In 2015 the COESI charity was successful in securing Awards for All Big
Lottery funding for Research and Consultation in preparation for running an Art
for All the Senses Project in the NE region starting in 2016.
Our idea was to create an opportunity for people with
sensory impairments (as well as other disabilities) to develop art work, culminating in an exhibition each year
which stimulates the senses.
We ran a consultation process to
ensure we heard the views of key stakeholders in the Teesside area so that we
could evidence the need in this region for activities that help people to engage
in their communities, and to support our main application for lottery funding. Unfortunately we have been unsuccessful with our Reaching Communities funding application but we have learned a great deal from the consultation process and are looking again at how to make progress in this area of work.
Our intention is to work with and support people with a range of sensory impairments and disabilities :-
- people who are blind or have a
visual impairment
- people who are deaf and hard
of hearing
- people with learning
disabilities and sensory impairments
- people with mental ill health
and sensory impairments
- children and young people with
special needs
- people with physical
disabilities and sensory loss
We would run a number of workshops to give people the chance to experience
different types of art and craft work and to then choose their preferred medium.
Experienced artists would then work with individuals to support them to prepare
one or two large items of work for exhibition.
Exhibition
Through this process we would create a range of artwork and display it at one or more local exhibitions making it as accessible as possible using known formats and new technology.
The exhibitions would be promoted to attract local and national media attention and we would monitor and evaluate their success.
Those involved could continue to
engage with the art community and work with us to support further developments, with potential for ongoing
activities for all groups.