Welcome to the Trinity Art Group



Trinity Winchester is a Hampshire based charity that provides practical and emotional support to people who are homeless or vulnerably housed. We operate both a Drop-In day service, and a Women’s Service, from our base at Bradbury House in Winchester.

 

The Trinity Art Group has been running since 2001, providing a space and artist led workshops for service users and learners to explore all things creative.

 

The workshops act as a positive conduit for creative expression, confidence building, social interaction and inclusion as well as a stepping stone to further / higher education and working opportunities. Learners are encouraged to work towards an NCFE qualification.

 

Due to visual art’s non-hierarchal nature, learners of all abilities are able to tap into this service, indeed, the service users come from diverse backgrounds and equally have a varied range of ability and skills.

Lucy drawing a picture of the art teacher

The learners are encouraged to look at artists and art movements.  The programme introduces learners to a broad range of visual art skills from drawing, painting, mono-printing, ceramics, 3D design, collage and computer art, with emphasis on analysing and developing creative, critical and communicative skills.

 

The course is broken down into eight weekly sessions, with a comprehensive review at the end of each period. 
 

The Trinity Art Group continue to make links with the wider community and occassionally organise, when funding is available, exhibitions and creative events. The latest of which was supported by the art gallery Pop Ateiler on Stockbridge Road, Winchester - for a month long exhibition of small works on paper in December 2012.

In memory of Bridget Pickett who sadly passed away, her brilliant "Green Man"

 

This engagement helps the group with an insight into aspects of organising a professional event and provides an opportunity to feel that they have contributed to the community. These shows are well received, with articles in the local press and a large number of people viewing.

Nada's Plastercine model of The Yellow Submarine

 



 

Back in 2003 the Trinity Art Group Exhibition was featured on Meridian Television News. For the group, this acts as a powerful acknowledgement from the wider community.  

Since the art programme began, a large number of service users have benefited from access to the workshops.  Most noticeable is a marked rise in confidence levels, which in turn motivated many of the learners to seek employment.  The learners are helped to develop a portfolio of work, which can act as evidence of achievement and as a means of moving onto a further or higher education. A number of learners have moved successfully onto courses and then into work; notably one learner who was homeless, but with support, managed to find housing and put together a portfolio, securing a place on a Degree course at Southampton University.

 

Peter drawing a view of Wolvesey Castle

 

 

The Art Group has another benefit, one that might not be readily noticeable to the causal onlooker, that of having a strong emotional and motivational support infrastructure. The art group members have over time developed a communal respect for each other. This is very important when one considers that many of the service users experience isolation. The art group gives them a chance to socially interact and support each other into gaining working opportunities. 

 



Maggie Cluskey's "Marilyn 1"

Maggie Cluskey's "Marilyn 2"

 

Trinity Slideshow Gallery



 

 

The Trinity Art Group is supported by Trinity Winchester as part of their education program.