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The Studio is a constant it is always here on a Monday and a Friday and whatever else
is happening in peopleís lives weíre always here.
It runs on Mondays and Fridays; Mondays, at the moment 10 till 2, Fridays 10 till 5. Itís
open to anybody from any background and ability.
Itís very inclusive, itís an Openart Studio so we really want to have access for everybody.
Everybody helps everybody else to settle in and get to know each other.
Itís like a little community, like everyone groups together and has a really good time.
Itís mainly about the art but itís not just that, itís somewhere for everyone to go for
just a bit of company and time away from their lives; something to do ñ for themselves.
It raises an awful lot of self esteem. There are a number of members who came in nervous,
shy ñ as anyone would in a new situation, who have quite noticeably grown in their self
confidence.
Itís brought me out of my shell because I was bereaved a short while ago. My husband
died and I just didnít want to go out or go anywhere. And they sent me here from St
Theresaís and Iím enjoying it tremendously.
I feel as though my confidence has improved since Iíve been here. My confidence with
talking with other people; I go around the group and ask people about their work. And
they always comment and itís really interesting.
What have I got here? Grey?
Itís grey but itíll be okay.
You think?
Itís giving them a chance to do something that theyíve never done before.
They can try out different things ñ mosaics, ceramics, glass painting which seems to be
incredibly popular.
Darlington Media Group is historically prided itself as being a place where anyone can come
and access all forms of media art. Weíre very much an open access workshop so it was
natural really to begin to work in partnership with the Openarts. We produced a short, I
think 30 second film called tea break.
Tutors are on hand if you want advice et cetera but youíre not forced along at a particular
pace.
Itís not like a lesson so people can progress at their own pace.
And itís just great because you can do what you like, how you like, when you like. And
itís very special for that because it gives you a chance to develop things youíve never
tried before.
Thereís so many things to explore, thereís so many possibilities and the more I teach,
the more people come in with brand new ideas and things even I havenít explored so Iím
quite happy to share my knowledge.
A lot of people have at least one origami book at home that they got as a present. They
often try to make origami by following the instructions and they find it very hard. They
will come here today and be shown how to do it, step by step, fold by fold and we make
sure no-one gets left behind and then they find they can do it.
It isnít just a case of weíre there to serve the members and provide things for them. Weíve
gained so much.
I love it, I miss it if Iím not here. Definitely.
Itís meant a lot to me, over the four years. I was actually one of the original people
who came along. Itís nice to see itís been developed from that.
If youíre feeling a bit down or something then you can develop a picture and it can
sort of express what youíre feeling or you can rub it away and feel good about about
yourself, just for a very short time and thatís nice and very valuable really.
Well I did a painting of Elvis Presley.
I canít imagine ever spending a day without doing something, drawing or painting. Itís
just for as long as I remember Iíve always done it and regardless of anything else Iím
doing Iíve still got to find a little spot in the day for it. And it does give you a
purpose, a reason for getting up in the morning I donít know what I would done without it.
They only came this morning, they came in around half past 10. Theyíd only come to
have a look and ended up staying until about half past 1 and theyíre absolutely delighted
with what theyíve taken away with them.
Hi, Iím Jason, Iím the cameraman for this film that weíve been doing. Itís great to
be involved in the Openart Studio project. Itís been a joy to film, the members and
the staff are just so great to get along with. The mood here is, as Iíve said about three
times already, infectious.