Recently we have found out that we have a college full of artists! Our talented learners from the Grafton Centre are having their artwork displayed in the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery. Their exhibition, ‘Just Make A Mark’ follows the stories of our learners, celebrating who they are and their journeys of self-discovery.
The project took place over two terms, as part of their Enterprise and Art and Craft sessions. All three of Grafton’s learner groups took part, allowing everyone to get involved and let their creativity shine! The concept of the exhibition was about focusing on our learners’ strengths, as opposed to the challenges that they face. They did this through using everyday adapted equipment to make it engaging and motivating for the learners, this encouraged the learners to develop their independence where possible, as they had full control. The work that they created themselves expresses creativity and perseverance, reiterating the strength of our learners.
Everyone explored a range of process art techniques, which are techniques that focus more on the process of making art rather than the final product. This gave the project more meaning to our learners, as they were really encouraged to enjoy the act of creating, and they learnt a lot about themselves whilst doing so. Some of the processes used included Salad Spinner Art, Painting with Squeegees, and Mark Making to music. Incorporating music and art together worked to inspire our learners, allowing them to have a fully creative mindset. Mark Making with a range of tools and Wheelchair Painting were also used, creating fully accessible ways of creating art for our learners and proving that nothing can stop them from showing off their talents.
Within the museum, there is also a video of behind-the-scenes footage of learners creating their work, showing off the magic that went into it! The video is narrated by one of our own learners, who was very proud to have such an important role. You can watch the video anytime in the museum and see the process of them creating such a colourful collection. The exhibition will be in the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery until March 28th 2026, and entry is completely free, although donations are welcomed. We’re truly grateful to the Museum for working with us and allowing us to present such a wonderful exhibition to the public.
