Free arts and wellbeing workshops to help Prestonians emerge from lockdown

Brendan Bunting from Can’t Draw? Don’t Worry! will run some of the workshops

Prestonians are being invited to a series of online creative wellbeing workshops led by artists including award-winning poet Louise Fazackerley.

The workshops – which started on Monday and run until the end of April – give locals a chance to have a go at illustration, doodling, journaling, photography, collage, writing and more, with the encouragement and support of friendly, talented and experienced artists.

Participants can share their work as part of The Living City’s online exhibition reflecting memories, concerns and hopes of local people at this time of change.

Free for Preston postcode residents, some workshops are open to all, while others are specifically aimed at mums of children under two, carers and people experiencing anxiety.

They Eat Culture director Ruth Heritage said: “We wanted to give people the opportunity to meet people who perhaps have faced similar challenges during the pandemic, share their stories of their ups and downs, and to explore experience, hopes and emotions in creative ways.

“Our artists have devised workshops and resources that give something to everyone: those aged 14+ can tackle them solo, families with young children can have a go together, and ‘try-this’ activities will make you think in different ways.

“If you’re a beginner you’ll learn something new, and if you come with experience we hope you’ll take away new ideas and activities to explore your creativity!”

Danielle Chappell Aspinall will run a Doodling for New Mums workshop

The workshops are part of The Living City project, produced by They Eat Culture. It has been running throughout the pandemic, and further activity is set to take place across the city and online as lockdown ends.

A previous project, The Voices, saw Preston people talking about their experience of the pandemic, including their thoughts on how to build a better life with work, life and play.

To book a workshop place, sign up for further information, or explore The Voices project visit the Living City website.

To receive a free The Living City creative activity journal, email ‘Send me a journal’ and your postal address to info@theyeatculture.org.

If you work with a specific community, business or group, or individually want to see if The Living City can support you to get back to normality with its accessible programme, email info@theyeatculture.org.

Will you be getting involved with the workshops? Let us know in the comments.