SOCIETIES NEWSDiscovering art, nature. and bugs Thanks to a £300 donation fromRibble and Craven DFAS, localschoolchildren had the excitingopportunity to learn about art andnature through the 'Bug Project'. Artist Pat Ellacott used herpaintings of insects as acentrepiece for the project atSpring Hill Community School.The Year 6 students learnedabout Pat's work, took part in abug hunt and met Roger Swalesand his impressive collection ofinsects. The children were thenasked to create pictures based on a bug of their own imagination.NADFAS funded the art materialsalong with mounting of the work,including the professional framingof four selected pieces bystudents.The resulting 'Bug Project'paintings were displayed togetherwith Pat's own work at theHowarth art Gallery in Accrington.Societies NewsA snapshot of Society and Area activities across the country58NADFAS REVIEW / SUMMER 2010www.nadfas.org.ukThe exhibition was opened by theMayor of Hyndburn, Cllr PaulBarton on 20 February.Pictured clockwise from left:Joining the 'Bug Hunt'; the 'BugBox'; just one of theinvertebratescollected by thepupils; the Mayor of Hyndeburn,Cllr Paul Barton, pictured herewith Pat Ellacott (far left), pupilMatthieu Aaron and Spring HillHeadteacher Miss SE Grimshaw

www.nadfas.org.ukNADFAS REVIEW / SUMMER 2010 59SOCIETIES NEWSMoor Park DFAS explores art therapy Moor Park DFAS has sponsored a sessionof art therapy for the first time. In Januarythe Society arranged for registered arttherapist Liz Derbyshire to visit AbbotsfieldHigh School, Hillingdon. The idea of art therapy is to use art tohelp people explore feelings and overcomedifficulties. Explaining her approach, Lizsays: "An image can act as a bridge whenwords seem too painful -an image canoften break the silence."Liz worked with eight boys in a sessionentitled 'Reach for the Stars'. Each studentdrew around their arms and hand and alsocreated a star shape. These drawings werethen cut out, individually decorated andplaced onto a large canvas. The hands wereshown reaching out to touch a star whichrepresented their hopes and aspirations.Moor Park DFAS is pleased to haveexplored the benefits of art therapy andwould encourage other Societies to do the same. Above:Registered art therapist LizDerbyshire encourages the boys toexplore their feelings. Their Reach for theStarsartwork is pictured rightMany stories about Society activities are still being sentwithout accompanyingphotos. We encourage readersto always send in pictures.They make for a nicer lookingmagazine and give your storya much better chance of being featured. For details ofpicture specifications, pleaserefer to the information box onpage 64.How Gift Aidbenefits art Walton and Hersham DFAS hassupported a variety of artpreservation projects with Gift Aidclaimed from its members' annualsubscriptions. Since 2007, theSociety has used this income todonate almost £1,250 to nationalcauses in need of financialsupport. These have includedhelping the Tate to buy the Blakeetchings and to save Turner's TheBlue Rigi, supporting the PublicCatalogue Foundation andsecuring the Staffordshire Hoard.The Society will continue to seekout ways Gift Aid income can beused to make a difference to theworld of art.North Lincsfundspotteryworkshop North Lincolnshire DFAS recentlyfunded a pottery workshop at St Andrew's Childrens Hospice inGrimsby. A local potter went intothe hospice and gave the patientsan opportunity to experienceworking with clay. The project'ssuccess was evident in thechildren's finished products, whichranged from decorated tiles tobowls and monsters.