SATELLITE PROGRAMME
BACKGROUND
The Satellite programme focuses on nurturing partnerships with key regional organisations – allowing OutPost Arts to add value to existing creative initiatives that promote art and culture as a tool for health and wellbeing. The Satellite programme tests new ways of working,expanding the community programme’s reach through alliance-building and shared learning. This approach builds a cross-sector, networked approach – seeding and cultivating work that otherwise might not happen.
UPLAND MADE
OutPost Arts collaborated with Upland CIC to develop ‘Made WELL’ – an initiative that aims to underline the important connection between making and wellbeing – enhancing the annual ‘Upland Made’ craft fair event which takes place each November at Easterbrook Hall by designing and delivering free, accessible, in-person Artist-led creative wellbeing workshops over a weekend.
The Made WELL programme encourages people to take part in a range of arts and crafts activities that may feel out of reach to some – sparking new interests, creating opportunities for self-expression, developing new skills, nurturing wellbeing, and encouraging participants to embed creativity into their daily lives in manageable ways. The Made WELL Artists and Makers – commissioned from Upland’s membership – work with OutPost Arts to design truly accessible activities that include recommended next steps.
The initiative also encourages and supports regional Artists and Makers to expand their practises to deliver creative wellbeing-focused activities – building confidence and deepening understandings.
“I was lucky enough to attend 4 of the workshops found them all brilliant from the instructors to the tasks and all other participants that attended – thank you!”
THE CARE PROJECT
In late 2024, we launched a new Satellite programme project – The Care Project. This pilot project, developed in partnership with Scottish Care and coordinated by Project Officer Phoebe Watt, was designed to support the creative wellbeing of both staff and residents in care homes across Dumfries & Galloway, collaborating with three care homes, Allanbank, Fleet Valley, and Munches Park, to explore and foster creative initiatives. Our aim was to enhance the creative wellbeing of staff and residents, strengthen their connections and create a more inspiring and supportive care home environment for everyone.
We commissioned Artist Julie Stephen from the Artful Corner to deliver engaging creative sessions in each care home – establishing our stakeholder priorities for the project. These sessions helped us gather valuable insights and ideas from both residents and staff by asking them what brings them joy, how they enjoy expressing themselves creatively and the kinds of activities they love most.
During these creative engagement workshops, residents and staff worked together to create an inspiring Tree of Life artwork in each home. Using hand-decorated leaves to express their interests and passions, they collaboratively built vibrant pieces that now proudly adorn their walls. Each care home also received additional blank leaf cutouts, encouraging other residents and staff to add their thoughts and creativity over time. Across all three homes, common themes emerged, including a deep appreciation for nature, the outdoors, music and visual arts.
In the next phase, we commissioned Artist Lucy Lee to bring mark-making workshops to each of our partner care homes. Using bespoke materials including oversized crayons and willow charcoal – handcrafted by Lucy – residents and staff connected with nature while creating stunning artwork. Together, they created Solway birds set against beautiful, coastal-inspired backgrounds, by making marks and patterns with Lucy’s handmade materials. Participants were promoted to discuss seaside memories, with a calming coastal soundtrack adding to the sensory experience.
“The joining in and socialising, it de-stressed me and relaxed me. I enjoyed the company. I have loved it today mixing with others.”
Moving forward, we will seek further funding to expand The Care Project, developingexisting creative opportunities to enhance the wellbeing of the residents and staff across Dumfries & Galloway’s 29 care homes.
If you would like to know more or to get involved in this project, please contact us.
