Heroes
Heroes allows a group of people from Cambridgeshire's homeless community to focus on and explore a positive aspect of their lives, and to identify someone who has had a positive impact on their life.
The participants were taught to create posed figures using newspaper and sellotape over a 'skeleton'. Then, using modroc, they built up their figures. Using simple pattern-cutting techniques they clothed their figures appropriately, and then painted them with acrylic paints.
Each participant produced one sculpture and one Hero description sheet.
The outcomes for the participants were to develop their concept of commitment, to explore something that has been positive in their lives, and to develop their creative and artistic skills.
The goal is to lead to greater self-awareness, increased self-confidence and a stronger sense of self-worth, which could increase their chances of re-entering mainstream activity.
Heroes was devised and delivered by Linton Bocock, a community tutor who has worked extensively in Cambridgeshire. He was assisted by a teaching assistant and a support worker.
Heroes is hosted by Winter Comfort Day Centre and funded by the Arts Council.
Exhibition
The artwork will be displayed at the Leper Chapel, from Saturday 29 January until Sunday 6 February 2011.
Opening hours are 12 noon-4pm on the Saturday, 2-4pm each weekday, and 12 noon-5pm on the Sunday. Entry is free.
Corrugation Street
Twelve homeless people were invited to meet for three hours every Saturday afternoon between April and July 2008, at 222 Victoria Road, a hostel run by the English Church Housing Group.
Each participant was given a cardboard box and asked to design the interior to represent their ideal home, or to put something in the box that would represent their thoughts, feelings or direct experience of homelessness.
Most of the participants had done very little artwork, if any, since leaving school. Some dropped out before the end of the project and some didn't finish their work, but everything was displayed to give an example of the range of ideas that were being developed.
The group exhibited their work at the Cambridge Open Art Space Fringe at Emmanuel United Reformed Church.
Corrugation Street was a joint project hosted by the English Church Housing Group and delivered by Cambridgeshire Adult and Community Learning. The project was funded by a Cambridge County Council Development Fund grant.
