Arts Festival hosted by Milestones Trust helps to reduce stigma and discrimination

Milestones Trust update – Expressions arts festival

During the weekend of the 15th and 16th September, Milestones Trust hosted their annual Expressions arts festival, which this year was inspired by nature and the environment. The Expressions arts programme uses creative art to help the people we supports develop new skills, make new friends and build confidence, by offering an alternative form of self-expression and communication.

Filling the event space at Paintworks in Bristol, the ‘Opening Minds’ exhibition brought together the creative talents and original artworks of the people supported by the charity.  Key exhibits included Halfway to the Sun, a cascading plastic installation created from recycling old plastic bottles, beautifully crafted textile Peacocks and a multi-sensory installation that used sound and light to explore the natural environment.

Alongside the different forms of art, the weekend event also featured a line-up of entertainment including live music from local Bristol bands, comedy from the likes of Mark Olver, Steve Day and Juliette Butler, poetry readings and original films depicting the work of milestones Trust, to create a fascinating and enjoyable day out for visitors. 

Louise Copping, art co-ordinator at Milestones Trust, explained: “We brought together some wonderful creations for the ‘Opening Minds’ exhibition, from art installations to crafted textiles, and from poetry to ceramics. It was fantastic to be able to showcase the different works and the months of hard work by the artists involved.

“What is most important about this exhibition, is not only what’s on display, but also how this shared arts movement helps to reduce stigma and discrimination for people receiving social care support."