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https://www.positive.news/society/uks-first-artist-residency-treatment-recovery-centre-launches/>
"A residency in Greater Manchester has been exploring how the arts can play a
role in recovery from substance use.
Manchester’s Castlefield Gallery teamed up with Anew, a not-for-profit
residential therapeutic community in Hyde, Greater Manchester, to discover how
creative activities can aid recovery journeys.
The project was put together by Portraits of Recovery, a UK contemporary arts
organisation working with people in recovery from substance use.
“Our ethos is about looking at arts and culture as part of people’s recovery
journey, and about making social change through arts and culture,” said Dominic
Pillai, curator of social engagement at Portraits of Recovery.
Pillai explained that the organisation has a philosophy called ‘recoverism’,
which approaches recovery from a cultural and activist perspective.
“The recovery community is a marginalised community – there’s a lot of stigma
around it – so Portraits of Recovery is about visibility,” he said. “We are
working with marginalised voices in society and the recovery community itself
but the broader context is about breaking down barriers and creating
inclusion.”
In what is thought to be the UK’s first artist residency in a treatment and
recovery centre, designer Joe Hartley made twice-weekly visits to Anew,
collaborating with around 60 people.
Because of the fluid nature of Anew, Hartley worked with different people at
different stages of recovery, across disciplines including ceramics and
photography.
“In one of the early sessions, Joe did a bonding exercise where people were
making teapots – as tea and tea-making are a big part of the recovery process,”
explained Pillai. “To challenge people from getting too possessive or taking
ownership, one person would make the body, pass it on, the next would make a
handle, the next a spout. All the pots were made by everyone, not by one
person,” said Pillai.
“It can be bleak in the recovery process, but we wanted to make sure it was
joyous, and that it helped create community and connection,” he said. People
with lived experience of addiction often feel isolated, Pillai explained, “but
art can bring people together, build community and give a renewed sense of
purpose.”
“How we look at the world is through art and culture, and what that reflects
back to us,” he said. “Art means many things to different people, and that’s no
different for the recovery community either. We think it’s vital.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
