Women from the South Asian community in Calderdale have been taking part in art sessions as part of their Gup Shup community group, which is facilitated by the Calderdale Council’s Neighbourhood Schemes Team.
Gup Shup helps Asian women take part in healthy, meaningful activities to improve their wellbeing and feel connected to their local community. As part of the activities delivered the group have teamed up with locally based art company Kawa Creative, which was commissioned by Creative Minds to produce a single piece of artwork utilising the existing needlecraft skills of the women in Gup Shup, whilst introducing them to different textile medium to which these could be applied.
Kawa Creative is a collaboration of artists dedicated to the use of creative processes and activities in the promotion of health and wellbeing. Together the group have been working to produce a wall hanging, which reflects their lives and their identity within the community.
The work is part of an ongoing project to help the group sustain itself working and sharing together in the community on various projects which they hope will attract and engage a wider audience and potential members.