Connecting communities with nature
The Riverbank Centre in Riverside hosted a sensory arts mini residency – bringing together local artists and adults with learning disabilities.
The initiative, which worked in collaboration with Riverside Primary School, celebrated the summer solstice and rekindled the community’s bonds with nature and the changing seasons.
Dance artists Saffy Setohy and Claire Pencak, alongside visual artist Lorna Swinney, led the project within the centre’s gardens.
The six-day residency featured a wide range of creative activities from crafting woven objects and shadow drawing to creative movement, ritual and play.
“The residency beautifully bridged the generational gap.
“Fostering connections between participants and plant life, as well as the seasons,” said Saffy.
“Through mindful activities and sensory arts, we explored the gardens at Riverbank in new and exciting ways.”
“The residency was a resounding success for everyone involved,” echoed Pamela Carruthers, Riverbank and Streets Ahead Service team lad.
“It was great to see participants of all ages and abilities come together and connect with nature.”
Service user Margaret Mclachlan added: “It was really different, I loved designing a slate with the kids at the school.”
The residency forms part of Scene Stirling’s year-long ‘Remembering Together’ project funded by Greenspace Scotland, which has seen communities from Callander to Cornton engage in a series of creative projects inspired by nature over the past year.
Vice convener of Stirling Council’s Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee, Councillor Margaret Brisley, said: “This innovative event brought people of all ages in the local community together through a diverse range of engaging activities and the use of the surrounding greenspace.
“It’s great to hear the positive feedback from staff and participants.
“There are many creative ways we can help our communities overcome the lasting feelings of isolation, loss and anxiety from the pandemic and this event is a great example of that.”
To find out more about the project see: scenestirling.com/rememberingtogether