A few quotes from our latest volunteers

As the first block of our volunteering programme 2012 is about to start, we were given a few quotes by some of our last volunteers. They are invaluable to our organisation, and we are very thankful for their time and energy! It seems like the experience was a positive one for them as well!

“I really enjoyed working with the children on a one to one basis. It was so rewarding to see how their projects evolve and come to life and see their confidence grow as well as their skills… I wanted to learn more about working creatively with children with different learning and physical difficulties. Project Ability is a warm, friendly environment with a great team of artists, which made the experience very enjoyable and valuable.”
-Michelle Roberts

“I liked meeting all the artists at the workshops, getting to know them and seeing how their art work developed over the course of the workshops. I enjoyed working within a creative environment where artists were allowed the freedom to explore and experiment with different art materials and to work at their own pace and in their own style.”
-Deirdre Anderson

“I really enjoyed the variation in the work, and the relaxed and welcoming environment working with the children and staff…..I wanted the experience of working with a professional community organisation with an excellent reputation; I knew a lot about Project Ability’s community art work and thought it would be an encouraging place to gain experience.”
-Lauren Bryden

Posted on 25th January 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

The Saturday positions are now filled

Thank you to everyone who applied for our Saturday staff vacancies. The standard of applications was excellent and five people were shortlisted for interview from which we selected our two new recruits.

Keep an eye on the website for more job and volunteering opportunities.

Posted on 23rd January 2012 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

Meet the Volunteers: Lauren Bryden

This week, meet our fantastic volunteer Lauren Bryden.

Lauren recently graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in Textile Design and later went on to complete a Creative Start-up Programme at Ico Ico. Throughout her studies, Lauren has gained a variety of experience delivering art activities to many groups including young people with challenging behaviour and additional support needs. Lauren was keen to extend her experience in this field by volunteering at Project Ability. She has been working with us for 10 weeks, supporting the artist’s and young people in our Saturday afternoon classes. Her input to the classes has been very much appreciated by both the artist’s and the children she has worked with.

Thanks for everything Lauren!

Posted on 23rd November 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News  Recruitment & Volunteering  Workshops 

Meet the Volunteers: John Cocozza

For Meet the Volunteers this week we have John Cocozza, a very familiar face over the years at Project Ability and one of the founder members of Art Trek. John has been involved with our organisation for many years and as well as constantly producing new pieces of art within our Aspire programme, he also contributes in lots of other ways. He and a number of his fellow Art Treker’s have been manning our gallery for several weeks now, meeting and greeting visitors.

‘I’m really enjoying it and it helps to get me out the house. It gives me a chance to do my ideas too and draw them.’

In between meeting our visitors, John quietly sketches in his sketch pad, this role allows him to explore new ideas for his own art work too. So not only do our visitors have an opportunity to talk to one of our participants first hand, but also see the artist at work!

John and all of our volunteers' hard work is greatly appreciated and very much enhances the service we can provide, so a big thank you to you all for your contributions!

Posted on 9th November 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

Meet the Volunteers: Steven Reilly and Tommy Mason

This week, meet two of our brilliant volunteers: Steven Reilly and Tommy Mason. Both artists have been attending our Aspire programme for many years, and are founding members of Art Trek. They are very involved with Project Ability, taking part in many projects, and have recently started volunteering with us as gallery invigilators.

When Steven hasn’t been busy painting for the SECC commission, he looks after the gallery on Thursdays afternoon, where he likes to spend his time sitting at the desk browsing the internet. ‘You can look at different things and you can learn a lot and you can have a good good chat!’

Our other Thursday gallery invigilator is Tommy Mason. Tommy enjoys the gallery time because it gives him time to draw in his sketchbook, he spends all his time drawing and colouring; he is very focused. ‘I just like to draw.’

Thanks to both of them, as well as all our other volunteers, for their time and dedication!

Images from top: Tommy Mason, Steven reilly, Tommy Mason's sketchbook.

Posted on 26th October 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

Meet the Volunteers: Michelle Roberts

Michelle  Roberts graduated from Glasgow School of Art in Painting and Printmaking, earlier this year. Throughout her studies she has sought opportunities to gain experience teaching and has been involved in several programmes teaching school children of both primary and secondary school. Michelle also volunteered in India for 10 weeks, teaching in schools for children living in extreme slums and orphanages, an experience that she found to be very rewarding and one that she will treasure.

At present she has been helping to support our younger participants on the Saturday morning visual arts classes. Both she and our other Saturday volunteers have been a fantastic addition to our workshops, appreciated by both our staff and participants alike.

Posted on 12th October 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News  Recruitment & Volunteering  Workshops 

Meet the volunteers: Sheena Leach

Sheena Leach is currently volunteering with Saturday art classes for younger children within our Create project. She graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in Sculpture, in 2010 and has since sought opportunities to work within group environments where she can share her skills and experiences with people. Sheena runs local art workshops for children in North Berwick and also volunteers for Firsthand, where she befriends a young boy with learning difficulties, supporting him to do recreational activities of his choice.

