Denbighshire County Council using art to promote good health

A COUNCIL and a community group have joined force to use the arts as a way of promoting health and well-being.Denbighshire County Council’s community Arts Service and South West Rhyl Communities First have signed up artist Alison Mercer, who's work challenges and explores the diversity of parental relationships.She has been working with a variety of groups in Rhyl, the Bookstart Parent and Baby and Parent and Toddler groups.With Alison’s help, the Bookstart group members have been busy creating small keepsake quilts, altered babygrows and fabric books. They have also been using safe inks to make prints of their children’s feet and letter stamps to personalise their quilts, along with techniques such as embroidery and stitch.All parents and children who took part in the scheme will return to a workshop with the artist at Rhyl Library today.All of the artwork produced during the workshops will form part of the Arts in Health and Well-being exhibition being held at Rhyl Library Gallery from August until October 2011, alongside Alison's own pre-selected artwork.Community arts development officer Sian Fitzgerald, said: “The work will look amazing and the project is a fantastic opportunity to prove that textile arts and skills can create unique benefits for all participants, whatever their age and ability."