Lucy Phillips Art Fund Chooses Evington Art Society
Last week, Crown Hills Art Society became one of the first recipients of a grant, made by the newly established Lucy Phillips Art Fund, after it submitted a proposal for a community art project. This new venture will see a light and airy space provided for artists and crafters to come together to work on their own projects, as well as art and craft workshops delivered monthly by several of its own members to inspire more people to become creative. The project also hopes to increase local exhibition space by installing small exhibitions of the work created over the next six months in some new and varied local places around the Evington area.
Despite Crown Hills Art Society being one of the longest running art societies in Leicester, hosting its 45th annual members’ exhibition this year at Crown Hills Community College, membership has been falling partly due to the drop off during the pandemic and the increasing difficulty of accessing the college building for members with mobility issues. The society is very proud of its long-standing tradition of including those who would not necessarily categorise themselves as artists alongside those who are well known in Leicester’s art world. To promote their message, “Being part of an art society can be for everyone”, the idea of starting monthly community art and craft workshops was born. Venues were sought, with adequate space and tables for working on, easy parking on site for those with mobility problems and with a good supply of natural light. With additional support from Scraptoft Parish Council to trial this idea at Scraptoft Community Hub, a grant application process was started for funding to allow the society to hire space until the end of 2025, and to buy some table top exhibition boards and promotional material to turn local places into mini exhibition centres showing work that is produced or inspired through the workshops. The society will provide some of the tutors and materials needed for each workshop and pay for exhibition space if required but are hoping that local businesses and shops plus buildings such as libraries, village halls, churches, mosques etc in the area may like to host some of these mini exhibitions to show their support for art in the community.
The monthly sessions will be open to all those age 18+ and will encourage any crafter, creative or artist to bring along their own project to work on as well as provide a different tutor led workshop each month. The sessions will begin in July and will run on the fourth Wednesday afternoon of each month 1:30 – 4:30 pm until the end of the year at Scraptoft Community Hub, Malsbury Avenue, Scraptoft LE7 9FQ. A small charge of £2 will be made for each three hour session (certain workshops may charge more) but drinks and biscuits will be included. Workshops hope to include: easy landscapes, pyrography, zentangles, printing, and decorative wreath making.
Crown Hills Art Society meets on the second Thursday of each month at Crown Hills Community College, Gwendolen Road 7 – 8:45 pm. This month’s meeting ,12th June, will be an abstract printing workshop in acrylics and is suitable for anyone so please do feel free to come along and get involved. No charge will be made for those coming along for the first time who email the society beforehand at crownhillsartsociety@gmail.com
