Lovely to try new things and get surprised at how well I can do!
Across 2024, The museum’s Learning Team delivered an ambitious eight-week engagement project called ‘McMarra’s Dnudee’ alongside THAT (Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust) and their participant groups within The McManus. We're so proud of what was achieved that we're now entering the project into the Seriously Social Awards 2024. The awards celebrate the social value & social impact of organisations like ours across the UK.
The project was co-designed to provide person-centred learning experiences and creative participation for people marginalised by their long-term health conditions such as; Stroke, Acquired Brain Injury, Dementia, and others.
Inspiration from the developing archive of Dundee singer-song writer Michael Marra was used as a departure point for participants to create artwork that narrates their own story of living in Dundee with these conditions.
Through, informal learning approaches, participants worked alongside artists to learn relief printing and Letterpress techniques to explore and understand printmaking with text; develop narratives using Haiku poetry; exploring the museum collections that both link to the life of Michael Marra and the temporary exhibition ‘Impressed: Twentieth Century Artist Prints from Dundee’s Collection’. The programme exceeded planned expectations with the group using it as a way of making personal statements about their own identity.
Misspelling of words became a metaphor for the group, a vernacular expression, both of their experience of aphasia, but also the experience of reverse-mirror writing. Everyone, including the artists managed to get letters and words printed incorrectly!
Each participant created a body of work and a set of final prints, which was digitally scanned to create collaborative limited edition concertina books as a final project outcome. A finale event was held for the group to celebrate and view their finished artist books within the museum display case. One project legacy is that it will remain on temporary public display as part of a wider Michael Marra archive display case within the museum. This was a special and proud moment for all, as it was the first time that participants work has been included in a museum display.
SOCIAL NEEDS
Many people currently face poverty and hardship, we recognise it is crucial for cultural and leisure services to collaborate with partners such as Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust to identify and respond to community needs. Economic and social impact of poorer health can be even more significant, including loss of work, wages, and even friends, diminishing life’s experiences and increasing social isolation.
Creative and cultural activity are key foundations to life-long emotional and physical wellbeing, and these can be impacted by poor health. People with long-term health conditions record less access to, and engagement with services, including cultural and creative opportunities, due to limitations of their condition(s) and restricted life choices.
Through continued creative partnership delivery, both organisations are committed to providing valuable cultural experiences for groups with LTCs that are proven to have profound social impacts.
The McManus is part of Leisure & Culture Dundee, who are committed to providing inclusive, accessible engagement and support for all, regardless of ability, age, gender, sexual orientation, language, faith, culture, socio-economic background or geographical location.
We strive to design opportunities within the museum for people to engage in civic life and have access to Dundee’s cultural venues and facilities. We are very aware that creative participation leads to cultural empowerment, where people become more interested and motivated to engage.
Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust is a registered Scottish Charity formed in 2002 to develop the role of the arts in healthcare across Dundee, Angus and Perth & Kinross. They work with people living with LTCs such as; Stroke, Acquired Brain Injury, Dementia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), MS, and others. Their programmes are free, inclusive, and accessible, based on the abilities, geographies, and interests of the groups, with the creative process selection made through co-production with participants and availability of experienced artists.
IMPACTS
Leisure & Culture Dundee works carefully within the Dundee Local Outcome Improvement Plan Priorities and Outcomes. We already have clear evidence and feedback through past partnership work with similar groups, that participants:
- Do have increased wellbeing and feel less isolated
- Do gain a sense of belonging and independently re-visit the museum.
- Experience improved mental health and wellbeing by trying new things and having opportunities to be creative.
- Meet new people in similar circumstances, which builds peer support and inclusion.
- Do feel more connected to each other, the museum, and the city
Project participants perceived improvements in the following:
- Mood 57%; Confidence 71%; Communication 57%; Concentration 57%; and Social Contact 86%.
- 85% of participants stated they were supported to learn new things.
- 86% of participants stated that by taking part in the programme, their belief in their own capacity increased.
- Project attendance was 86%.
- 83% of participants want to take part in further creative programmes.
Additional beneficiaries of this work are participants families and carers, gaining periods of respite and a new understanding of participants capabilities.
Co-delivery of McMarra’s Dnudee allowed both organisations to test and create new models of delivery that are embedded in future delivery as good models of practice that have real social impact.
PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK
- The course has been so much more for me other than just art; it’s purpose, community, wellbeing and mindfulness.
- It’s been really uplifting to be involved in this group, seeing the work coming together.
- Learning about Michael Marra and Letterpress printing has been fascinating.
- I enjoyed the chance to get out, meet people and communicate as I don’t have as many opportunities to see people now.
- Disability is not a barrier to being part of any workshop.
- Doing something on my own, away from normal home.
- I have gained more social skills which I struggle with at times, camaraderie, purpose.
- With experiences like these, it’s little things like having a push to leave the house, get on the bus, feel motivated again.
- I felt proud to see my work now featured within the museum’s temporary collection!
#SeriouslySocial #Health #CreativeLearning #McManus #LeisureAndCultureDundee
