A Landmark In The Landscape at Tatton Park
MENTION mental health, and from people’s faces you’ll soon see it remains one of The Unspoken Things.
Start group, established in 1993 in Salford is trying to tackle just this, with its latest art exhibition A Landmark In The Landscape set in the Cheshire countryside of the National Trust’s Tatton Park.
From July 2 to July 19 arts and crafts created by Start’s participants will be on show, to peel away the expectations and let people find out the truth.
You’ll be able to find out about Start’s two core activities of arts and gardening, as well as how these opportunities can allow those who Start works with to develop aspirations and the creative skills which will be transferable to other situations of life, such as when looking for a job.
Overcoming mental health difficulties
Start is focused primarily on gardening, inherently a relaxing physical activity and one which is therapeutic. Since Start’s members are referred from community services or mental health services, the steps which they’ve taken to create the artworks at Tatton have been incredibly challenging at times.
Yet through a pathway of education, volunteering, work-based experience, self-employment and leisure opportunities Start has given these people a chance to grow despite their difficulties.
Tatton Park is only just south of Manchester in Cheshire, and can be easily reached by car.
With an exhibition open from 11am to 4pm and completely free, this is a great opportunity to gain an insight into how community projects can create arts and crafts worthy of one of the National Trust’s most stunning northern venues.
And of course, it’s also a step further to making mental health be less whispered, but more acknowledged and openly discussed.
Published: Fri, 26 June, 2009
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