Mill Yard Studios

As well as being a working space for two artists, Mill Yard Studios provides workshops, community events, exhibitions, and offers mentoring to artists. The Lanternhouse is a striking creative studio offering space and artists’ accommodation for the development of new arts and performance projects. It plans to develop and sustain its participatory activity, particularly for local people who may previously have been excluded for various reasons.

The artists from Mill Yard Studios aimed to involve ’hard to reach’ adults in an interesting, purposeful and potentially fulfilling activity. They hoped to draw participants into Lanternhouse and to introduce them to some of the things its team and facilities can offer. The activity itself was intended to emphasise looking and drawing equally. Participants were asked to draw very simply what they actually saw down the tubes provided as view-finders. Over three taster sessions, and at the eventual public event, they were encouraged to enjoy their successes, to value their achievements and to want to do more.  Artists were able to suggest further opportunities for those who were inspired to continue.

Aged from 18 to 82, the participants were almost entirely people who hadn’t engaged with Lanterhouse previously. They generally were not used to taking part in art courses or events and did not have access to similar activities. The evening sessions focused on three different parts of the interior of Lanternhouse including its very interesting cruck barn shapes. The Saturday session was held at the top of the building where there are panoramic views in both directions from windows and a roof terrace.

Most drawings were done on pieces of card with a selection of good quality materials, which were transferred onto the white surface of printable CDs. These were then suspended interspaced with many of the card-based drawings to form a sort of fragmented panorama. This became a lasting group artwork displaying the achievement of participants, of which they could be proud. Participants took great pleasure in their drawing and many commented on the ’peacefulness’ they experienced from the process. A golden moment for one of the artists was, ’A man of 82 drawing for what he said was the first time – and coming back for more – and being delighted by what he could do’.

Part of the intention was to develop the skills and experience of the artist who led the taster sessions at Lanternhouse, and through this to create a link with staff there. Mill Yard artists encouraged the Lanternhouse team to promote the programme to groups they were already beginning to target, and have discussed the need and opportunity to build on this programme.