This week S2C was very sad to say goodbye to Anne-Marie from her post at Lakeland Arts. In her role as a community engagement artist Anne-Marie has done so much for the Charity. I first met Anne-Marie in the stress and turmoil of the closure of local mental health charity Workbase in 2012. In the very first meeting where five of us proposed creating S2C, Anne-Marie was there by chance on her second day in her new job! We proposed Space2Create and were looking for places to hold sessions and so of course with no real authority to do so Anne-Marie offered us the use of The Lab at Abbot Hall Art Gallery. The rest as they say….history.
That insight and awareness of the need and value of cultural engagement for those struggling with mental and physical illness along with the isolation and stigma it entails. This was the start of an on-going relationship with Lakeland Arts that we hope has been as beneficial for them as for us. From our point of view the relationship has allowed us to immediately from the start have the recognition by a large arts organisation of our value and this in turn has given what we do that little bit more weight when it comes to spreading the message…..creativity helps. Access to the exhibitions with the insight and knowledge that has helped so many vulnerable people from S2C appreciate art and its value as well an understanding of what an art gallery is about. We have taken so many people into a gallery who might otherwise never have had the inclination or opportunity to do so. Along with this has been a range of projects where our service users have been able to work alongside some amazing artists in amazing locations. From carving soap in the middle of a Barbra Hepworth exhibition to creating ceramic tiles that were exhibited at Blackwell.
As for Anne-Marie, what can I say. The humour, compassion, understanding, thoughtfulness. consideration, dedication, openness, sincerity, enthusiasm, friendship…..you get the idea. To me personally, to the volunteers and to the service users Anne-Marie has always had the time and interest to motivate, support and inspire us all.
Finally. the cake. Oh my the cakes. A signature of an Anne-Marie presence is a delicious cake. And so of course on her last official S2c visit she came bearing a lovely chocolate cake! We all wish Anne-Marie the very best for the future and we are very certain we shall be keeping in touch.
We now look forward to the future and continuing to build on the relationship with Lakeland Arts alongside the new person in that role, charged with engaging the community.
Some of the artwork created at S2C this week: