A nationwide arts initiative is fostering connections between young individuals transitioning out of care in Cornwall and their counterparts in Scotland and Worcester. This collaborative project, spearheaded by a consortium of regional art galleries, is culminating in an exhibition titled “Making Her Mark: A Celebration of Women in Art.”
This endeavor is part of the “Going Places” project, an Art Fund initiative that has received significant funding to facilitate the exchange of artworks and touring exhibitions across the United Kingdom. The participating institutions—Penlee House Gallery and Museum in Penzance, Kirkcaldy Galleries in Scotland, and Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum—are not only showcasing art but also providing valuable creative opportunities for young people with experience in the care system.
Emma Thomas, who has benefited from the support of the charity Carefree Cornwall and participated in the project, shared her positive experience. “I wouldn’t have done this a year ago. I gained a lot of confidence from it,” she stated. The Carefree Cornwall group, in collaboration with Penzance-based artist Kate Turner, contributed a banner to the Penlee House iteration of the exhibition, which delves into the roles of women in art.
“We’ve explored what a more equitable world might look like for female artists and other marginalized genders within the art world,” Turner explained.
Gracie Divall, who leads the project for the Art Fund, highlighted the initiative’s aim to democratize access to art. “All of these organisations have comparatively small collections by women artists,” she observed. “So individually they can’t put on a show, or tell a story of women artists, but together the collections tell this amazing story of these voices that have been overlooked.”
Cultural Exchange Beyond Art
The organizers emphasize that this collaboration transcends a mere exchange of artistic objects. It actively cultivates opportunities for young individuals from the care system in each participating location to connect, create collaboratively, offer mutual support, and experience each other’s hometowns.
Upon undertaking the eleven-hour train journey to Kirkcaldy Galleries in Scotland, the group from Carefree Cornwall discovered a community, tourism sector, and coastal landscape that resonated with their own experiences in Cornwall. However, it was the behind-the-scenes access to the gallery’s operations that proved most impactful.
Josie Bond expressed a newfound interest in pursuing history studies, remarking, “I loved looking in archives. It’s a really cool environment to be in.”
Cameron Jones described the Scottish community as “really welcoming.” He added, “They wanted to know all about Cornwall, and it felt like they were accepting our Cornish culture, just as much as we were appreciating theirs. It was a really beautiful thing.”
Anna Renton from Penlee House Gallery and Museum expressed the institution’s commitment to “nurturing the creativity” of Carefree Cornwall members by integrating them into this inter-gallery collaboration.
Cameron Jones shared his sentiment, stating the community in Scotland was “really welcoming.” He added, “They wanted to know all about Cornwall, and it felt like they were accepting our Cornish culture, just as much as we were appreciating theirs. It was a really beautiful thing.”
Anna Renton from Penlee House Gallery and Museum remarked that their objective was to “nurture the creativity” of the Carefree Cornwall members by involving them in the gallery’s collaborative endeavors with other institutions.
Business Style Takeaway: This initiative demonstrates the power of cultural collaboration to build confidence and foster empathy among young individuals facing similar life transitions. For businesses and brands, it underscores the value of investing in community engagement and providing platforms for marginalized voices to be heard, thereby building authentic connections and a stronger brand reputation.
Details can be found on the website : www.bbc.com