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27.
June
2016.
Press Release | Leach Pottery local dementia arts & wellbeing project | 11 July

PRESS RELEASE
27
/06/16

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Walking Impressions

Leach Pottery and the Sensory Trust are collaborating with people living with dementia in the St Ives area on an innovative arts and wellbeing project

Open morning and introduction to the project | All welcome Monday 11th July 10.30-12.30

 

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The Leach Pottery and Sensory Trust are collaborating with people living with dementia in the St Ives area on an innovative arts and wellbeing project. Walking Impressions is a creative project involving walking in the Cornish landscape and using nature as inspiration for a new ceramic artwork. Starting in August of this year, participants with dementia and their carers will meet for weekly walks and studio sessions that will culminate in a collaborative artwork made from low relief pottery tiles.

Walking Impressions is part of the Sensory Trust's ‘Creative Spaces in the Community' project through which people with dementia and their carers from around Cornwall meet regularly to take part in walking, fishing, gardening and woodland craft activities, enabling them to get outdoors and engage with nature, enhancing their physical and mental wellbeing and reducing isolation and loneliness.

Jennifer, a Creative Spaces participant, says: ‘Imagine wandering along the beach and picking up pretty, interesting pebbles that catch your eye. You feel relaxed in the sunshine, and soothed by the sound of the waves. Maybe you sit and draw pebble patterns in the sand, arranging your pebbles together in a way that pleases you, and then create a wonderful group artwork that holds safe our happy memories of friendships.'

Project Officer Bridget Mazzey says: ‘We're very excited to be collaborating with the Leach Pottery on this project. People really respond to being outdoors in nature and having the opportunity to be creative. It should be great fun.'

Leach Learning and Participation Officer and accomplished potter Jackie Clark will be guiding the Walking Impressions participants in the use of ceramics, exploring the connection between landscape, nature and memories and using natural materials to make tools and to imprint into clay. The project will involve each participant in 3 or 4 walks and 2 studio sessions.

Walking Impressions is an exciting new departure for the Leach Pottery team enabling them, through their collaboration with the Sensory Trust, to gain expertise in working with people with dementia and extend their educational offer to a new audience.

The project will be documented by film maker Richard Liddicott. The film will enable the participants to share their experiences and art work with a wider audience and demonstrate the benefits of getting outdoors, engaging with nature and being creative. The final collaborative artwork will be exhibited at the Leach Pottery from 9th to 20th November 2016, with all participants coming together to celebrate their work.

If you are living with dementia or care for a person who is, and are interested in taking part in this unique project, please join us at The Leach Pottery, St Ives on Monday 11th July 10.30-12.30 for an introduction to the project, a tour of the pottery and light refreshments.

If you would like to take part in this project please contact Bridget Mazzey, Project Officer at Sensory Trust,bmazzey@sensorytrust.org.uk, 01726 222900,www.sensorytrust.org.ukor Jackie Clark, Learning and Participation Officer at the Leach Pottery, 01736 799703, The Leach Pottery, Higher Stennack, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 2HE,www.leachpottery.com.

Key Dates

Monday 11thJuly 10.30 - 12.30| Open morning introduction to the project at Leach Pottery

Wednesday 31stAugust - 12th October | Walks and studio workshops (6 x weekly sessions)

Wednesday 9thNovember - Sunday 20thNovember | Exhibition at Leach Pottery (Private View Weds 9th)

This project has been made possible by Feast, Arts Council England and Cornwall Council. The programme is managed by Creative Kernow.

 

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300 dpi print ready images for your use:
 

Walking Impressions Beach Walk 

Walking Impressions pebbles and textures

Walking Impressions studio time


NOTES FOR EDITORS
Leach Pottery

The Leach Pottery in St Ives founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada is among the most respected and influential potteries in the world. The Leach philosophy is concerned with direct engagement with materials, learning through doing and creating beauty in everyday objects. Today the Leach Pottery is a charitable trust that continues this historic legacy through a working production pottery, museum, exhibitions spaces, and a learning & participation studio. With over 20 years of outreach and inhouse ceramic education practice involving a broad spectrum of participants, the Learning & Participation team deliver the Leach philosophy through hands on activities. The Leach Pottery is managed by the Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust Ltd, a registered charity founded in 2005 reg. no 1111263. The primary objectives of the trust are to further the development of studio pottery, provide training in the art, craft and making of pottery and to advance the public education of the life and work of Bernard Leach and his circle.

For Leach Pottery enquiries please contact Dr Katie Bunnell, Acting Director, Leach Pottery, Higher Stennack, St. Ives, Cornwall TR26 2HEkatie@leachpottery.comTel: 01736 799703www.leachpottery.comFor press information contact Mercedes Smith at Fine Art Communications,mercedes@fineartcommunications.co.uk,07825 270235,www.fineartcommunications.co.uk.

The Sensory Trust

The Sensory Trust makes places more accessible, attractive and useful for everyone, regardless of age, disability and social circumstances. Their work brings social and health benefits to people whose lives are affected by social exclusion, including older people, people with physical, sensory, and intellectual impairments and families and carers. They encourage richer connections between people and place so that people can value and get involved with their environment. They aim to remove barriers and make places and processes more accessible so that more people can join in; working with communities so that people can contribute to the decisions that affect them and the places where they live.

For further information, contact the Sensory Trust, c/o Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall PL24 2SG. +44(0)1726 222900, www.sensorytrust.org.uk

Feast

Feast is a programme to make great art happen across Cornwall. It harnesses the talents and energy of Cornwall's artists and communities, generating new opportunities for everyone to enjoy the arts. The focus is on bringing people together to share experiences as audiences or participants, and on animating local celebrations and cultural life.

For further information, contact FEAST, Krowji, The Old Grammar School, West Park, Redruth TR15 3AJ, 01209 312502,feast@actcornwall.org.uk

Arts Council England

Arts Council England was set up in 1946 by Royal Charter to champion and develop art and culture across the country. They are governed by an executive board and national and area councils. They invest public money including National Lottery money to help bring great art and culture to everyone. Over the next three years Arts Council England will invest £1.1 billion of public money from Government and an estimated £700 million from the National Lottery to help create great art and culture for everyone, everywhere. They receive Government funding from the Department for Culture Media and Sport and their requirements are laid out in a funding agreement with them.

For further information, contact Arts Council England 0845 300 6200 or go to www.artscouncil.org.uk

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