Dozens of Harrogate children are set to express their creativity while learning more about the lives of people with disabilities thanks to a local charity and a regional developer.
Artizan International will be running its free Mosaics for Schools programme in three local primary schools over the coming academic year.
Artists with different disabilities will be paired with each school and will work with Year Five and Six pupils over a six-week period to develop mosaic art that the schools will be able to keep and display when it’s finished.
The project is designed to give the young artists a hands-on chance to develop a greater understanding of the talents and abilities of people with disabilities, as well as of the challenges they face.
It is being funded through a £1,956 grant from the Banks Group, which is covering the cost of staffing and materials in each school.
Artizan International aims to transform the lives of people with disabilities and enable fulfilling, independent futures through social enterprise, hospitality, and community inclusion.
Founded in 2013, it runs a range of sustainable programmes in both the UK and South America that build skills, opportunity and visibility for disabled people and enables them to gain skills, showcase their talents and gain recognition for their abilities.
Its Harrogate premises provide therapeutic arts and crafts workshops and workplace skills training opportunities for over 50 people with disabilities from across the region, with all the food at the popular Artizan Café on Cambridge Road being made by its trainees with the support of a team of staff and volunteers.
Liz Cluderay, chief executive at Artizan International, says: “This programme has been one of our most successful projects over the years and there are already some wonderful pieces of art on display in schools around the region, ranging from stepping stones and friendship benches through to welcome boards and even a playground wall.
“Primary school children may not yet have had the chance to spend much time with people with disabilities, and we aim to use art as a way of helping them build their understanding about them as both people and creative artists.
“It’s a real creative journey for everyone involved, and our experience is that, while the first week can sometime be awkward as everyone starts to get to know each other, the artists and children quickly begin to work very well together.
“As a Harrogate-based charity, we’re excited about the opportunities ahead for young people in our home community and are now working to identify the schools that will be taking part this year.
“Having this funding in place at the start of the new school year means we’re able to plan ahead without worrying about how we’re going to pay for the project, so we’re really grateful to Banks for giving us the chance to make it happen.”
Jamilah Hassan, community relations manager at the Banks Group, adds: “Artizan International’s exciting programme will give both local children and disabled artists a range of new creative and social opportunities, and we’re really pleased to be getting behind the work of such an innovative charity.”
The Banks Group’s community funds are independently managed by Point North.