DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACH

Development and outreach is an integral part of Flaxart’s activities and connects the residency and graduating student programmes with a wider audience as well as developing projects in collaboration with local groups.

Over the years, Flaxart has worked in partnership with community groups in the Cliftonville, Waterworks, Carrick Hill and Newington areas on participatory projects mainly aimed at young people. Flaxart aims to involve a larger section of the community in its outreach projects by involving all ages in the developmental stages of the projects and by pitching them as a tool that can benefit everyone.

Axis, a pioneering new project has been developed for 2011 engaging the elderly and visual arts.

AXIS

Our pilot project comes from a deep concern about the way older people are treated in our Society and broadens the reach of Flaxarts’ programme through development and research.

The Axis project focuses on elderly people who currently live independently within supported housing schemes to include those who have developed early stage dementia.

It offers those in the early and mid stages of the disease an expressive outlet and forum for dialogue.

Participants will be taken in small groups to visit Museums and Galleries in the Belfast area once a month.

Knowledgeable guides will lead our groups in an exploration of the Gallery collection/exhibition.

Inspiration from the collection will act as a starting point for the creative process and encourage participants to return visits.

The Axiselderly blog site will record the project through film, photography and sound bytes on a ongoing basis and will become an important historical and social record which will form the basis of a publication.

For more information, see the axiselderly blogspot.