Arts Council England - Character Portraits Project
Arts Council England have granted a £15,000 funding award to MFAA to resource a Character Portraits Project in collaboration with its partner organisations.
24 artists were selected following an application process at the start of the year to create 24 real-life portraits of characters nominated in recognition of the work they do in their local communities across Dudley and Sandwell.
Partner organisations, Dudley Council for Voluntary Service (DCVS), Sandwell Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), Sandwell Networkers Group, Greenwich Leisure Limited (Dudley Libraries) and Sandwell Library Service have nominated 24 characters and are hosting 12 portrait sessions at libraries across the boroughs of Dudley and Sandwell. The remaining portrait sessions will take place at The Art Yard, a boxing club and sheltered centre.
First the take part was Trevor Purcell who helps the community of Rowley regis and oversees council operations in Sandwell. Trevor met with MFAA Chair, Warren McCabe-Smith, at Cradley Heath Library to begin creating the portrait which attracted several visitors throughout the day. The second portrait was begun by MFAA Secretary, Martyn Harris, at Dudley Central Library on Saturday 2nd June.