A unique project which uses art therapy to transform the lives of young people with autism in Scotland is hosting an exhibition at Eden Court Theatre during November 2015.
Arts in Transition opened on 2 November as a free exhibition and features a range of artworks created through Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Cheshire House Inverness project as well as a selection of artwork from late artist Ena Baxter’s own portfolio.
Service Manager Freda Murray said: “We are really excited in seeing how the young people on this project are developing confidence and improve their communication skills through art.
“Many young people with autism can find the transition to adult life challenging but through this work we are seeing many gain greater independence to help them with their future lives. We have seen improvements in our project members gaining social skills and better relationships with other young people and their family, friends and carers.”
Those young people include Stacy (pictured), who says art is one of her “favourite things to do” and has created a striking artprint for the exhibition which she says “looks lovely in the frame now and I’m very proud of it”.
The project, in its second year, is primarily funded through a three year grant by The Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation awarded in 2014. It supports 16 disabled young people with autism aged from 18-25 at Cheshire House Inverness, increasing their confidence, self-esteem, and enabling them to communicate with their world around them.
Foundation Manager Kay Jackson added: “We are delighted to be supporting Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Arts in Transition project, which is giving a great deal of pleasure not only to these young disabled people, but to their families and carers as well. Gordon and Ena Baxter supported artistic projects throughout their lives and there is no doubt they would have loved this exhibition.”
