Creative Communities, New Perspectives
“The course has made me realise that we exist as a community, that people are interested in each another and the way they see the world and they can learn from each other that way.”
Creative Communities, New Perspectives Participant
WHAT WAS IT?
Creative Communities, New Perspectives was a cross-sector partnership to boost mental health and wellbeing through mindful photography and drama, between five Gloucester-based organisations: Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS), Inclusion Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire Carers Hub and Look Again Photography.
WHAT DID IT DO?
The project brought together carers, NHS patients, adults facing disabling barriers, adults living with or in recovery from mental ill health and people seeking or who have been granted asylum and delivered a programme of workshops that explored the relationship between photography and mindfulness.
The project culminated in an inspiring exhibition of the work at Gloucester Cathedral that ran throughout August 2021 to an audience of over 30,000 visitors. Over 200 people took part in arts activities around the themes of the exhibition. An inclusive drama and dance performance was also developed and created in response to the images and presented alongside the photographs as part of the final exhibition.
Creative Communities, New Perspectives reached 36 participants with in-depth support and over 30,000 audience members for the final exhibition.
“Mindful photography has improved my self-esteem and confidence and has been a powerful way of helping to change my life."
Creative Communities, New Perspectives Participant
WHAT DIFFERENCE DID IT MAKE?
For participants, a feeling of pride and empowerment at seeing their work on display in the exhibition
For the organisations involved, the exhibition further strengthened the partnerships forged through the project
For visitors, the exhibition provided an opportunity to be inspired and gain awareness around how creativity can help mental health
THE PARTNERS REFLECTED HOW WORKING TOGETHER HAD:
Enabled them to draw upon diverse professional expertise across the whole project to achieve high-quality outputs
Reached a far more diverse group of participants than any one partner could have achieved alone
Reached wider and more diverse audiences through their combined networks
Gained expertise and a greater understanding of other sectors and partners
“This project demonstrates how working collaboratively in close and equal partnership using the arts can bring together the public health, voluntary and community sectors to have a long lasting legacy and impact”.
Helen Jeffrey, Community Engagement and Social Responsibility Manager, Gloucester Cathedral
Creative Communities, New Perspectives is generously funded by Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
Lead image: Inclusion Gloucestershire.