Community Through Art

Shipley, GB

About us

Community Through Art aims to bring people together by uniting two natural instincts humans have: the desire to create and the desire to connect with other people.

I am Alex, a Bingley-based amateur artist, and I decided to create this group to encourage people to tap into their creative side and to gather together meaningfully. Many people struggle with loneliness and isolation, and finding a place to spend time with others without having to buy something can be difficult. I want to bring more no-purchase-required art and connection into people’s lives (mine included), hence the creation of this group.

During our weekly sessions, we will be working around selected topics, have conversations and get to know each other while we make some art together. As beginning is sometimes the hardest thing when trying to create something, prompts and reference images will be provided. However, if you already know what you want to make, you can feel free to do so. The only ask is that the artwork be related to the week’s topic. The sessions are aimed at adults only (18+ - but you can bring a teen along as long as they come with you), and while they are hosted, they are not tutorials or art lessons.

Upcoming events

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9 seats left
Community Through Art Session 2: Nature as Muse
Sat, Sep 12 · 10:00 AM BST
Kirkgate Centre, 39A Kirkgate, Shipley BD18 3EH, UK, Shipley, GB
Hello and welcome 😊 Please make sure to book your free ticket via Eventbrite - you can also find an FAQ there:

BOOK FREE TICKET HERE

During this session we will focus our artistic and conversational efforts on none other than Mother Nature. The environment has had an incredible ability to amaze and inspire us since... well, since for ever. Nature has been ever-present in art, from cave painting to contemporary work. It is a source of peace and calm for many people, something that we naturally feel drawn to, for its beauty and its ability to sustain life. In modern society, we can lose sight of the importance of our connection to nature. So, in this session, I would like us to explore this. Can you create something that tries to express your connection to nature? Maybe this is a particular place you love visiting, or a nature spot that brings back great memories. Maybe, on the contrary, you don’t feel connected enough and would like to become reacquainted with nature.

I will provide some references to serve as inspiration. You can also bring your own if you have any that inspire you. If you would like them printed out, email them to me at communitythroughart514@gmail.com.

We will be waiting in the Kirkgate Centre communal area until 10:10am, after which the door has to be locked, so please arrive on time, if at all possible, otherwise let me know ahead of time if you will be late.

Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be provided 😊
I look forward to seeing you there!
1 attendee
9 seats left
Community Through Art Session 3: Portrait of an ancestor/mentor
Sat, Sep 26 · 10:00 AM BST
Kirkgate Centre, 39A Kirkgate, Shipley BD18 3EH, UK, Shipley, GB
In this session, we will tackle some portraiture (please don't panic!) while sharing stories of days gone by.

Please make sure to book your free ticket via Eventbrite - link below. You can also find some extra info and FAQs there:

BOOK FREE TICKET HERE

Hello and welcome 😊

My grandmother played a very significant role in my upbringing. I grew up listening to her stories about her childhood during the war and her tours of Italy as an opera singer. I would not be where I am without her. This session is about honouring the people who have guided us, in some way or another, and making an effort to actively have them in our minds. These people are not always family. Maybe you had a teacher that influenced you positively, or someone you worked with at some point. A mentor could even be an author, someone whose words affected the direction of your life.

In this session, we will be choosing a person who played or still plays this role for us, and we will be making their portrait. The portrait can be done in any style you want, from realism to complete abstraction. If it’s someone you don’t have a picture of, you might find it fun to try and recreate them from memory.
If you’ve never done a portrait before, keep an open mind and don’t be scared! The aim is to express ourselves and connect, not to make a perfectly accurate and correct portrait.

We will be waiting in the Kirkgate Centre communal area until 10:10am, after which the door has to be locked, so please arrive on time, if at all possible, otherwise let me know ahead of time if you will be late.

A picture may be of particular help in this session, if you’ve got one. If you want it printed out, as usual, email it to me on communitythroughart514@gmail.com.

Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be available 😊
I look forward to seeing you there!
1 attendee