Stitching for recovery is the theme of Oldham workshop series

A free creative workshop led by an artist in Oldham marks the launch of a new awareness month in Greater Manchester.

Artist Lois Blackburn is leading a series of sessions at Gallery Oldham, starting during Recoverist Month this September.

The textiles workshops are for Oldham people in recovery from substance use, their friends and family.

No previous experience of crafting or sewing is needed to join the project, which is called To the Sun, Moon and Stars.

Recoverist Month shines a light on people in recovery from substance use through the arts and culture.

It is initiated and led by Portraits of Recovery (PORe), which was founded in Chadderton in 2011 and last year was selected for three years of support by Arts Council England.

The workshops were commissioned by Oldham Council Substance Misuse Team through the Oldham One Fund, and the first one takes place on Saturday 30 September.

Mark Prest, director, PORe, said: “PORe’s work is about increasing access and opportunity to the transformational power of the arts and culture.

"Establishing an annual Recoverist Month has been a long-term ambition and we are delighted to be bringing the project to Oldham, as that is where we began.

"Stitching as a form of collective activism will generate collective conversations on all things recovery and much, much more - exploring recovery as the name of the game and a realistic lifestyle option for Oldham’s people and communities in recovery."

Lois said: "During these free sessions we will look at Gallery Oldham’s collection, and objects familiar to us as symbols of luck for inspiration.

"These include a four leaf clover, a St Christopher and an Eye of Horus.

"We will create our own amulets and talismans of protection, empowerment and recovery.

"These handheld items will be made by stitching fabric, metal, clay and thread - full of meaning and delight. 

"After an exhibition at Gallery Oldham, people will be free to take home their miniature artworks.

"I can’t wait to see what people create."

Lois’s work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Houses of Parliament, People's History Museum, The Royal Festival Hall Southbank, Imperial War Museum North, Bury Art Gallery, National Gallery of Art in Vilnius, Lithuania, Bankfield Museum Halifax and Leighton House Museum.

To book a free place on the first session on Saturday, September 30 (12.30-3.30pm), sign up via this Eventbrite link.

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