I am an emerging artist local to Herefordshire, West Midlands, with an idea to honour my father with designing and creating sculptures with his ashes inside plus special items like a gold signet ring. Talking about this idea with different people caused it to grow into something bigger than me. This is my website.
I was encouraged to create a film to show what it is I'm thinking of doing and how I will do it. When at a ladies lunch I met a grief and loss specialist and I realised that while I could talk about this the actual moment of putting my father's ashes in the art work it will be incredibly emotional. I thought then that I needed some emotional support, so I will have someone metaphorically (and maybe actually) holding my hand as I do this work.
I got in touch with a local filmmaker and discussed this idea and he was very interested in being part of it.
These people do this for their living and I need to be able to pay for their time and all the materials for the sculptures. I also want to be able to pay the mortgage and earn some money while I am designing and making...which is all included in the budget.
So I set about writing a funding bid and was successful only to discover I only get the money AFTER the project is completed. This was exciting and then very stressful, I need to find a lot of money in order to be able to even start the project.
Within the budget I can offer 10 people the opportunity to create art work with memorabilia and ashes of their loved ones encased inside with the support of a grief and loss specialist. It would be amazing to be able to offer more people this opportunity.
But first I need to be able to start the project...this means though that I can repay the first £9000 as the funding will come to me in April 2025.
Money under £500 will be difficult to repay as it would become a full time job paying back the odd £10 and I won't have time to make any art!! But if you give £500 you will get that back by the end of April and a unique piece of art worth up to £150.
If 9 people had a spare £1000 they would get that back in just a few months plus I will make a unique piece of art for those that give £1000 worth up to £250.
Everyone who supports the project will be named at any and every opportunity - the film will be created and your name can go in the credits, also when the sculptures are exhibited it will be said that this project was enabled by these very generous and kind people.... Not everyone wants to be named so that will be your choice.
I am of the belief if you don't ask you don't get, I have no idea if this will touch hearts and people will help me get to my goal...really want to be able to make these sculptures for my family and work with others that could really use the support and cathartic release of emotion that art can help bring about.