Art After Loss Exhibition – Artists sought for unique exhibition of creativity inspired by loss

The exhibition, which is being organised by Sara and Jez Fixter of independent funeral directors Full Circle Funeral Partners in Altrincham, will provide a platform for people to share their art, which they hope will inspire others to use creativity to help them following a loss or bereavement.

The Art After Loss event will include pop up exhibitions at Altrincham Library and The Counselling and Family  Centre (CFC) Altrincham, which will be open to the public, as well as a display for students and staff at the Altrincham campus of Trafford College. Individuals can submit their artwork free for inclusion before 7 April to be exhibited between 24 April and 20 May.

Creative works can include paintings, sculpture, poetry, dance and music. The exhibition is not restricted to established artists, the aim being to encourage people from all walks of life to share their work, even if they have never created anything artistic before.

Work will be included from Whitworth Art Gallery’s, “Still Parents” creative workshops, supporting parents who have lost a baby in pregnancy or just after, following a successful exhibition they ran last year.

Alongside these events, Sara and Jez have collaborated with the Inch Arts charity to run a special exhibition of original artwork on the same theme, with a small fee of £10 for submission which will go to the charity. Prize winners will be chosen by a well-known artist, with a prize fund of £500. Artists can submit works in any media and all forms of expression for the exhibit, before the deadline of 14 April, to be hosted at Inch Arts from 5 to 20 May.

Sara said: “Everyone experiences loss in a different way and the emotions felt can be wide-ranging and sometimes challenging.

“Many people that we have supported have told us that creativity has really helped their wellbeing after loss, whatever form that might take.

“For some people this is a very private way of expressing emotion whereas others are keen to share their art to inspire others to use creativity to support them after loss or bereavement.”

Inch Arts is a charity that promotes positive mental health and wellbeing through creativity as well as encouraging people to develop high quality artistic skills.

Jo Cushing, CEO of Inch Arts, said: “Expressing grief through creative media including music, dance, art, sculpture and many other forms can contribute to increased wellbeing and we are delighted to be collaborating with Full Circle Funeral Partners on this exciting project.

“Creating something becomes a cathartic method of expression as a memorial to someone who has died and we welcome submissions in any medium from all artists working in the UK.”

Following on from the exhibition, Jo will be setting up a creative bereavement support group, in conjunction with Sara and Jez, using art to support local people in the community who are bereaved.

The Art After Loss series of events are an extension of Full Circle Funerals’ online gallery, created to celebrate some of the beautiful and meaningful ways that people have used art to help them after bereavement https://fullcirclefunerals.co.uk/bereavement-support/art-after-loss/

To submit your art to the pop up exhibitions which open next month, contact sara.fixter@fullcirclefunerals.partners. The deadline for submission is 7 April and the exhibition will run from 24 April and 20 May at various local venues. There is no fee for submission and the exhibition is open to all.  In order that contributors can retain their original pieces, the exhibition will display prints and images of the original piece, supplied by Holt Business Solutions also based in Altrincham.

To submit art to the Inch Arts exhibition visit https://form.jotform.com/230534591946361. There is a £10 fee for submission with all proceeds going to Inch Arts (Charity Number: 1175769). The deadline is 14 April, with the exhibition to be hosted at Inch Arts from 5 to 20 May.  All are welcome to attend the opening party and prize giving on 5 May, 7-9pm

Venues that would like to exhibit work from the exhibitions following these events are invited to contact Sara at sara.fixter@fullcirclefunerals.partners.