Rachel Huggett
Sculptor, Community Artist

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Introduction

I have over 10 years experience working with mental health and disadvantaged service users in both Dorset and London. The variety of workshops that I plan and run are targeted at specific groups and needs. Myaim is to provide an opportunity for participants enjoy themselves while learning new skills and to raise self-esteem and confidence. Workshops are designed to promote creativity and encourage interactivity.

Experience

In 2010I won the External Commission for the new Mental Health Centre at Maiden Castle Rd.,Dorchester. This involved running a series of art workshops at Whitfield Activity Centre. I worked withmental health out-patients over a period of 3 monthscreating mosaic paving designs and carved benches for the area.

“I never thought I’d be able to do what I did!”
–woodcarving participant
“I really look forward to coming here every time.”
- mosaics participant /
Case history - Keiko
When the workshops at Whitfield ended, Keiko asked if she could help me in my studio where I was doing the final work on the benches. She received permission for this and came to help me on a number of occasions. Afterwards she joined one of my regular wood working courses at my studio,continuing to learn new skills.

I ran two, day-long workshops in 2010 for inpatients at Forston Clinic, Dorchester. In the first, we made soapstone carvings that the patients displayed in glass cabinets in the wards. They found this art form rewarding and there wasmuch positive feedback. In the second workshopthey enjoyed makingmosaic pictures.

/ “I found the act of filing the soapstone very calming and I could concentrate on what I was doing.” - participant at Forston Clinic

In 2008I won a Bournemouth Arts Grant to run a wood carving project for the homeless at St. Paul’s Night Shelter. This ran for 4 sessions and was received with much enthusiasm by participants and staff who all finished carvings.

Throughout 2006 and 2007 I regularly worked with Substance Misuse service users at Artspace in London. This was initiated by the CNWLMental Health Trust (NHS) and involved creating and delivering workshops for 4 different levels of dependency, from groups ofout-patients at hospitals to groups coming to the Artspace studio. Most of the workshops ran once a week and were 12 weeks in length concentrating on one art form at a time.For all but one level, an O.T. was present who also joined in the activities.

Artspace and CNWL Mental Health Trust (NHS) at St. Mary’s Hospital:

Breeze Block Carving 2007
/ Encaustic (wax) Painting 2007

Soapstone Carving workshops 2006
/ Plaster Relief Carving 2007

“This is the first thing I have ever made in my life” – substance misuse participant in Soapstone Carving workshop (bottom left head)
Case history - Karen
Karen participated in a number of CNWL art courses and became proficient at expressing herself artistically. By the end of the year, shehad decided to enrol in an art foundation courseso she could become a professional artist.

In 2005 and 2006 I ran carving workshops for prisoners at HMP Sendto create carved totems poles to enliventheir garden. This garden project was commissioned by the Koestler Trust.

I wonthe commission at Sure Start, Bournemouthin 2006 to make a mosaic water feature for their outdoor drinking fountain in 2005. I worked alongside Sure Start mothers for 8 weeks of workshops creating the mosaic underwater scene.

In 2002I worked for the metropolitan police Karrot project for 11 – 16 year olds. This involved going into a semi secure unit for young offenders where I ran a six week long course in stone carving which was well received by the youths.

References:

Alexandra Coulter

Director at Arts and Health South West

DorsetCountyHospital

Williams Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY

Alison Dalton

Bridging Communities

Church Related Community Worker

73 Mellstock Road

Poole BH15 3DW

Tel: 07908 110121

I have public liability for 5 million and have a current enhanced CRB disclosure