Drawing Life

Drawing Life is holding a life drawing session at Hastings Contemporary on Friday 6 November, from 14:00 to 15:30. It's part of an art project run by Junction44 Design & Marketing, and it's open to family carers and the people they care for.

What sets it apart from your usual art class is the setting. These sessions happen in art galleries rather than studios, and the whole thing is artist-led. The atmosphere is kept relaxed, informal and fun: you don't need any previous experience to join in, all the materials are provided on the day, and there's plenty of conversation, tea and biscuits on tap. It's less about producing a masterpiece and more about spending an afternoon drawing with other people.

There's a specific reason behind the project, too. Drawing Life is aimed at family carers and the people they care for, with a particular focus on those living with dementia. The organisers describe it as a way to tackle the marginalisation that people with dementia and their carers often face, by opening up creative outlets and opportunities for individual expression. The gallery setting is part of that — taking the activity out of the private home or the clinical space and into a public cultural one.

If you're a carer or you care for someone, it's a free session to drop into. It runs from 14:00 to 15:30 at Hastings Contemporary, Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3DW.