Recovery Through Ceramics
Recovery Through Ceramics works with people in recovery to develop new creative and practical skills.
Many of the participants had not been to the Shipley before or were not regular visitors to cultural centres. The programme is funded through an NHS Mental Health Transformation grant and is delivered in partnership with lived experience recovery organisation Recovery Connections and Bensham Grove Pottery.
“I gained a lot from the pottery, learning about different techniques in creating pottery pieces. I got a lot of peace and calmness doing it, it allowed me to switch off and focus on creating a fun pottery piece, which is now being displayed at the Shipley Art Gallery, which has given me a sense of pride and achievement.”
Participants work with ceramicists to learn different techniques and create their own pieces, exploring the Shipley’s ceramic collection for inspiration for their own work. Through activities designed to give them ownership over their programme, participants co-curated a two-week exhibition of their work at the Shipley and co-curated a display of work from the gallery’s ceramic collection in its new community cabinet.
Evaluation has shown that the programme increases confidence and wellbeing while promoting peer support and resilience. Participants also develop new personal and professional skills through practical research and interpretation activities, which can help towards future employment.
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Some participants have now signed up to become museum volunteers and lived-experience mentors for future participants in the project and at least one participant has signed up to start a ceramics course at Bensham Grove Pottery.
“We are really grateful to have the opportunity. Shipley Art Gallery has been a real gift for us and our community members.”
Recovery Through Ceramics was shortlisted for the Best Small Museum Project award at the Museums Change Lives Awards 2024.