The Foxton Centre Exhibition Recap

Since January 2023, The Harris has been working closely with the Foxton Centre to facilitate weekly adult art sessions for anyone to attend. The group started with just 2 members but has now grown to a regular group of around 15-20 adults every Friday.

The Foxton Centre is a Preston-based charity with a longstanding commitment to working within the local community, supporting both adults and young people. With the theme of art for well-being in mind, this project has been an opportunity for adults to connect with each other, learn new skills and embrace their colourful creativity.

These 8 months of creating and making resulted in a celebration of the group’s talents by opening the Foxton Art Group Exhibition on the 31st August alongside the ‘Celebrating The Foxton Community Day’. This was a wonderful opportunity for people to see all the great work that the group has been doing and to meet the artists themselves.

“The Foxton Art Group makes me happy and makes me have a laugh. It’s good company every week. The exhibition was brilliant – it was a good day” – Michael

With over 30 works of art on display including paintings, drawings and sculptures, there was something for everyone to admire and around 80 people attended the community day. Inspirations behind the works include nature, animals, colour, faith, the importance of art for mental health and the aim to spread joy to others through art.

Also featured was the group’s large-scale collaborative piece! Depicting a Preston cobbled street with the city’s skyline on the horizon and the focal point being Preston’s iconic symbol of the Lamb. Nearly everyone in the group contributed to this eye-popping painting, showing the power of coming together to make art.

Due to the presence of Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in the Foxton Centre, the building and the Foxton Art Group Exhibition is sadly now closed. However, we are now in a new temporary location whilst the Foxton builds their brand-new youth and community centre. If you’re interested in coming along, the Foxton Art Group is still meeting every Friday 1pm – 3pm at the temporary location of: The Foxton Centre, C/O Unit 10-12 Oakham Court, (up the stairs/ramp to the first floor), Preston, PR1 3XP. Anyone of any artistic ability is welcome – just drop-in.

“I enjoy going to the Foxton art group because they are very welcoming, and it is nice being surrounded by others with a common interest in art. Seeing other people’s work also helps spark inspiration for my own pieces” – Tsuki

So what does the Foxton Art Group get up to?

• The Foxton Art Group is a chance for you to embrace your creative expression and be supported by The Harris and Foxton Centre staff along the way.
• We love to have a good chat and a brew and biscuit! These sessions can be a chance to socialise and connect with new people as well as a place to get absorbed in your own art.
• Supported by the Heritage Fund, The Harris provides all art materials for the sessions. This includes paints, paintbrushes, paper, canvases, drawing materials, chalk, pastel, collaging paper and more!
• People in the art group are encouraged to share their skills with others in the group and we sometimes have professional artist-run workshops.
• We go on trips out to spark inspiration! In the past we’ve done outdoor art sessions, a trip to see paintings from The Harris’ collection and a guided tour around The Harris building under construction.

Sound like your kind of thing? We are always open to new members joining the Foxton Art Group. Our sessions are aimed at adults but all are welcome! Drop by and see us any Friday 1pm – 3pm at The Foxton Centre, C/O Unit 10-12 Oakham Court, (up the stairs/ramp to the first floor), Preston, PR1 3XP.

Harris Your Place

Harris Your Place is a £16 million project set to restore and reimagine the Harris for 21st-century audiences as a cultural learning space. The aim of this project is to protect the building and the architecture for future generations whilst enhancing accessibility options and positioning the Harris as a community hub for Preston and Lancashire.

The capital project is more than simply preserving this much-loved building; Harris wants to ensure that it remains a vibrant heart of the community. A place where people want to spend their time.