It’s that time of year again and our annual exhibition is upon us. It takes place,

as in the past two years, at the Lowry, Salford Quays. The exhibition presents

the most unbookish books you will ever experience. The Open Book Exhibi-

tion showcases the creative work of Venture Arts participants. The artwork

was produced throughout 2009 in a diverse range of media, including photogra-

phy, textiles, animation, jewellery making printing, mixed media, ceramics and

3D. The Exhibition will take place at The Circle Bar, The Lowry from 11the

February-28th March 2010 and then onto The Peoples History Museum,

SpinningFields, Manchester 24th April-6th June 2010. A huge well done to

all those who contributed.

“So far we have been very

impressed with VA. –the

atmosphere is lovely and relaxed” Fred Collins carer

website: www.venturearts.org

Issue 5

43 Old Birley Street,

Hulme,

Manchester M15 5RF

Phone: 0161 232 1223

E-mail:

info@venturearts.org

Open Book Arrives at The Lowry

Issue 5

Spring 2010

Issue 4 Ve n tu r e A r ts

Rod O’Neill admires some of the work on exhibit at The Lowry

A team of very willing volunteers from the Coop spent a few sessions in October 2009 at Venture Arts deco-rating our new meeting room and darkroom. They also very kindly made a much appreciated gift of a very handsome meeting table. The table was also put together by the Coop Team. All of Venture Arts would like it known how much we appreciate their enthusiasm and their kindness.

Coop Team Provide Decorating Skills and a Brand New Table

Venture Arts is a specialist in the provision of arts and crafts workshops for people with learning disabilities. Our mission is to provide a high quality arts experience in a friendly, stimulating and inclusive environment; focusing on bringing out the best in every individual, nurturing talent and enhancing overall wellbeing and quality of life. The Team Amanda Sutton, Manager, John Adshead, Development Manager, Stephen Greenwood, Finance

Officer, Admin Assistant Rachel Jones and our Creative Arts Workers; Katherine Long, Kate Free-

borough, Alena Asenbryl, and Martin Livesey, James Pollitt. and Laura Nathan,

Venture Arts always seeks new members. If you support the work that we do and would like an invite to the AGM and regular newsletters and special invites to private views of exhibitions and feel that you would like to play a part in the organisation, please get in touch. For more information or for an application form please either ring 0161 232 1223 or you can download a form from our website

Would you like to become a

member?

Phone: 0161 232 1223

E-mail:

info@venturearts.org

website: www.venturearts.org

Venture Arts were invited by Whalley Range High School to provide a stall on their annual Crafts Fair on Wednesday 18th November in the main hall of Whalley Range Girls School for 6th form pupils and their parents. Terry Williams was on hand to give a participants point of view. Terry was very appreciative of the food laid on for the stall holders. The format fol-lowed a typical careers fair, whereby students and parents were staggered into the hall to visit the employer’s stalls. The stalls gave an insight into the type of work we do and what career opportunities can be offered. There was a display of a wide variety of work on show to keep the students enthused and informed.

Terry Williams awarding some textile cakes to the Coop Team

43 Old Birley Street,

Hulme,

Manchester M15 5RF

Issue 5

Whalley Range Girls School Specialism Careers Fair

About Venture Arts

John Adshead representing Venture Arts at Whalley Range Girls School Terry Williams

Since the middle of January Venture Arts has launched a new exciting project with 'Aiming

Higher'. We have been running family cohesive art workshops for young people with disabili-

ties and their families leading accessible workshops in photography, printing and felt-

making. In March we will be seeing this expand as we start to offer some sessions on Tues-

day and Thursday evenings and offering wider variety to more young people. Invitation to the exhibition designed by

L:orraine Whitehead

1948 Poster Greeting Card

Here are a selection of photographs from The annual DaDaFest at Liverpool’s Blue Coat Galleries held on 11th November 2009

Lesley Thomson’s finished draw-

Liverpool DaDa Fest 2009

Hectic production of the glitter globe

Hulme Is Where The Art Is Community Arts Festival, 20th March

Sure Start Young Peoples Workshops Manchester Art Gallery

On the 20th March 2010, Old Birley Street will be transformed into a place of creative revelry as the location for the first community arts festival in Hulme. Throughout the day, artists from Manchester will be exhibiting their arts and crafts and Venture Arts’ artists will be holding craft workshops for everyone to join in. The day will also see live poetry and music performances.

Taking place in the creative hub of Old Birley Street in Hulme, the day aims to celebrate the artistic and diverse community of Hulme and the surrounding area. Presented by Venture Arts, ‘Hulme is Where The Art Is’ is hosted in collaboration with Hulme Community Garden Centre and other local organisations who will all be opening their doors to host the day’s var-ied events.

You are warmly invited to celebrate the opening of We came, we saw...we ventured.

Artists and workshop participants

from venture Arts have created new

artworks inspired by visits to Man-

chester City Art Gallery. Using

textiles, drawing and mixed media

techniques they have created indi-

vidual and group pieces. This work

will be on display throughout the

gallery.

