Schoolchildren, members of community groups and local organisations have visited Bath’s Victoria Art Gallery to take part in workshops as part of the year-long Grayson Perry Posh Art project.
The programme of events, which ran until March this year, was designed to widen the gallery’s audience for contemporary art and to intrigue, inspire and educate a wide range of people including those with learning difficulties and young carers.
A total of 32 groups took part in the project which was supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The project was devised to coincide with the Victoria Gallery’s purchase of Posh Art by Grayson Perry, winner of the 2003 Turner Prize.
The Gallery bought the ceramic pot in the shape of a funerary urn after securing grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Art Fund and Friends of the Victoria Art Gallery.
Councillor Paul Crossley, cabinet member for Community Services (Leisure, Tourism & Culture), said: “I’m delighted that this fantastic project has introduced new audiences to the Gallery and its collection.
“It’s been a real success and as a result the gallery plans to continue working with all the groups involved.”
Among those to benefit were pupils from Threeways Community Special Needs School and students from the special educational needs and disability group at Bath College, Radstock Campus.
Both groups visited the Victoria Art Gallery for the first time and will be taking part in future activities.
Community groups also took part in the project including Creativity Works (Fresh Art), a local organisation which promotes wellbeing through art and creativity.
The project enabled group members experiencing mental health challenges and social isolation to use their creativity.
The Gallery also ran supportive creative workshops with My Time My Space for women with post-natal depression and welcomed young carers from Bath Carer’s Centre who created an imaginative animated film about a pot like Perry’s.
Grayson Perry’s Posh Art is now on display at the Victoria Art Gallery, where it can be seen for free in the first floor galleries.