Sheena has been with Project Ability for six weeks so far and her expertise and enthusiam is a fantastic addition to our Saturday morning team. Sheena is one of four volunteer artists giving their time to the Saturday classes.  Thier support allows the young participants to have more one to one time with the artists, helping to bring their ideas and art work on even further than before.

If you want to read more about some of our other volunteers, please click here.

Posted on 5th October 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  News  Recruitment & Volunteering  Workshops 

Meet the volunteers: Penny Sharp

Penny Sharp is an artist & animator based in Glasgow. Originally trained as a Fine Art Printmaker at GSA, she later gained an MPhil in 2D/3D animation. Drawing is central to her practice and typically her work is multi-layered occupying a place somewhere between medieval tapestry and 60’s American underground comics. Her highly original style, which is based on a rich narrative language, produces seductive images that draw audiences in and allow for a very engaged level of communication.

Penny is an active member of Glasgow Independent Studio, an executive member of the Scottish Artists Union, founding & core member of all-female drawing group c/o:minx and also actively exhibits & collaborates with emerging artist-led group Ironbbratz and comic group Team Girl.

Posted on 20th July 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  News  Recruitment & Volunteering  Workshops 

Meet the volunteers: Sarah Vincent

Today marks the start of National Volunteers Week, and we take this opportunity to say once again a BIG thank you to all our volunteers, past and present! It is also a perfect opportunity to introduce you to one of our volunteers: Sarah Vincent.

 Sarah graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 2000 in painting and went on to study Art therapy at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. She currently teaches art to adults with disabilities at Cardonald College and has been a member of the Independent Studios for about 3 years, where she shares a space with her partner Sandy.

Sarah volunteered with us to deliver a series of 4 full day workshops.  The workshops produced a body of work which will be made into a fundraising calendar. Participants in her workshops produced fantastic images around the theme of 2012 Olympics.

Sarah’s recent personal work has been a series of small oil paintings inspired by Google Streetview's of urban areas of Glasgow. She is also interested in making some work about silence and recently made a full body cast in tissue paper!

The result of her workshops, the Project Ability 2012 calendar, will be available to buy in our shop and online in the last few months of 2011. Keep an eye out for it, the artworks are beautiful!

(Image: 'Fencing' by Edward Henry)

Posted on 1st June 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News  Recruitment & Volunteering  Workshops 

Meet the volunteers: Doreen Kay

Artist Doreen Kay has volunteered in reception since the beginning of March 2010. After a five week training period Doreen was ready to go it alone and now covers our Administrator Pauline's lunch break every Thursday.

Doreen answers the telephone, puts calls through to staff or takes a message, operates the door entry system and makes sure visitors and artists sign in and sign out when they leave the premises.

Doreen is enjoying the responsibility and is keen to continue to volunteer over the summer.

Doreen Kay has attended workshops at Project Ability since the early nineties and although she took a break for a few years she returned in 2005. She also volunteers as an art tutor on Monday nights at the Monday Night Social. She is a member of Art Trek and Friends and works in the studio every Friday. Doreen has exhibited widely and will be showing work in the Impact Art Fair, London, 20 – 22 May 2010.

Posted on 17th May 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

Meet the volunteers: Douglas King

Douglas King completed his MA in Creative and Cultural Studies in 2006. Since then he worked with a number of community groups while setting up his own business, 14c Studio, specialising in graphic and web design as well as film production.

Douglas has been volunteering with us here at Project Ability for a number of weeks now, supporting individual participants from both our Aspire and Connect programmes, to make short documentary films about themselves and their city, Glasgow. This project has allowed him to work one to one with the five participants involved, to offer direction and technical support on producing these individual personal pieces of work.

The short films are to be sent to Canada, as a way of introducing Project Ability to a similar organisation, Visual Connections in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Each of the five participants will take part in an exhibition exchange project with Visual Connections in the near future.

Watch this space for more information on that!

Posted on 11th May 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

Meet the volunteers: Ross Byers

Our volunteers are a great addition to the team and we want to let you know a bit more about them. This series of blogs starts with the talented Ross Byers.

Ross completed his Bachelor of Contemporary Arts Degree in Tasmania, Australia in 2002, with a period of this time spent on student exchange to Hawaii. He went on to complete a Masters of Fine Art and Design, also at the University Of Tasmania 2006. He has been volunteering with Project Ability since early March 2011 where he has been stationed in our Ceramic room supporting artists from both the Aspire and Connect programme, engaging them in clay work while producing an impressive piece of his own work which has become quite the talking point.

Ross will also be joining Project Ability in August as an artist in residence, when he hopes to further develop the themes of architecture, geography and botany in more clay sculptures.

