Local charity, Lakeland Arts, is producing a brand-new community magazine to deliver arts, culture and heritage to those in isolation.
The magazine is the latest development to the charity’s Arts at Home campaign, which aims to amaze, inspire, amuse and unite audiences while they’re unable to visit Lakeland Arts attractions.
Lakeland Arts venues include Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House and Windermere Jetty Museum, both of which temporarily closed their doors on 19th March 2020. Kendal-based venues, Abbot Hall Art Gallery and the Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry closed earlier in the year ahead of major redevelopment works.
The Arts at Home campaign began online at the beginning of April and opened up new ways for the organisation to inspire audiences, grow engagement, encourage conversation and widen access to the extensive Lakeland Arts collections. Fresh content was created from fun family activities, insights into the boat conservation process at Windermere Jetty, increased online access to collections including digital exhibitions and curator’s tours as well as a series of Q&A sessions with staff and volunteers.
Recognising that digital content isn’t accessible to everyone, Lakeland Arts has worked with local care homes to produce the first issue of the Arts at Home community magazine.
Produced in collaboration with the community, the mini magazine contains art and poetry from local residents alongside Lakeland Arts collections highlights and participation initiatives.
Contents include insights into artworks to amaze, activities to inspire creativity, insightful articles to stimulate conversation, and local history to spark nostalgia.
Sean Moore, Resident Liaison from Summerhill Care Home said: “We’re delighted that Lakeland Arts have thought of us for this project. During the lockdown, residents have been isolated in their rooms for most of the day. The magazine will be a great tool for our Wellbeing Coordinators to prepare and plan activities with residents – sparking conversation and memories. The Arts at Home magazine will bring great joy to everyone here at Summerhill!”
Ian Read, Head of Participation for Lakeland Arts said: “Our community mini magazine aims to maintain traditional forms of communication in the digital age. We hope that the joy of reading and receiving post will never become old fashioned. This is a great way to reach out to communities, care homes and the vulnerable who need these points of connection.”
