Communities
Since 2002 SAW has worked with a wide range of arts and non-art partners, providing opportunities for communities to work collaboratively with professional artists and encourage wider participation in the arts.
Through our projects we have developed an understanding of how the arts can benefit a wide range of people’s needs, including: making connections to encourage social inclusion, bridging the gap between generations through our intergenerational projects, supporting communities to look at how to enhance their local public spaces, nurturing a sense of ownership and shared well being in the community. We aim to facilitate and promote the value of creativity for all, for enjoyment, learning, skills development and a personal sense of health and well being.
Quiet Places for Unquiet Minds
Somerset Art Works' Wellbeing Programme - including artist residencies with Mind in Somerset and wellbeing groups around the county and our Online Art Group.Young ProspectUs
A SAW project working with young people in Pupil Referral Units in Taunton, exploring the value of arts and education, with a focus on transition and developing informal access to training and skills.Lyngford Film
Lyngford film is a community based youth project encouraging young people from the Priorswood area and users of Lyngford Park to have their say about where they live and share their concerns and hopes for the future.Processions
In 2018 Somerset Art Works proudly took part in PROCESSIONS, a mass participation artwork marking the centenary of the Representation of the People Act, which gave the first British women the right to vote.Priorswood Community Centre – Celebrating 20 Years
Somerset Art Works artist Emma Finch working with Priorswood Community Centre to celebrate their 20th anniversary.Lyngford Labyrinth
In the summer of 2018 a wild flower labyrinth emerged in the heart of Lyngford Park in Priorswood, Taunton, creating a path full of meaning and life to be explored through its twists and turns.Muse: Makers in Museums
Eight creative craft commissions for artists to make new work in response to the special collections to be found in the small local rural museums of Devon and Somerset.Blackthorn Gardens Pocket Park
Somerset Art Works successfully gained a Pocket Park grant to work with the communities of North Taunton and Taunton Deane Borough Council to improve and refresh an unloved play area known locally as ‘The Cage’.Our Place/Taunton
Somerset Art Works has been developing and delivering projects with the communities of North and East Taunton since 2014. Our creative programme encourages people to explore their neighbourhoods, identify opportunities to improve the local environment for play, attractiveness, ecological diversity and health and wellbeing.Cranes and Communities
Visual artist, animator and film-maker Sean Harris takes up the Cranes and Communities commission running through 2016 in partnership with The Great Crane Project. 'Echo-Maker' culminates in a series of outdoor events in November / December 2016.Water – Meadow – Wood
Somerset Art Works is delivering a three year artist residency programme at Yeovil Country Park following the themes of Water – Meadow – Wood.Craftivist Garden
Somerset Art Works co-ordinated a Somerset cluster of the national Craftivist project. Workshops facilitated by Nina Gronw-Lewis took place in North Taunton as part of SAW's Our Place project and at various venues around the county.The Great Crane Art Project
SAW has engaged a number of professional artists to develop a programme of community engagement projects inspired by cranes to offer creative opportunities to local schools, groups and individuals and to help raise awareness of this fascinating conservation project.Company of Voices – Making Matters
Making Matters was part of the Somerset-wide Company of Voices intergenerational project. The aim of the project was to bring together older (50+) and younger people (under 25) to work together on positive activities that are of benefit to the local community.Safe Play Project with Knightstone Housing
In 2012 SAW worked on a project in Crewkerne in partnership with Knightstone Housing. Lead artist Sophy Denny worked with local families to develop creative ways of raising the profile of Street Play - with the aim of encouraging drivers to show consideration and awareness of children playing outside.Around here
In 2010 artists Sue Palmer and Simon Lee Dicker explored the art of place making in Langport with a focus on the public and civic spaces in the town.Latest news
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As part of our wellbeing programme Quiet Places for Unquiet Minds, we appointed textile artist Sally Light to work with the Mind in Somerset – Minehead Art Group. In January […]
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Culturally Chard is celebrating the last three years and embarking on an exciting new phase! Over the last 3 years Culturally Chard has supported, developed and delivered 140 events plus […]
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Artists: complete the DACS Earning Survey In order to support their campaigns for fair pay, DACS has commissioned an independent study of visual artists’ earnings from the University of Glasgow […]
Somerset Art Works Artist Residency with Artist Sally Light
[Thursday, March 28, 2024]
Watch the new Culturally Chard Film!
[Thursday, March 28, 2024]
[Wednesday, March 27, 2024]