Blackpool Council’s Langdale day service, which offers activity led opportunities for people with learning difficulties and complex needs, is celebrating their artistic achievements as many art works are displayed locally and around the world.

The council service based at The Langdale, Blackpool Centre for Independent Living (BCIL), Whitegate Drive and the New Langdale centre at Bispham Old Library, work alongside community volunteers and partners, offering activity led opportunities that meet people’s interests and individual needs.

A key aim of the programme is to support the development of contemporary visual artists and create professional opportunities for individuals, to exhibit and sell their work both nationally and internationally.

Bringing together artists with mixed abilities, the pARTnership is a creative and professional development project, delivered by Grundy Art Gallery, Langdale day services, Blackpool contemporary artist Tina Dempsey, with peer support from Venture Arts in Manchester.

Weekly workshops are provided at both centres with artist tutors and guest artists helping nurture ideas, explore new materials and raise ambition through the pARTnership.

Now a number of artists have sold work nationally at exhibitions in London and at events such as The Manchester Contemporary, the largest art fair in the North of England.

Individual art works have also been purchased internationally, through gallery representation from Jennifer Lauren Gallery, in New York and Canada.

Last year Manchester Art Gallery acquired the work of one of the programme’s artists for a collection. In addition, an artist has had a number of paid commissions to make work for The Horsfall Gallery in Manchester while two artists have been exhibiting work in Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery’s exhibition ‘STIM CINEMA’.

An active participant in the group, Kylie New, said: “I think the pARTnership art group is really good and exciting for me and my friends. I have learnt new skills and really enjoy doing my artwork. This group has allowed me to do things I couldn’t do before.”

Resident Artist, Tina Dempsey who supports the group, added: “It is such a privilege to work with such talented artists and be part of a project that is championing the future of artists with learning disabilities.”

Cllr Neal Brookes, Blackpool Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, commented: