Art & Soul are a group of adults who have experienced mental health issues who live or work in the Rochdale Borough. Originally members of the Art for Wellbeing project, they found the project to be so beneficial that when the funding finished they decided to set up as a user led group. Something which Cartwheel are very happy to be supporting them with.

They have recently received some funding from Awards for All to run 20 visual art sessions on the theme The Painted Note: art inspired by music.

Working with lead artist, Pete Walker, and emotional support worker, Stacey Coughlin, the sessions will run up until the end of March 2012 and will culminate in 4 exhibitions and a book.

Please view the project gallery for a taster of the work that they have done so far...

They are in the process of applying for funding to run more sessions after this but are grateful for the funding that they have received so far. This includes:

• Heywood Distribution Park Bursary Scheme December 2012
• Awards for All October 2011
• Borough of Rochdale Fund March 2011
• The Manchester Guardian Society Charitable Trust January 2011
• GMPTE Small Travel Grant October 2010
• The Seed Fund July 2010

Cartwheel Arts were grateful to receive a grant from the Heywood Together Trust in January 2011 to run some sessions for the group on the theme of Still or Sparkling. Please see the project gallery above to view some of the postcards that were created during these sessions.

For more information, or if you think that you might like to join the group, please contact Lucy at Cartwheel Arts on

t: 01706 361300 / e: admin@cartwheelarts.org.uk

or contact Art & Soul directly on

e: artnsoulgroup@gmail.com

w: www.artnsouldemosite.wordpress.com