Expecting Art

Please note, this is primarily for pregnant persons and they will be the ones to inform the artwork.

Expecting Art is open to expectant families in: Victoria, Milton, Westborough, West Shoebury, Shoeburyness and Kursaal Wards.

Focal Point Gallery is delivering an exciting and innovative project in partnership with A Better Start Southend (ABSS); ‘Expecting Art’.

‘Expecting Art’ is a project to explore, develop and create an artistic outcome with a group of local pre-natal individuals that will examine their experiences and expectations of parenthood. Creative consultations, idea development sessions and workshops will lead to a collaborative artwork that discovers and draws together everyone’s individual involvement in one, big, shared experience.

These creative sessions will allow you to explore your thoughts and feelings, learning new skills you can pass down to your children and help to discover your own creativity!

Depending on the interest of the group, the outputs can be presented on Big Screen Southend, on Focal Point Gallery’s website, and as part of Focal Point Gallery’s Community exhibition in early 2023.

This process will allow families to ‘write their own story’, and explore their hopes, fears, and aspirations for their future in a creative and safe environment.

To find out if you are in a ABSS ward please visit the ABSS Website

To join this project, please book through our Eventbrite. Alternatively, you can call us on 01702 534108 or email at focalpointgallery@southend.gov.uk

Partners

A Better Start Southend is about using new ways of thinking to solve some of the problems that have affected local children and families for years. Formed in April 2015 and are one of five Better Start areas across the country funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. They are a partnership of local organisations who have years of experience working with families and young children. Most importantly, they work with local parents and carers to find out what needs to change if they are going to give Southend’s children the best start they can have.

Focal Point Gallery supports the production and presentation of new and recent contemporary art that challenges us to think and feel differently about locality, our sense of self and the importance of communities. Focal Point Gallery commissions and presents major solo exhibitions, group and thematic shows, events, and off-site projects, which develop new audiences and engage local communities. Focal Point Gallery’s learning programme aims to engage people of all ages in current debates around contemporary art and looks to extend and develop new audiences. They consider the philosophies and working methods of the artists in their exhibitions programme as the starting point for inspiration, aspiration, and discussion in the community.

If you have any questions, queries or would like to know more, please call on 01702 534108 or email at focalpointgallery@southend.gov.uk