Dockyard displays creativity to celebrate arts and help reduce stress
An interactive art exhibition has been launched by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, as part of its ongoing commitment to mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Designed by: Dockyard’ is an online virtual gallery featuring a diverse collection of original pieces by The Historic Dockyard Chatham’s visitor experience team who were inspired to express their creativity during the national lockdowns.
This week marks both World Art Day and Stress Awareness Month and the Trust continues to support its workforce by encouraging them to reconnect with hobbies and forgotten skills – with some very impressive results.
Chief Operating Officer, Paul Barnard, said: “Our team has been incredibly resilient in such a challenging time.”
“We are proud to celebrate months of creative output with a collaboration that is testament to how a positive attitude and commitment can produce a brilliant resource for everybody to enjoy.”
The eclectic collection showcases a diverse range of expressive arts completed in various mediums, including abstract watercolours, contemporary textiles, novel excerpts, audio clips, digital and architectural photography and landscape paintings.
Visitor Experience team member, Tre Dench, who showed some of her embroidery collection, said: “Without all this crafting during lockdown I would have really struggled, but having something to do in the afternoons and evenings keeps me grounded and happy.”
Research by UK charity Stress Management Society reveals that 65% of people in the UK have felt more stressed since the COVID-19 restrictions began in March 2020.
World Art Day sees people coming together to promote the development, diffusion and enjoyment of art and reinforces links between artistic creations and society. Taking time to make art is proven to improve mental health by boosting confidence and providing a sense of identity and achievement, as well as helping to re-focus the mind from everyday worries and stress.
The simulated display is ‘set’ in one of the Dockyard’s many impressive exhibition spaces, No.1 Smithery, and can be viewed here:
