The Story

The seed for Tactile Arts was sown in 1983 when lead community artist April Lewis, then a student at Manchester Metropolitan University, ran an embroidery workshop at an arts centre in Liverpool. Children of all ages were involved including their older siblings, aunties and grandparents. The aim for this work was to teach a new skill in a fun and imaginative environment and the benefits for the community members were evident; children and adults went home with smiles on their faces keen to show off what they had done and proud of what they had achieved.

“This project was particularly inspiring for me, to see such widely spread generations learning together, sharing in their achievements and enjoying each others company.”

In the following years April worked as a wardrobe assistant, needlework instructor, youth worker, heath promotion officer and as an exercise coach for older people.

Combining April’s friendly enthusiastic manner, an in-depth understanding of inequalities with her creative flair, the first intergenerational project was born; working in collaboration with Dawn Robertson of Mediadivias the ‘Give an Inch’ project was developed. For this project April and Dawn took a group of socially excluded young people into a day centre for older people to develop reminiscence packs, see ‘projects’ for more information.

Working in partnership April and Dawn went on two develop other very successful intergenerational projects including ‘Mirror mirror’ and ‘Building Bridges’, see ‘projects’ for the full picture.

Tactile Arts has one full time community artist April Lewis and regularly collaborates with other artists including Dawn Robertson, Ian Gunner, Naomi Greaves, James Nicholls and Neil Willis.

The aims

Tactile Arts specialise in creative intergenerational and community based projects that are fun, inclusive and educational.

The aim for Tactile Arts work is to develop creative projects that are tailored to suit a community’s interests and needs, reduce social isolation, that challenge negative stereotypes, raise self esteem and educational aspirations and improve mental health.

“What I love about my work is when ‘magic happens’; that something extra that I hadn’t planned for, such as young and older people wanting to keep in touch after a project has finished”

How

Tactile Arts staff are friendly, welcoming and non judgemental. To protect the health and wellbeing of all participants ‘Child Protection’ and ‘Vulnerable Older People’s Policies’ are in place; all staff have ‘CRB clearance’; the projects are Risk Assessed and Tactile Arts has ‘Public and Employers Liability Insurance’. In this way community members can feel relaxed, safe and valued.

Any groups that are interested in developing a creative intergenerational or arts based project should contact April at Tactile Arts, see the ‘contact us’ page, to discuss ideas. Tactile Arts will write a full proposal free of charge. Tactile Arts do offer a consultancy service should a group want advice or support in the fund finding or application process.

Benefits

The projects that Tactile Arts develop help to raise self esteem, reduce social isolation, improve mental health, challenge negative stereotypes and provide opportunities for learning. Many of the projects incorporate a celebration event so that community members can come together and have their achievements recognised and awards certificates formally presented.

“It is important to me that the people who take part in my projects have a pat on the back; they need to know that they have done well”

Where appropriate young people can use what they have done on a project towards their work within the National Curriculum or Youth Achievement Award, their volunteering time may be recognised through the ‘V involved’ programme or ‘Duke of Edinburgh Award’. The Youth Service may present a ‘Passport 2 Success’ or ‘Junior Passport 2 Success’ certificate in recognition of their good work.

Older people can have their achievements recognised through the ‘Discovery Award’ which is similar to the ‘Duke of Edinburgh Award’ and some schools offer a GCSE in Citizenship which older people can study alongside their younger class mates.

To find out what community members thought of working with Tactile Arts please see ‘testimonials’.

Customers

Tactile Arts work with schools, inclusion units, pupil referral units, youth projects, friendship groups, church clubs, day centres, lunch clubs and activity groups. For intergenerational projects they work with children and young people between the age of 8 and 21 years and older people over 55 years of age.