Comunity Project
'Wedding Belles'

5th February - 30th April 2005
To accompany the 'Wedding Belles' Exhibition, The Craft Centre and Design Gallery organised an outreach project with 'Get Away Girls' a women's charity support group based in Harehills Leeds.

The project was designed with the intention of promoting contemporary craft to the wider community, whilst providing the selected community group with the opportunity to work alongside practising designers.

 
The girls were invited to visit the exhibition prior to the first workshop to gain inspiration from the showcase, to be introduced to the gallery environment and to be given an outline of the brief.

The Gallery then arranged for Jewellery Designer- Julie Ann Seaman accompanied by the gallery's Educational Co-Ordinator (also a practising artist) to make 2 visits to the community centre. The designers ran two workshops in February for the girls, helping them to make an item that they would wear to a wedding. The girls were encouraged to produce a piece of jewellery, a corsage, a head-piece, a bag or any accessory that they felt happy constructing.
Participants were provided with an inspiration book compiled by The Craft Centre and Design Gallery. It contained a large range of images of wedding accessories, from obvious accessory choices to the more adventurous and obscure examples of adornment, intending to cater for all imaginations and provide stimulus for any uninspired individuals.

The girls were given an introduction to the materials at hand, they were shown basic fabrication techniques and were encouraged to use new skills. They were given fresh input and as a result participants were motivated to produce a piece that was unique and finished to a wearable standard.
The end result being proof of success and therefore increasing confidence and self-esteem in all involved parties.

On the final visit the finished pieces were photographed, some of which were modelled by the women who made them and here they are for everyone to see.

Take a look at the Wedding Belles exhibition here
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