Arte Inclusive

Bearpark Artists Co-op (www.bearparkartists.co.uk), working with Volunteers for Mental Health (www.vfmh.org.uk), are taking art workshops to patients living in the psychiatric institution of Tarnaveni Hospital, Romania, for a week at the end of September 2016.

They have 22 years’ experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and mental health patients, and in the education sector. They will work with groups and with individuals. A collective piece of work will be developed with other social groups, including a group of high school students and a group of young adults with learning disabilities, in Tarnaveni. It is hoped that this will help to address the historic problem of marginalisation of those with mental health issues and learning disabilities in Romania.

The collective drawing exercise developed by Barrie requires no previous drawing skills and has been adapted for a wide range of ages and abilities. It is then developed in colour and can be passed on to the next group to be worked on in paint. In this way a more complex piece of work evolves, making a link between the participant groups from within and outside the hospital. Romey (who led and developed the Bearpark art workshop for adults with learning disabilities for 20 years) will be working on a more one-to-one basis. Suzie Balazs (www.suziebalazs.co.uk), who has worked with Barrie and Romey previously, will bring the added advantage of familiarity with Romania and her Hungarian roots.

Bearpark Artists Co-op is donating £500 towards the project, which should cover their living expenses. They will also be donating their professional services to the value of £800. They are now hoping to raise enough money to cover their other expenses, such as materials, interpreters and transport.

Please help them to make this project happen by making a donation. All donations will go directly to the Bearpark Artists' Co-op.

£5 will buy a box of charcoal

£10 will buy a box of pastels

£20 will help towards paints or brushes

£50 will cover one artist's road and rail transport in Romania

£100 will pay for one artist's flight to Romania

Thank you.