Ceramics project at the Shipley shortlisted for national award
Gateshead’s Shipley Art Gallery has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award presented by the Museums Association.
The Museums Change Lives Awards celebrate the achievements of museums that are making a difference to the lives of their audiences and communities across the UK.
The Shipley Art Gallery’s Recovery through Ceramics programme has been shortlisted in the Best Small Museum Project category.
This recognises the best project at museums with an annual turnover of less than £320,000.
Recovery through Ceramics is run in partnership with Recovery Connections, a local lived experience recovery organisation, and Bensham Grove Pottery.
Sessions inspired by the Shipley’s acclaimed ceramics collection take place weekly, enabling people in recovery to develop new creative and practical skills.
The participants co-curated a two-week exhibition of their work at the Shipley in June as well as co-curating a display of work from the gallery’s ceramic collection.
Recovery through Ceramics was funded through an NHS Mental Health Transformation grant aimed at supporting community-based initiatives that promote and develop good mental health and wellbeing.
The awards ceremony will take place in Leeds on November 12 as part of the Museums Association’s annual conference.