Creativity knows no bounds in Blackpool’s Centre for Independent Living

This month I had the absolute pleasure of visiting the Blackpool Centre for Independent Living again. Every time I go, I’m reminded just how special this place is – not just because of the support it gives to adults with learning disabilities, but because of the people who make it what it is. It’s warm, friendly and full of heart.

This visit was all about the incredible work coming out of a project called the pARTnership. It brings together artists with learning disabilities to develop their skills and showcase their creativity. And the talent here is off the scale.

I got to meet two fantastic artists – Samantha Bragg and Jennifer Smithson – and the brilliant Tina Dempsey, a local contemporary artist who leads the project. What started out as a small idea has now grown into something with national, and even international, reach.

Left to right: Staff member Toni, Jennifer, Sam, me and Tina

Samantha’s portraits are impressive. She paints everyone from Disney characters to celebrities, and her portrait of Ziggy Stardust (below) is a real showstopper. She’s exhibited in Blackpool and Manchester, and she’s always happy to take on new portrait requests – she’s got a real passion for what she does and it shines through in every piece.

Jennifer’s work (below) is bold and colourful – paintings made up of layers of lines and circles. It’s the kind of artwork that pulls you in the longer you look at it. She’s had her work shown at the Grundy and is now represented by the Jennifer Lauren Gallery, which supports artists with learning disabilities from across the UK.

I was particularly taken with the work of Stacey Foster, an artist who only has use of her hands but who creates beautiful, sculptural pieces (below). She uses beads, glitter, pompoms – whatever catches her eye – and the end results are fun, vibrant and full of life. Incredibly, her work is now part of the Manchester Art Gallery’s permanent collection.

Tina Dempsey talked about how the art world is finally starting to see the value in work from people who’ve often been left out of it. For too long it’s been a closed shop with a secret doorway only open to a certain kind of artist. But the pARTnership is proving that creativity doesn’t come with rules or qualifications – it comes from passion, perspective and talent.

These artists have shown their work in New York, Paris, Manchester, and right here in Blackpool. Their art’s in private collections, commercial galleries and some of the country’s most respected public galleries. It shows what’s possible when we invest in creativity and believe in people’s potential.