The taking art that counts

3:07pm Tuesday 9th September 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

COMMUNITY groups which are underrepresented in, and have little access to, the arts have produced an exhibition to reflect the diversity of Lewisham borough. The Taking Part programme - run by Lewisham Council, in conjunction with Arts Council England and Artefacts Edutainment - invited older community members, teenage single mums and refugees to attend photography workshops and creative writing sessions and produce self-portraits using these mediums.

Exploring identity and community, the collection is currently touring the borough's libraries.

Participants, according to Yvonne Phillip, director of Artefacts Edutainment, loved the project.

"They found it really inspiring and it gave them an outlet to express themselves," said Yvonne.

"We wanted to work right across the community, use the exhibition to show the diversity of the borough and correct the understanding of the people who live there."

At Blackheath Library: until Sep 16, Sydenham Library Sep 30 to Oct 21 and Downham Library Oct 22 to Nov 12.