Working with Safer Wales, as part of the Space to Grow project, various facilitators have been delivering impactful, nature-focused workshops to female service users. Safer Wales focuses on supporting and empowering individuals often marginalised in society, such as victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, exploitation, hate crime, and ex-offenders.
Creative Writing – Briony Goffin (X: @brionygoffin), a Creative Writing lecturer at Cardiff University, has led sessions on crafting simple list poems with an emphasis on joy and empowerment. Additionally, participants explored acrostic poetry, delving into their senses through nature with a focus on the changing seasons.
Nature Journaling – Local artist Kate Broadhurst (https://www.katebroadhurst.com/) facilitated a series of nature journaling workshops, guiding participants to reflect on patterns and textures within the natural environment. The sessions involved walking and collecting natural elements in Bute Park to directly inspire the subject matter and mark-making.
Painting – Amanda Turner (https://www.amandaturnerart.co.uk/) conducted accessible painting workshops, where participants focused on understanding values rather than mixing colours through the use of a single colour palette. The emphasis has been on natural subject matter, allowing participants to build on their painting skills and explore their connection to nature.
Ceramics – In the new year Lucy Dickson (https://www.lucydickson.co.uk/) will lead a series of ceramics workshops, offering an opportunity to learn basic clay building techniques. Participants’ pieces will undergo the full process of creating ceramics, including firing in a kiln.
The workshop participants have been thoroughly enjoying exploring the variety of art forms, learning new skills and expressing themselves creatively. The nature-focussed approach has been especially important as winter approaches, providing an opportunity to recognise the beauty in the changing seasons and an appreciation of outdoor spaces even in cold weather.
Some women combined their experience gained in the workshops and incorporated creative writing in their nature journaling sketchbooks. The Arts for Health and Wellbeing Team hopes that these accessible art forms become regular practices for participants, serving as a means to reflect and relax.
You can find out more about the wider Space to Grow project here. Special thanks to Arts Council of Wales for making it possible through their generous Arts for Health and Wellbeing Lottery funding.