Art Journal Project graduates have access to a bespoke programme that supports further creative development across two separate projects.

With the key themes of ‘Confidence Building’, ‘Raising Ambitions’ and ‘New Horizons’, the Graduate Project supports participants to expand their practise, connect art and place, and explore creative enterprise.  

Through Autumn & Winter each year, participants have access to collective and individual guidance, coaching and mentoring to identify long-term goals and form sustainable wellbeing strategies – nurturing both their personal and professional development. 

Personal Development Programme

Part one 

OutPost Arts have partnered with Upland CIC – allowing Art Journal Project graduates to take part as a ‘creative collective’ in the annual ‘Upland Made’ event – a high quality crafts fair which takes place November 4-5^th 2023 at Easterbrook Hall on the Crichton Campus. 

12 adult and 4 youth graduates will take a stall at the crafts fair – designing a limited range of products for sale including a range of prints, greetings cards, and badges featuring their original artwork.  

In the weeks before the event, Artist Helen Walsh and Creative Projects Manager David Smith will guide and support the graduates to design a range of products – increasing their design skills and deepening their understanding of commercial art practises.  

Part two 

Art Journal Project graduates will focus on identifying individual ambitions – working with professional arts practitioners to support their personal and skills development and explore next steps. 

We will work with graduates to develop their creative leadership skills, with the potential to return as a Peer Mentor to support new Art Journal Project participants.  

Willows Mural Project

Our Community Creative Wellbeing and Art in Healthcare teams are collaborating and working in partnership to bring an exciting public art development to fruition… 

As part of the Art Journal Graduate Programme a group of youth and adult participants are working with Associate Artist Katie Anderson and CAHMS Participation Lead, Alison Telfer, to design a mural art installation at The Willows – the NHS D&G Children, Young People and Family Centre based on the Crichton Campus. 

The project’s artist and the group of Art Journal Project graduates is engaging with The Willows staff and service users to co-design the mural – ensuring that it improves the visitor and staff experience of a potentially intimidating space. 

The project is designed to empower service users to give them a sense of ‘ownership’ and encourages our graduates to increase their own personal ambitions and creative practises by literally THINKING BIG! 

Lead Artist Katie Anderson is hosting a programme of workshops and planning sessions between up to March 2024, and the final work will be revealed in a public launch and celebration event around April 2024.  

Upland Made

We were delighted to work in partnership with Upland to support the annual Upland Made Visual Arts & Craft Fair. The event took place at Easterbrook Hall in Dumfries on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th November.The 2023 Art Journal Project graduates hosted a stall as part of the arts and crafts fair. They were able to showcase their work and sold a collection of postcards, badges, prints and original artwork!