Display continues from 16 March

until April 30 2010

Venture Arts contributed to the DaDa

Fest Dream in a Box Day. We ran a work-

shop where visitors were able to take part

in making parts of what would eventually

be a Magic Mirror Ball. The Mirror Ball

was completed within the day and hung at

an evening event. At Tate Liverpool. The

pictures to the left are of one of the

workshops that eventually made the Magic

Mirror Ball. The drawing on the left was

made by our very own talented Lesley

Thomson and is his representation of the

Magic Mirror Ball workshop.

It has been a pleasure to end the year with a placement from the

great Japan Centre. Here are a few comments from Mika who

was with us from the 23rd November –Friday 18th December

2009

'I had a good experience there. I made lot of friends, and had

various experience e.g. communication, and teaching

Communication at work: After work, I tried to speak to as

many people as possible. Everyone was very friendly and kind to

me. Every day, different volunteers came so I had communication

with many people.

Good Points: to meet new volunteers every day. Disabled

people were very friendly to me too. I had a really good time.

Also, working hours is good (10am-3pm)

In June 2009 Lyn Setterington spent a few weeks with Venture Arts on The Hulme Sweet Hulme Project. The textile project was run in conjunction with a number of groups based in Hulme, such as Hulme Garden Centre, Hulme Library under 5’s, Aquarius Centre, North Hulme Adventure Playground etc.

The students involved were:- Tommy Walsh, Steven Kovaks, Heather Nadim, Loraine Whitehead, Barry Regan, Kathy Wilmot, Christine Blackburn, Mary Ann Gribben and Wayne Tarry, Ian Emerson

Japan Centre Placement

Hulme Sweet Hulme & Pinhole Photo Books For Sale

Venture Ar ts

Towards the end of last year Manchester People First and

Venture Arts collaborated in a pinhole photography project

led by Martin Livesey our Venture Arts photography tutor..

The book documents some of the photographs produced over

that time and the resulting exhibition.

The students involved were:- Louisa Burton, Carol Modd,

Steven Valentine, Andrew Cavanagh, David Unwin, Paul Bran-

nick and

Both books are in full colour, 40 pages of photos of participants and their work. The price is £12.00 for the softback and £18.00 for the hardback with dust jacket. If you are interested in buying a copy get in touch with us on 0161 232 1223 or email john@venturearts.org and we can arrange that for you

This was an opportunity to say a big thank you to the Joint Commissioning Team ( represented in our picture by

Denise Price) who financially supported our new extension meeting room/darkroom. As can be seen from the picture

the room looks very good. The decorating was done by volunteers from the Coop, the cabinets were expertly con-

structed by Mr. Long. I am sure you will agree: the finished results are great and have made a big difference to us.

Barry Finan Evelyn Cordingley Darren Gallagher

Venture Arts First Steering Group Meeting

Denise Price From The Joint Commissioning for Learning Difficulties Team Visits Venture Arts

I ssue 4

It was a good days work. Present at our meeting were Barry Finan, Darren Gallagher, Evelyn Cordingley and last but not least Stephen Murray. We had all come together to deliberate how best to ensure the exhibition at the Lowry would have a smooth opening. What kind of food would we have? Who would we invite? How to get there? How to make the opening even better than last years. Some of the suggestions that were made and implemented were;. Volunteers should have a badge or a tee shirt; Invite a Coronation Street star; Make a book of the exhibition; Spe-cific volunteer jobs were appointed. Thanks to the team for their great input which led to such a successful launch.

Stephen Murray

Tracy Clark, Ernie Partt, Terry Williams, Denise Price, Horace Lindezey Andrew McCurry, Ged Wright, and the back of Mika’s head

Rachel Jones photographed by Horace Lindezey

Venture Arts

Terry has been attending Venture Arts since 1997. Terry has cultivated many skills over that time. Some of Terry's achievements over that time are; printmaking, making textile cubes, papermaking, digital photography and pin-hole photography. Terry has made many friends over that time but for a cer-tainty his best friend is Horace Lindezey. Horace and Terry have a regular comedy routine where they both play characters in an old TV sitcom. Their repartee is much appreciated by many here at Venture Arts. Everybody loves Terry and we love seeing some of the great work he has made. As can be seen from his work Terry has a special fondness for animals

Terry Williams in a nautical mood

Meet Rachel Jones our new Admin Assistant

Artist in the Spotlight Part 2 Terry Williams

I ssue 4

From January 4th we are very happy to welcome Rachel Jones to Ven-

ture Arts. She is to fill the brand new post of administrative assistant..

Rachel works Mon-Fri 5days per week 9.00 –2.30pm. Rachel comes

to us from her previous job at Choicequip in Handforth, Cheshire,

where Rachel provided a very valuable role in providing disability

equipment to the NHS and private suppliers.

Rachel has a keen interest in the arts she has an MA in Pho-

tographic Studies as well as a BA {Hons} in American Studies. She has

organised and installed exhibitions during her MA, as well as being

involved in a creative writing anthology.. Already Rachel has proved

herself to be invaluable and we look forward to receiving the many

benefits of her expertise over the coming months.