Lifestyles Exhibition from 13 April

A ‘work-in-progress’ exhibition of artwork created by the users of Orkney Health and Care’s Lifestyles Centre opens next week (Friday 13 April).

The work is part of an ongoing collaborative project between the service and artists Sheena Graham George and Angelica Kroeger, which aims to provide adults with a wide range of learning disabilities, access to creative workshops.

Through the project, participants have been supported to explore their own creativity, grow in confidence and develop creative skills that will be valuable to them beyond the life of the project.

The project, part funded by Orkney’s LEADER programme, has the long-term aim of collaboratively creating a piece of public art for display at the Lifestyles Service.

The exhibition is being held at the Lifestyles Service at the Pickaquoy Centre on Friday April 13 and then moves to the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness between Saturday April 14 and Saturday April 28.

Antony Mottershead, the Council’s Arts Officer, designed the project alongside Ross Groundwater , the manager of the Lifestyles Services. Antony said: “The project has been a great success so far – we’re really keen to highlight the work that has been done before we move on to creating our piece of public art.

“The project has enabled service users to participate in activities and opportunities that many of us take for granted, enabling individuals to express themselves in new and different ways.”

Supporting around 40 adults, the lifestyles service provides modern, flexible, community-based services to meet the wide-ranging needs of service users.

The building, which opened in 2015 and is situated at the Pickaquoy Centre includes an IT suite, a multi-sensory space, an outdoor garden and provides easy access to the sports and leisure facilities at the Picky. It promotes community involvement, aiming to offer people with learning disabilities opportunities to be involved in their community and to become more independent.