The Stove NetworkAn Arts and Community Organisation
The Stove NetworkWe strive to make sure that all in attendance to a Stove event have a safe and enjoyable experience. When booked to attend a Stove event, the following should be adhered to:
AccessArt – Learning Disability Week Exhibition – A Tree, A Forest.
This month’s cafe exhibition has been created by AccessArt as part of our Conversing Building programme. AccessArt has been part of the creative community of Dumfries and Galloway for the past 20 years, facilitating creative opportunities for individuals and communities who have experienced barriers to inclusion.
Our commitment to this continues through our program of sessions & workshops we deliver out of the Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries.
This year the theme for Learning Disability Weeks is “lead to change.” Having thought about this and what leadership means to us as a group and individually, we found the term “Nothing for us without us.” It brought together the groups feelings about being included in the decisions made that affects their lives.
We wanted to create an artwork that dealt with a representation of “us,” while retaining the idea that we are all individuals. From nature we found our inspiration; the motif of a tree. A single tree becomes a forest when repeated. This idea spoke to us about being connected through our shared experiences and the power of a collective voice.
Our collaborative artwork has taken the form of a collage, in which each participant has added their interpretation of a tree/s.
As participants added more trees, relationships formed between these differing elements, creating new and unexpected narratives within the collage. Alongside it are supporting artworks to show the development of our ideas.
“At AccessArt we are inclusive, adaptable, creative left-field thinkers, who see through potential barriers to participation, who provide a safe non-judgemental space with the appropriate levels of support with a good amount of encouragement.”
The artworks will be on display from the 24th of April to the 6th of May, open during The Stove cafe hours.
Level Access in rear of building through adjacent close to left-hand side of the Cafe (facing the front of the building). To ensure your experience with us is as best as it can be, please do let us know if you have any specific access requirements and we’d be happy to help. Please email Kevin or Sal on: [email protected] or phone 01387 252435 and speak with one of our team. We are able to provide walk-throughs of the building before attending our events as well as assign seating before your arrival.