Make Sense
Men’s Cabin
The East End Community Foundation supported us to deliver eight process-led art workshops to men at Men’s Cabin, situated at the Balfron Tower in Tower Hamlets.
The programme commenced with an initial steering session during which the two facilitators, Melissa and Lottie, discussed various workshops to develop an engaging experience for the participants. The resulting programme featured: gyotaku (fish printing), orizomegami (folded dyeing), paper marbling, stencil making, relief printing, spray painting, and bookbinding. Each workshop was process-led and allocated two hours. The initial segment of each workshop provided an introduction to the technique and its context; in this instance, many of the workshops drew inspiration from traditional Japanese practices. Following this structured introduction, participants were encouraged to explore and develop their own interpretations of the techniques. Melissa and Lottie fostered a collaborative environment, encouraging participants to communicate and assist one another, thus cultivating a dynamic culture of co-facilitation.
The program concluded with a bookbinding session, providing participants with the opportunity to self-publish their work and encapsulate their creative journey in a tangible document. Employing accessible coil binding, participants could continue adding to their books as they further explored the learned techniques. To gather feedback on workshop outcomes, a creative activity was implemented at the end of each session. Participants cut out question prompts from a sheet of paper and placed them into pouches that visually represented their responses. This innovative feedback method provided a unique and engaging way to assess the program's impact.
“
Melissa and Lottie have been amazing, we’ve had the benefit of their insightful teaching for a long time now. They alleviate the burdens of our recoveries and help us re-jig our neuro pathways" Chris
Participant
By providing free, engaging art activities at the Men’s Cabin, we directly addressed the high risk of social exclusion faced by low-income older residents in Tower Hamlets. The process-led, collaborative workshops, such as gyotaku, orizomegami, and relief printing, not only fostered communication and connection among participants but also provided a preventative measure against the detrimental health effects of loneliness. By offering a space for creative expression and social interaction, we’ve created a vital resource for men vulnerable to loneliness.
The positive impact observed, including the fostering of co-facilitation among participants and the creation of a supportive community, demonstrates the project's value. We are actively seeking further funding opportunities to ensure the continuation of these workshops and hope to continue again in the autumn.
This project has been made possible by The Canary Wharf Group Community Grant programme