Posted on 27th April 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

Great opportunities at Project Ability

We have three great opportunities for local and international artists:

• Our residency programme for 2011 will start soon. Glasgow based artists are invited to submit a proposal before 28 March. Click here for more info on the residency and how to apply.
• For 'Everyone at Trongate 103', we are inviting artists across all disciplines with a professional interest in Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities to share their own practice during public events at Trongate 103: we are calling for artist talks, performances, evaluation reports, research papers etc. Click here for more information. Deadline 04 April 2011.
• We are calling for submissions for collected a collective exhibition in Project Ability’s gallery in Trongate103, as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2011. We are welcoming submissions in any medium and on any theme. Anybody can submit one (or more) piece, the only restriction is one of size. Deadline Friday 12 August 2011. Click here for more information.

Posted on 15th March 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

Thank you Robyn!

Robyn Nicoll has just completed a six week student placement.  Everyone at Project Ability would like to thank Robyn for her time and energy and good humour!

"During my time at Project Ability I had the privilege of glimpsing all their different programmes (Create, Aspire, Connect, Outreach). The majority of my time was spent with the Aspire group, where I enjoyed getting alongside the artists, assisting them and seeing how their individual projects developed. I loved getting to know the individuals - they have huge personalities. My experience at Project Ability has enthused me and given me fresh outlook for the rest of my degree. Thank You everyone at Project Ability"
- Robyn Nicoll

Our volunteers and occasional student placements are really appreciated by staff and the participants. The latest recruits to our volunteer programme have just begun and they bring with them an intresting and diverse range of skills and expertise!

If you would like to volunteer with us, the next recruitment date is July / August. Keep an eye on the volunteers section of the website for more information.

Posted on 14th March 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  News  Recruitment & Volunteering  Workshops 

2011 Residency Scheme: Call for proposals

Project Ability is offering Glasgow based visual artists the opportunity to take part in a volunteer residency scheme.

Our workshop is fully accessible and applications are particularly welcomed from artists who have a disability.

The successful artists will have access to workshop space and production facilities five days a week (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays) for a full calendar month. This is not private space and you will have the opportunity to interact with staff and tutors, artists and visitors to the workshop. A reasonable materials allowance of up to £10 per week will be made from our stock supply (i.e. canvas, paper, clay) but extra costs will be incurred if for example you are planning on working extensively in the glass room.

The Residencies will be offered to artists who can successfully demonstrate how they will use the time and resources to develop their artistic practice. This is an opportunity to undertake an intensive period of work; to develop work for an exhibition and / or for your own personal development. You might want to explore new materials such as ceramics or glass and by immersing yourself in the activity you will develop a better understanding of the mediums and processes. Alternatively, you might feel a period of concentrated drawing or painting would be beneficial to you.

You will have the opportunity to submit work to an exhibition: Residency 2011 – the collection in our gallery in January 2012.

In return, we will encourage you to schedule an artist talk for Project Ability artists and friends.

Applications must contain 4 images preferably emailed or on a disc, an artist statement, a work plan, an estimate of materials required and your preferred calendar month from May through to October 2011. Please contact Elisabeth Gibson .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you would like assistance with any aspect of the application process.

Applications must be received by 28th March 2011. Artists will be notified if they have been awarded a residency by the 18th April. The programme will commence from the 3rd May 2011.

Applications should be submitted online at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with residency programme in the subject bar or mailed to: Project Ability, 3rd floor, Trongate 103, Glasgow, G1 5HD

Posted on 28th February 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: Artists  Exhibitions  News  Recruitment & Volunteering 

Some feedback from our first round of volunteers

The first round of our volunteers programme just finished, and here is what our great volunteers had to say about it:

"I have really enjoyed volunteering at Project Ability's Monday Night Social club. It has been fun getting to know the regulars in the class and helping them with their art projects. Each piece of work that is created in the studio has character and is always an original. Volunteering in the class, I feel I have learnt more about different techniques etc, but mostly that I am more inspired and motivated in my own creative ideas."
-Lori

"I love the relaxed atmosphere you immediately feel as you come through the doors. To me this is the purpose of art- pure and simple enjoyment, not profit, not public acclaim and accolades, just good old fashioned fun and inconspicuous stress therapy. I would enjoy doing this on a permanent basis as Project Ability is a place I like to spend time and feel appreciated when sharing knowledge and problem solving."
-Julie

"I have really enjoyed my time at Project Ability. It’s an amazing place to work in and has a really friendly atmosphere where lots of beautiful work is made. I have learned a lot and feel like my teaching skills have developed. I always look forward to my workshops cause you get a chance to meet new people with interesting approaches to their art. It's a great thing to do."
-Richard

"I have really enjoyed the project I've been able to do with Gary and feel I have been learning a lot from it. The placement has also confirmed my wish to seek further work of this nature and hope that this may aid in finding other similar opportunities."
-Lila

Posted on 2nd February 2011 by PA Editor : permalink
Categories: News  Recruitment & Volunteering