“I love drawing, and I’ve loved this course”: Wellbeing through digital art
Digital Voice’s mission is to help improve people’s lives through digital media. This can be film-making, animation or podcasting depending on the group’s interests and needs. In the case of our project with Rainbow Home, the focus was on wellbeing and the simple pleasure of digital drawing.
Rainbow Home is a North East Charity, which supports people who identify as LGTBQ+ and are seeking sanctuary in the UK. The support offered is wide-ranging and our project concentrated on offering a creative, calm space alongside learning the digital skills vital for everyday life.
The group learned how to use the cameras on iPads, and experimented with a range of lenses to take some fantastic photos around the city. They then went on to explore how to use digital art apps to turn these images and self portraits into their own artwork. Many of the participants have complex lives so being able to meet a supported and friendly group and explore new activities they were given time to take their minds off other things happening in their lives:
“It’s the first time I’ve tried it, it’s been a nice experience. I’m really enjoying it, it’s really been helping and good for concentration. I didn’t think about anything else, just focus on the line and colours. It’s good for the mind.”
- Participant
A selection of their work was displayed in the Hatton Gallery at Newcastle University for the duration of Refugee Week; a beautiful and honest celebration of those people seeking to build a new life here.
“A huge thanks to Digital Voice …The program was expertly delivered offering clear guidance and instructions to a multilingual group in what became a creative space to build confidence and explore the city of Newcastle that is now home to our members. We would love to build on this and work together again in the future.”
- Jane Bassam, LGBTQ+ Asylum Project Worker
Our thanks to the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities fund for making this project possible.
To find out more about the support offered by Rainbow Home please visit: https://rainbowhome.org.uk/