The Elephant in the Room exhibition open
ed in Paisley’s Art Department space in early May and ran for just about two weeks, (until 13th). The works on display were produced as a result of collaboration between local artist and social historian, Lil Brookes (aka Gatekeeper Art), and adult day centre service users at the Disability Resource Centre (DRC) and older adults day service users at Ralston Day Centre and the Falcon Day Centre. (more…)
On a bright Tuesday morning a couple of weeks ago, members of the CCSE team found themselves walking briskly about the corridors of UWS’s Paisley campus, counting chairs, tracking down pens, collecting printouts from photocopiers. The reason for this bustling activity? We were preparing to host our first, fairly sizable in-person event for quite some time! The occasion in question was the launch of our recently awarded, Spirit of 2012 funded #FestivalsConnect project. FestivalsConnect is the CCSE response to Spirit of 2012’s latest research framework Moments to Connect which aims to explore what catalyses the coming together of people and communities. (more…)
Over the years, collaboration with Renfrewshire Council has been an important part of the work undertaken at CCSE. Much of this has focussed on the activity taking place as part of Future Paisley, a range of cultural events, activities and targeted investment which take Paisley and Renfrewshire’s cultural significance and uniqueness as their core inspiration. (more…)
The arts and health sector is being mapped out by potential funders using a tight definition. Creative Scotland sees this activity as being led by professional artists, with explicit artistic and health/wellbeing objectives, and designed to improve health and wellbeing. What activities could be missed by this definition? In particular what arts, culture, health and wellbeing outputs emerge when none of these terms are targeted or defined. (more…)
The hashtag #Shedders is one that is gaining recognition nationally. It denotes the steadily rising Men’s Shed community, a community focussed on supporting men’s mental health and wellbeing.
Men’s Sheds are now being recognised all over the UK and Scotland, with organisations such as the Men’s Sheds Association providing support and guidance in the establishment of local men sheds that are community-driven and member-led entities (Men’s Sheds Association 2022). (more…)