Project 49 launch new art campaign

March 1, 2017 by Southend Borough Council

Tuesday 28th February 2017

Project 49, the council’s innovative service for adults with learning disabilities in Southend-on-Sea area, is launching a new art campaign to challenge stereotypes.

Project 49 are working with Street Art-on-Sea, which is part of Art Doesn’t Discriminate (A.D.D), to create a 'Recognise Us' art installation which has been inspired by the recent Mencap national campaign 'Here I Am.’ The artwork will be created and launched tomorrow (Wednesday 1st March) at 2.15pm on hoardings at 175 London Road (opposite Hair and Sons estate agents on London Road), where new housing will soon be built.

Pete Shrimplin, Community Inclusion Co-ordinator at Project 49, says: “Although the Mencap campaign was a very good one and has raised awareness on this subject, it also said that people with learning disabilities are often 'invisible'. We wanted to challenge this as we feel that within Southend-on-Sea people with learning disabilities are very visible, so ‘Recognise Us’ was born.

“The art installation along the London Road is a collaboration and extension of the work that we have been doing in recent months with John Bulley and Street Art on Sea. The idea is to produce portraits, in gilt frames, of people with a learning disability who are active within their community and hold down jobs, whether paid or voluntary.”

Cllr Lesley Salter, Executive Councillor for Health and Adult Social Care, says: “This is another great idea from the team down at Project 49, and will really help to raise awareness and tackle the negative stereotypes that exist with learning disability. It will also brighten up this development site and we would like to thank Stephen Cook from Sandhurst Contracts for allowing us to use the hoardings.”

Project 49 is community based resource run by the Council and provides innovative services for adults with learning disabilities in the Southend on Sea area.

Located in central Southend-on-Sea, their focus is on putting people first. They provide a wide range of dynamic activities promoting healthy living and wellbeing, making informed choices and community inclusion.