Butterfly-making craft sessions are to be held in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge as part of a project to create 9,000 hand-crafted butterflies across the county to represent the number of people living with Dementia in Somerset.
The Community Butterfly Project aims to raise awareness and understanding of dementia in Somerset while encouraging creativity.
Free-to-attend workshops will be held at Burnham-On-Sea Community Centre on 10th November between 10am-1pm and Morland Community Hub in Highbridge on Saturday 6th November between 10am-1pm on a drop-in basis for people to come in and find out more about the project and create their own butterfly.
A spokeswoman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The project will bring people together from across eight community hubs within Somerset who will learn how to design and create 9,000 individually hand-crafted butterflies.”
“The design workshops will be facilitated by community artists who will use the creative process to encourage discussion and experiences during the pandemic, helping to build confidence and skills, and strengthen the support networks of participants.”
The butterflies represent ‘Butterfly Moments’ which are 30 seconds of engagement that can improve a persons day, for example ‘you look well today’.
The butterflies are made out of a variety of materials, paper, card, tissue paper and fabrics. Each hub has their own artist with their own ideas to bring to the project, and the artist for Morland will be in attendance to guide the community with their colours and textures.
“The intention of the Chrysalis / Butterfly Project is to involve Somerset residents of all ages and abilities, in arts-based activities to improve their understanding of dementia, through innovative learning and to improve their sense of health and wellbeing as the country emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.”
These 9,000 butterflies will then be displayed in a large installation next Spring at Wellington School with a series of events: Saturday 2nd April: ‘Celebration Butterfly Dinner’; Sunday 3rd April: Family Fun Afternoon; Monday 4th April: Butterfly Music Extravaganza with Afternoon Tea”.
The event is being organised by dementia care specialists Reminiscence Learning and Somerset Skills & Learning.
