Creatively supporting our communities to cope with loss and bereavement during the Coronavirus.
The global pandemic has had a huge impact on communities in Derby and Derbyshire, In Our Thoughts is a yearlong project supported by the mental health charity MIND. A partnership initiated by Artcore and Sahahra to support our communities to cope with Coronavirus.
Over the year we will be distributing ‘In Our Thoughts’ Memory packs to people who have experienced loss as a result of the pandemic and encouraging community members to contribute in creating a memorial. Creatively sharing their thoughts and memories of the loved ones they have lost, to form a part of a virtual memorial and culminate into a showcase in 2021. There will be bi weekly surgeries and activities online and onsite to encourage and support members with their mental health during these uncertain times.
We invited artists over December and Jan to produce work for In Memoriam as part of Artcore’s In Our Thoughts project.
These 5×7 postcard sized pieces are thought provoking, insightful works which explore the theme of loss and confusion due to COVID- 19. That being the physical loss of a person, or the loss of our freedoms, health, work and relationships.
Using poetry, collage, embroidery, paint and illustration these artists have created a powerful picture of what life has been like in 2020 (online exhibition coming soon)
As you decide how you will share your creative memorial of the loved ones you have lost, take time to look through these works for inspiration. Also, use our activity sheets to support you to think through how you will begin to do this work.
Use our In our Thoughts facebook group to ask questions and share ideas.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2911775069103190/
We will be sending out materials packs in the coming months, for your own work and timelines for submission and exhibition.
If you have been bereaved during the Coronavirus pandemic and would like to be supported to make a creative memorial, sign up here
If you are a community organisation who would like to refer an individual/family to be supported to make a creative memorial, sign up here
(Please get consent from the individual/family before sharing their details with us)
If you would like to volunteering to support this project, sign up here
In Our Thoughts is a partnership project between Artcore and Sahahra to support our communities to cope with Coronavirus.
We are distributing In Our Thoughts Memory packs and encouraging community members to contribute in creating a memorial and creatively share their thoughts and memories of the loved ones they have lost as a result of the Pandemic, to form part of a virtual memorial and culminate in a showcase in 2021. There are activities online and onsite to encourage and support members with their mental health during these uncertain times.
Enabling people with experience of mental health problems; service users are involved in leading the work. People with mental health issues have been an integral part of the project. Coronavirus pandemic has impacted the people we are working with, and we have adapted our services in order to meet this changing need.
This project works with local people and people are involved in shaping activities in their neighbourhood and form closer social links.
The impact of COVID19 has been terrible. People have not been able to be with dying relatives in hospital. Funerals, which for communities are community events, have only been attended by a maximum of five people.
We have been offering online and onsite delivery where possible. We are also offering digital tablets to users who are in need and supporting them with online surgeries to access online resources.
If you have been bereaved during the Coronavirus pandemic and would like some support, or are a community organisation and would like to refer someone to be supported please go to the sign up area of this page.
In Memoriam – Postcard Art Exhibition & Auction
“Oh, yet we trust that somehow good
Will be the final goal of ill.” – Lord Tennyson, In Memoriam
Derby and Derbyshire based artists are invited to make postcard-sized artworks
Paint or draw, paste a collage or a photograph, write a poem or a prose text – whatever you think leaves you with a sense of closure, of emotional relief, of expressing what you have been unable to do so as yet.
The deadline to register for this project is 29th November, click here to find out more!
Postcard Competition
Downloadable Activities
We also have some activities to help you get through this hard time.
Please click on the resources below to download the how to sheet for that activity.
Download How to Create a Feelings Collage to Remember a Loved One
Download How to Holding On / Letting Go Hands Activity
Download How to Write a Poem to Remember a Loved One
Download How to Create a Special Scrapbook to Remember a Loved One
Download How to Create a Memory Box to Remember a Loved One
Videos