We are very happy to announce we have developed a partnership with The Renewal Programme, supported by the Mercer Foundation. The project is a 2-year programme that will radically change the quality and quantity of art based support and experience on offer to the local community in the Manor Park neighbourhood.
The Renewal Programme and Rosetta have a lot in common; like us, they are Newham based and have been operating a similar length of time and most importantly, we also share the belief that empowered people create stronger communities. The Renewal Programme provides life changing support to a wide range of people who are facing challenges in their life – this could be because they might be a carer; a migrant, asylum seeker or refugee, homeless, or unable to communicate because English isn’t a language they know. Renewal Programme services are taken up by over 5000 people each year.
The programme will utilise visual arts to offer older people opportunities alongside the experience of creativity in the arts to improve their emotional resilience and wellbeing through a mix of key activities including mindful arts, art classes such as ceramics and photography, storytelling and healthy eating. Participating in these activities will provide opportunities for growth through the acquisition of skill as well as offering opportunities to volunteer utilising the skills acquired.
Additionally, local a selection of older people will receive specialist training in delivering participatory art activities in the community. Through offering accreditation to build the skills of local creative individuals, we will give them the skills and training required to deliver their creative work in a participatory way for the benefit of communities. Their learning will be validated through nationally recognised accreditation, with
supported mentoring and work experience. This in turn will help to sustain some of the art activity beyond the life of this grant and to help us to develop home grown talent to access opportunities in community arts work.
This project offers a partnership with a long term commitment between Rosetta – east London’s leading specialist in participatory visual arts and The Renewal Programme – who are at the forefront of offering vital services for those in need. Together we will offer the community from the wider Manor Park area access to a range of specialist and culturally considered programmes that will be delivered by a highly selected and diverse talent pool to create uniquely enriching experiences that will act as tools to effect social change.
