Discover the stories of the past in a unique 10-week online art journaling course with Wessex Archaeology and artist Jo Beal.

Join us this winter for Hearth and Home, where you’ll be inspired by fascinating insights from Wessex Archaeology’s experts as they share the hidden stories behind remarkable artefacts from their collection. Alongside these ancient treasures, you’ll be encouraged to reflect on your own favourite everyday objects from home, kitchen and garden, exploring their personal meaning through a creative lens.

Through playful, drawing-based exercises we’ll explore motifs, mark making, materials, maps, stories, place and time. By the end of the course, you’ll have created a rich and personal art journal – a visual story that captures your own responses to the archaeology of Wessex and the world around you.

No drawing experience is necessary, just curiosity, openness, and a willingness to explore.

Sessions will be delivered online via the Teams app.  If you don’t already have Microsoft Teams, you can sign up for free.  More information on this will be available upon confirmation of your place on the course.

Location: Online via Teams.

Session Schedule:

Welcome Session
Date: 8 January
Time: 10:30 – 11:30am
Details: Meet the team and artist, learn about the course and connect with other participants. This is a shorter session to kick off the course.

Creative Sessions
Dates: Every Thursday from 15 January – 12 March (no session 29 Jan + 19 March) 
Time: 10:30 – 1:00pm
Details: 8 creative sessions in total.

Reflection and Celebration Session
Date: Thursday 26 March
Time: 10:30 – 11:30am
Details: A chance to reflect on the course, and celebrate achievements together. This is a shorter, final session.

Our creative courses are for people living in Salisbury specifically within the SP1 – SP5 postcodes and are ideally suited to those with low to medium mental health needs– like anxiety, depression, low mood, stress, and feelings of social isolation.

The courses and support offered are designed for those looking to improve their mental and emotional wellbeing, connect with others, meet new people in a safe and supportive environment, explore new creative skills or learn more about local heritage and culture.

Well-City Salisbury primarily uses a social prescribing model where participants are referred/signposted onto a course by their GP practice, support organisations or school wellbeing team, for example. However, we also welcome self-referrals if that route doesn’t work for people and where they currently are on their wellbeing journey. Both referral routes require completing a referral form which can be found below.

All materials provided via post and this course is available for adults 20+.