Active8 Arts is a vibrant Warwickshire County Council outreach project for adults with learning disabilities, based in Nuneaton. It operates within a clear health and wellbeing framework.

 The project started in 2005 recognising that for adults with learning disabilities who have difficulty in communicating and expressing themselves through the medium of language there can be high levels of stress, frustration and isolation. Active8 Arts uses art practices and creativity to enhance communication and self expression. Allowing each individual to find their own medium to begin to make and express choices and opinions, whilst also working as a group to democratically produce artworks that are exhibited regularly, within gallery and non-gallery spaces. These have included cafes, community centres and also at community events like Leamington Peace Festival, where Active8 Arts work sat alongside other artists and craftspeople. This helped raise a positive profile of learning disabled adults within the community and showcased the skills and talents of the artists themselves, raising self confidence and aspirations.

                                         

Active8 Arts is based in an old shop so some pieces can be shown within the window display, resulting in the passing public coming in to comment on and ask about the work. This has had a huge wellbeing impact in terms of increased confidence from that positive acknowledgement and feedback about the work. Interaction with visitors allows new communication skills to be used positively and developed thus positively integrating the artists into the community in which the project is based.

Artists from Active8 Arts have successfully engaged in community projects with other agencies, such as ‘Memories’, a 12 week intergenerational participation with a local older persons establishment that used photography, ceramics and textiles to visually express personal memories and reminiscences. From the 1st to 26th September 2010 Active8 Arts is part of a joint exhibition at Warwick Museum with other learning disabled artists from Diakonie Stetten in Germany.

             

Examples of artworks can be viewed via the webpage www.warwickshire.gov.uk/active8 or on Art Spider www.artspider.org.uk 

We believe that the arts has a huge value and role in positively effecting change for people with learning disabilities and we are always keen to network with others and constantly move the project forward.  Contact us at:

Active8 Arts
1 Donnithorne Avenue
Hilltop
Nuneaton
CV10 7AF
Tel   02476 371405
Mob  07870 537230 
email  active8arts@live.co.uk
web   www.warwickshire.gov.uk/active8