Art can offer respite for struggling carers
A new artist has been appointed by a health charity to run one of its innovative projects.
Art in Healthcare (AiH) has appointed Juliana Capes (pictured) to run its Caring Spaces project, an initiative which supports unpaid carers.
Capes, a multi-disciplinary visual artist and filmmaker, has recently shown her work at the Edinburgh Art Festival, Alchemy Film Festival and CCA, Glasgow.
In this new role, she will lead the latest series of monthly online sessions which provide participants with some respite from their day-to-day caring responsibilities by offering them a safe and relaxed space to learn about and develop their passion for art while building peer support.
Capes brings direct experience to the role as a parent carer of two children with learning disabilities.
Caring Space, delivered in Musselburgh, Dalkeith, Leith and online, brings carers together through monthly online art sessions and in-person visits to galleries.
Capes said: "It's great to be appointed as the Caring Spaces artist for this latest projectwhere I am connecting with other carers and support organisations. I’m delighted to bring my own experiences, both as an artist and as a parent carer of two children with additional support needs, to help the participants maximise the wonderful experience this programme has to offer.
Jeanne Marie Lee, carer training officer with Vocal Edinburgh, added: “Caring Spaces is one of our most popular courses. Our carers love the opportunity to get creative with new materials and techniques. With that in mind, it is incredibly exciting to have Juliana joining us in this programme to inspire and delight the group with her ideas.”
And Iona McCann, associate director at Art in Healthcare, said: “We are really excited to work with Juliana and see what she brings to the Caring Spaces programme. Working with someone with lived experience of caring was incredibly important to us as she has a deep understanding of the challenges unpaid carers face.
“As an organisation, we also want to learn on how we can best support unpaid carers within our team.”
