Lockdown art through ‘Communication through Art’ programme is inspiring a new movement of positivity for well being projects across Blackpool

Knowing the art of life for her students was in working together for their 'Communication through the Art programme' Blackpool artist Tina Dempsey ripped up the canvas and with support of the centre and Venture Arts and got artistic in her approach to make their weekly activities come alive at home.

The New Langdale’s ‘Communication through Art’ programme usually meets on a weekly basis at the Blackpool Centre for Independent Living, in Warbreck Drive and around eight adults with learning disabilities have been discovering arts in a variety of mediums.

But Tina, from Poulton, says it was important lockdown didn't get in the way of their progress and so began a weekly social distance visits to each of her students to deliver art packs that the students could work on at home and involve their families too.

Tina, who graduated from University of Central Lancashire with a first class honours in Fine Art says: "It has been a lifeline for these people and I cannot believe the gorgeous and amazing works that have been produced - it has been so lovely to keep up that connection but to see these most authentic creations coming out.

"In our regular sessions the students had been exploring and discovering their particular practices and what techniques worked for them. They've still been doing that at home but finding new ways and different skills and I've loved that and talking, at a safe social distance, and catching up .

"It's added a new layer to the value of the project as now I'm seeing the families too and they've been getting involved and talking about how great it is to have had this opportunity through this time."

Using bespoke packs of art materials carefully prepared and safely delivered by Tina to the artists’ homes, the new works being developed and have taken inspiration from the artists’ immediate surroundings from portraits to the printing of their past works on jigsaws.

Tina adds: "Lockdown has been unsettling for many but the important thing for our adults is for them and their families to not feel isolated. It's given me so much more insight getting to know the families not just the students. It's so important when you're responsible and caring for someone, like many of these families that you take some time for your own wellbeing too.

"Also our people have been able to keep in touch, sharing letters, which has been so nice and then there have been some incredible portraits from one of our girls Sam, who had never worked on portraits before.

"We are planning to film her working on a piece in the garden for a documentary we're putting together."

Tina has been working alongside Blackpool photographer Claire Griffiths on the film and the wider 'Communication through Art' programme has been a collaboration with The New Langdale and Venture Arts, Manchester with financial support from Access Fylde Coast, a Coastal Communities funded project.

Tina adds: "It has been such an inspiring time to see our adults working so naturally, the art is so raw in that sense and I'm so excited now for the next phase of the project and what we can do with the works produced, there is lots of ideas.

"Importantly there is scope to widen this out, make new connections, build new opportunities.There's some fantastic things going on in the town, the work that goes into making these opportunities for so many different people from all walks of life, which doesn't always get the spotlight it deserves. I feel so grateful to have been asked to get involved with this and the support from Venture Arts and indeed Access Fylde Coast has just been wonderful - incredible.

"To see how people developing and what they're achieving really is special."

Much of Tina's work is focused on well being and the multiple forms in which it can take shape in art form from simple text to colours.

She adds: "Art was life changing for me and through this work I just want to include and promote as many other amazing local artists involved in the art scene around the resort."

Coun Kim Critchley, cabinet assistant for arts, adds: “This excellent project is a shining example of art’s ability to help people express themselves and their experience of the here and now. I look forward to seeing the new artworks that are being created by Tina and The New Langdale team.“