Impressive artwork on display in Shrewsbury

People attending art classes as part of their recovery from mental health issues are displaying their work at an exhibition in Shrewsbury.

The Horizon Mental Health Forum provides creative classes for people dealing with a variety of conditions, and the art group is displaying its work at The Bear Steps Gallery from 7 to 20 April 2013, from 10am to 4pm.

The group is partly funded by people choosing to spend their personalised social care budgets on attending the classes, and is based at The Gateway Education and Arts Centre in Shrewsbury.

Art therapist, Elisha Maran-Barnell, who runs the group, said:

“The exhibition contains work from some people who are on day release from psychiatric care and some who have left full-time care.  Everyone is on a journey and the group helps them focus on their future possibilities rather than their past.

“The great thing about art is that it teaches you discipline as well as being creative and fulfilling – you have to start the picture and stick with it to the end.  It’s all about giving people the skills they need to take the next step.”

The idea of the Horizon Group is to give people who have either been discharged from mental health services, or are due to be discharged in six months, the chance to take part in taster sessions of various subjects such as art and music.  These taster sessions are run by other artists from the group and provide them with experience in teaching.

Michelle Ragdale, social inclusion lead officer at Shropshire Council, said:

“Groups like this are a great example of how personal budgets can be used to provide people with a really valuable skill that will help them on their road to recovery.  Many of these people had never tried art before, and the quality of work on display is amazing.  It really is wonderful to see, and I would urge anyone visiting Shrewsbury town centre to drop in to The Bear Steps Gallery to have a look.”