Craft Centre to host workshops

Buy photos » Justine Humphries-Bailey at work in the new studio. Picture by Marcus Mingins 0112008MMR

ART workshops are being launched in Bromsgrove following the closure of a Redditch training centre.

Justine Humphries-Bailey, who campaigned for three years to keep the Redi Centre open, is to start running the art workshops at The Canal Side Craft Centre in Stoke Prior.

Justine first used the training centre to take a ‘Sign a Long’ course so she could improve communications with her son, who had speech and language difficulties, but staff encouraged her to further her study and she’s now undertaking a psychology degree.

Mrs Humphries-Bailey found the centre to be a social lifeline for many of the other users and their families, some of whom were disabled. When it closed, she was concerned they would become isolated and their families would not get the rest they needed.

So, she found a unit to rent, and now holds weekly workshops which are open to anyone who would like to take part in art, whilst socialising. Tuesdays are general arts and crafts days where anybody with any craft can go along and enjoy the tea, coffee and biscuits and Fridays are self-taught days where like minded artists can get together to create a masterpiece. Both sessions are £3 each and run from 9.30 onwards.

There will be oil-painting lessons on Mondays, at 9.30am ownards, with experienced artist Anthony Blakemore who will start by teaching you the basics. These sessions will cost £8 for the day. Mr Blakemore will also run a session from 6pm to 8.30pm on Thursday evenings which is an introduction to oils and cost £5.

Mrs Humphries-Bailey said: ‘’Without the workshops, they (the ex-members) would become isolated - it’s to help get them integrated in the community, through art and creativity.

“There is such a need for respite for families,’ she added.

Local businesses have donated furniture for the unit, but small fees will apply so the rent can be covered.

For more on the variety of arts sessions available on different days throughout the week, call Justine Humphries-Bailey on 07725 488513