Free art and wellbeing taster workshops will be held in Kirkby Lonsdale this week.
Kirkby Lonsdale Community Interest Company is working with Melling visual arts organisation Green Close to launch the workshops as part of a new programme called Phoenix Rising.
The Phoenix Rising programme is one of only 37 organisations nationally to have received a Thriving Communities grant from the National Academy for Social Prescribing, Arts Council England, Natural England and Historic England.
The initiative will give locals the opportunity to socialise and recharge in a safe creative space as lockdown restrictions ease.
The workshops precede the year-long Phoenix Rising programme which will be delivered by Green Close working with Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Mandala Preston Yoga Centre and The Gathering Fields eco-retreat, across North and Central Lancashire and South Cumbria from June.
Kirkby Lonsdale town manager Janet Nuttall said: “It has been eye-opening to work with Green Close as we put together the Phoenix Rising art taster programme for the town, something which we have never done before!
“Over lockdown we have really seen the growing need for support and a creative space in the community, so it is uplifting to be able to make such a difference for local people.”
The Phoenix Rising art tasters will take place online at first, starting with the four-week photography workshop Gratitude Gallery on Friday April 30 led by Ginny Koppenhol.
The two-week map-making workshop Myths & Legends begins on Sunday May 2 led by Kremena Dimitrova.
Face-to-face workshops will begin in May, taking place at Lunesdale Hall in line with government guidelines.
These will include a series of wellbeing drawing and making workshops exploring what makes our area special, called Kirkby Towntastic from Sunday May 23 led by Danielle Chapell-Aspinwall and clay making workshops making your own candlestick called Tree of Life from Saturday June 5 led by Sue Flowers.
Further details and booking information can be found on the www.KirkbyLonsdale.info website or by enquiring at the Kirkby Lonsdale Tourist Information & Gift Shop on Main Street.
