Creative talents of day service users to be showcased
Date Added - 04/06/12
The creative talents of a group of adults who attend a Moray day service are to be premiered at a special exhibition.
The clients of Keith Resource Centre are in the frame after getting behind the camera to capture a fresh perspective on the community around them.
A selection of the high quality photographs they have produced will be on display in the main Elgin Library until June 28. Also on show is a selection of the products crafted by clients involved in the resource centre’s innovative business initiative which is celebrating its first anniversary.
The council-run centre provides a day service for adults with learning disabilities who are encouraged to realise their potential and become more active citizens. They are supported to get involved with a wide range of therapeutic and learning opportunities, building up employability skills which emphasise ability rather than disability.
The photography group – some of who had never used a camera before – focused their lens on plants and buildings with amazing results, said day centre officer Mike Heron.
“We have been really impressed with the work and wanted to share it with the wider community as it also gives us an opportunity to let more people know what goes on in Keith Resource Centre,” he said.
“The photographs are complemented by personal quotes from those involved which adds to the exhibition.”
Also on show will be a range of items produced by the venture KIST – Keith Initiative for Support and Training. Clients make items such as individually decorated plant pots and piggy banks to sell as part of the self-funding business which is run by its own committee.
Service users have been supported to be more active citizen leaders by staff members Vicky McCormack, Manuela Hassell and Wendy Davidson.
The photography group hopes to visit other local places of interest to continue to build up a portfolio of work, while fellow resource centre clients have also been exploring other forms of media.
As an alternative to making up newsletters, they have been developing their film making skills to document a series of interviews. This has involved even members with limited or no verbal communications skills being supported to pose questions to a variety of figures including a home carer, volunteer and local vet.
The group plan to conduct more interviews to find out what people do in the local community and then share their videos.
