Grief is one of the most challenging experiences in life. Through art and peer-to-peer conversation, we'll explore it together.

What is it?

Art For Loss is a new in-person peer support meeting for bereaved adults, providing a space to talk freely while also tapping into artistic forms of expression. It is a collaboration between The New Normal and GRIT Studios in Deansgate, Manchester. Our meetings will take place once a month on Sunday afternoons. All meetings are inclusive and open to any adult who has been bereaved - no art experience is needed.

Art For Loss builds on The New Normal’s original peer-to-peer support meetings which were created as a non-judgemental space for people to come together and openly discuss their experiences of grief.

What to expect?

Art For Loss was created to provide space to openly discuss experiences of grief in an empathetic and non-judgemental environment, surrounded by others who may understand some of what you are going through.

We’ll begin each session with our typical open discussion. After an hour has passed, we’ll channel our energies into a creative exploration for the rest of our time together. These sessions aren’t about finding beauty in grief or trying to ‘make something good out of the bad’. Instead, we simply want to offer a space where you can express, explore, and spend time with your feelings through creativity.

We’ll explore a range of creative mediums, including painting, drawing, and poetry. Each session will have a theme and a suggested creative activity, with some sessions focusing on particular art forms such as lino printing or textiles. However, there is no pressure to follow the suggested activity - you are always welcome to work in whichever medium feels most natural to you, or to continue something you have been working on across previous sessions.

You can join us for both parts of the session or just one. You can work entirely at your own pace, and there is no commitment to attend future sessions.

What happens to the work?

At the beginning of 2027, we hope to bring together a selection of work created during the sessions for an exhibition opportunity. There is absolutely no obligation to share your work - this will only be for those who would like to participate.

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions section for more information. If you have further questions, please Contact Us.

Description supplied by the event organiser.