14th December
Project Inc. and the power of art
in self-care
by James
Project Inc. is a specialist creative arts college who have a base at Manchester Museum. As an educational setting, they have been teaching in the Museum throughout the pandemic. In the run up to Christmas, one learner, James, shares his thoughts about care, Project Inc., and the power of art in self-care.
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I would like to talk about how Project Inc. is caring for young people in these uncertain times. Project Inc. is giving young people an education when many places have had to close. It has provided autistic people, like me, structure to our week after months stuck in lockdown. Four days in the museum studying is a helpful routine for us, gives us something to wake up for every day, and gives us qualifications to work towards this year. The routine helps me to feel calmer in general. I believe it has helped students who have been out of education for a little while, to have access to one they feel comfortable with.
From a personal view, this course has meant I have learnt things I never thought I could do, such as fine-line sketching, using ink stamps on my own, and I’m pleased with my recent collage. Project Inc. gave me the opportunity to create a short recording of my views which was shared with Andy Burnham. I was happy to do this as it made me feel a lot less restrained and that I am part of something that gives young people their voice. This has led to me writing weekly blogs on a subject of my choice. This gives me work to do on the days I am not in the museum, keeps me busy at weekends, and builds my confidence to share my own views on the website.
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My course at Project Inc. has also helped me start conversations on my own about topics I’m interested in – politics, football and cooking. We recently had a discussion about the potential vaccine, whether it will be effective and if we will take it. It made me think I need to decide on this question with a good level of certitude! I’m now going to try to have many more discussions on all of these things, thanks to encouragement from Project Inc.
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This course has enabled young people to use art as a distraction from this infectious virus, as a way of coping and in my case, something to learn about. It has improved my motivation, health and hopes for my future. It has helped me and other students to use art as a therapy to cope with these uncertain times.
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Project Inc. have also helped me get a work placement at the Whitworth Art Garden, in which I am excited to take part in the New Year. This will ensure I can help my parents out with gardening at home, as it will build my skills, knowledge and confidence. I am striving to be more independent in every way. I hope this work experience helps me to learn how to grow my own vegetables as I love cooking and could use my own produce to cook at home. Herbs are another thing I would love to grow, given that I try to avoid buying too much food wrapped in plastic.
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It’s clear to me that Project Inc. is caring.
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James
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Images: Original artwork created by James and inspired by the building and collections of Manchester Museum.