will be offered the opportunity to engage in three 8 week programmes over
a 6 month period.