Exhibition to Showcase Success of Students’ Art Therapy Collaboration

A physical and virtual art exhibition will take place next week to showcase the work of a joint art therapy project between local students and the national alcohol, drug and mental health charity With You.

Students from the University of Lincoln’s School of Fine and Performing Arts spent 10 weeks during lockdown working virtually with participants from With You, teaching them drawing, filmmaking, performance, poetry and painting techniques as ways to express their emotions through art.

The exhibition of finished works, called ‘Groundings: Connecting through the disconnect’, emphasises the importance of art in helping people to connect during difficult times. It will open to members of the public from 6-8pm on Tuesday 18th May via a socially distanced pop-up show at the University of Lincoln’s Brayford Pool Campus and will also be available to view online.

Alice Tuppen, Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at the University of Lincoln, said: “All true creativity happens through collaboration and this exhibition is a tribute to our students’ dedication. In this unprecedented time of Covid-19 they started the project online not knowing how that would work. I was very encouraged to see the mature and pioneering engagement between our students and participants throughout their time together.”

“This type of facilitation is forging new knowledge on the positive power of art mentorship both on and offline. The power of art in supporting recovery is huge and recent UK ‘social prescribing’ initiatives are rapidly raising awareness of the use of art as an effective intervention.”

Six students were competitively selected to work with With You’s clients. Carmen Guy, one of the students selected to take part, said: “Art can be used therapeutically as a means of expression, especially during the current climate. As well as supporting our participants, we want to celebrate the work that With You does and spread awareness of their services.

“Watching my client use my art techniques to further his recovery, has been the most moving experience. This showcases how important the process is and how impactful it is for both parties.”

Stephen, one of the participants in the project, said: “The impact on my life and my recovery in a positive environment has been cathartic. The work I have created as part of this project has allowed me to reflect and produce something positive from the negative experience of substance use. I have been able to speak openly and honestly about my journey.”

Holly Sexton at With You in Lincolnshire, said: “We can all reflect on this past year and recognise times when we’ve felt alone or lost. It’s not surprising that in those times, someone might use alcohol or drugs to help them cope. The Groundings project has brought different parts of the community together and created something positive to focus on. It’s provided real connection and encouragement in the hardest of times, even when it’s been through phone screens. It’s also been rewarding teaching the students about substance use and what that really means for someone’s life.”
“I’ve loved being part of this project and witnessing the powerful way in which art can allow us to connect with ourselves and others.”