Aboriginal art is helping to raise the confidence and self-esteem of intellectually disabled people on the northern beaches.
Non-profit organisation Sunnyfield has just concluded a five-week pilot program at its Frenchs Forest site that brought in Aboriginal artists to work with the people it supports.
Over the course of the program Donella Waters and Louis Birk introduced participants to various aspects of Aboriginal culture that then formed the inspiration for their own creations.
Such is the success of the trial that Sunnyfield yesterday launched an extended Aboriginal Community Arts Program that will send the artists to its other regional centres throughout NSW.
The launch was also an opportunity for the pilot participants to exhibit their work and talk about their experience.
Sunnyfield’s arts co-ordinator, Gaye Fleming, said the program was invaluable. The participants have ownership of their work, which is so important to them, she said.
They have gained self-esteem, confidence and the belief in who they are and were incredibly proud to exhibit, show and talk about their work.
Ms Fleming said Sunnyfield will look to exhibit the artworks either at the Manly Art Festival or within Warringah Council chambers later in the year.
