Ocean Arts
Founded in 2010 as a voluntary community organisation Ocean Arts is now a Community Interest Company which provides creative opportunities to people with learning disabilities in South Tyneside.
They provide a range of creative sessions encouraging members to participate in special projects working towards exhibitions or performances.
They aim to highlight the skills, talents and abilities of members to challenge the wider community perception of people with learning disabilities
The guiding principle of the company is to create opportunities for learning and development through a variety of activities including art and drama and reflecting on these artistic processes.
Ocean Arts believe that these mediums can help increase awareness of self and of others, allowing this process to help people cope with symptoms, stress and traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art.
Each project Ocean Arts develop is designed to enable participants explore a wide area of disciplines and activities within the set theme.
They believe personal development and awareness leads to greater integration and offers a sense of belonging to the wider community that a person currently may feel excluded from.