Fostering Hampshire Children and Hampshire Cultural Trust are proud to present the ‘Be the Inspiration’, a touring exhibition celebrating the creativity and aspirations of foster children.
The exhibition will take place from 29 April across Hampshire Cultural Trust community venues including museums, galleries and arts centres in Alton, Andover, Fareham and the New Forest, with several smaller exhibitions displayed throughout libraries and community centres.
It follows a number of artist-led workshops, hosted by Hampshire Cultural Trust, where the children of foster families had the opportunity to learn new skills, explore their creativity and take time to express themselves. The children discovered textiles, ceramics, collage and mark-making skills and produced a collection of artworks for display across Hampshire.
During the workshops, the children were encouraged to consider their hopes and aspirations for the future, whether that was a hobby they enjoy, a vocation they wished to pursue or the importance of friendships and supporting relationships. Some took time to consider inspirational people in their lives. Most importantly, the children were encouraged to have fun and relax into the activity.
Cat Cooke, Community Programme Manager at Hampshire Cultural Trust, spent time chatting with the children at the workshops:
“This exhibition brings together artwork created by children and young people to celebrate their creativity and share their stories and aspirations. Over a series of eight workshops, children aged 4 – 17 years old and their fostering families, have been working with professional artists in four Hampshire Cultural Trust museums and art centres. They learnt new skills and created their own unique pieces that represent their aspirations, what they enjoy and what makes them happy. It has been wonderful to welcome so many children and their foster families to our venues and see them be creative, express themselves and have fun as they make new friends and grow in confidence.”
Through the exhibition, Fostering Hampshire Children and Hampshire Cultural Trust hope to raise awareness of fostering, share the inspirational stories of the young people in care, and galvanise the residents of Hampshire to consider becoming foster carers who can offer a home to children in care.
With 23 venues across the county, Hampshire Cultural Trust runs a variety of workshops, classes, events, and projects for both young and old, in schools and communities, with a particular emphasis on reaching people who are vulnerable or disadvantaged and would not normally be able to access arts and culture.
Fostering Hampshire Children hopes to shine a light on the children in care and inspire the residents of Hampshire to #OpenYourDoor and become foster carers. For more information about becoming a foster carer with Fostering Hampshire Children, please visit the Fostering Hampshire Children website and download an information pack or call the team on 01489 587052 for a chat today.
Venues and Dates for the Exhibition
Andover Museum
29 April to 4 June
Allen Gallery, Alton
10 June to 23 July 2023
Westbury Manor Museum, Fareham
16 September to 29 October 2023
Forest Arts Centre, New Milton
17 February to 27 March 2024
Further community venues to be confirmed for summer and winter 2023.
https://www.hampshireculture.org.uk/event/be-inspiration
https://www.hampshireculture.org.uk/social-impact-young-people/be-inspiration