A sculpture based arts project for women of the Hillview Family Centre in Moulsecoomb based on National Trust land near Brighton. Students from the Faculty of Art and Architecture worked alongside the women's art group to produce sculptures using primarily natural materials.

This is a sculpture based arts project for women of the Hillview Family Centre in Moulsecoomb based on National Trust land near Brighton. Students from the Faculty of Art and Architecture worked alongside the women's art group to produce sculptures using primarily natural materials. The project involved two days a week practical work for two weeks in April and May 2005 and the resulting sculptures are available to the public. The National Trust is providing the land and natural materials for the project and has been involved in the induction and training process with regard to safety in the woods and on site.

The project started by identifying the cultural impoverishment of the city's council estates, which alongside the double restriction of low income and unremitting childcare precludes most women from any opportunity of taking part in high quality art activities. The project was an opportunity for inclusive study, offering all the participants from both the Moulsecoomb Estate and University of Brighton the benefits of working within a diverse group.

This project gave the women involved the opportunity to get involved in a supported sculpture project using materials from the environment in their art. Involvement will build confidence and self esteem and will provide an opportunity to experience a different environment and situation with the freedom to express themselves artistically.

The students carried out the project as part of their course and gained practical work experience in the community arts field. They developed a number of skills including the ability to assist their partner in making informed choices and decisions and to develop communication, negotiation and listening skills for themselves and their partners from the Hillview Family Centre.

Project partners

Sue Nunn, Sculptor

Sue Nunn is primarily a sculptor who has been woodcarving since the great hurricane of 1987. Her work has been exhibited locally and nationally. She has produced several large scale public sculptures all now permanently sited throughout the South. Sue has considerable experience in sculpture and community arts projects. In parallel with her sculpture Sue worked at Hillview Family Centre, Moulsecoomb, as a family centre worker developing the arts.

Hillview Family Centre

Hillview Family Centre aims to offer a universal service to young parents and their children and is located on an estate where the residents have a range of difficult problems and dilemmas. Their services include: a community drop-in morning, after school class for children aged 5-8 years, groups for adults including art, parenting skills, health issues etc., individual counselling and support plus a range of outings and a summer play scheme.

Devil's Dyke National Park

Devil's Dyke is the world's largest, deepest dry valley. It's now owned by the National Trust and comprises 200 acres of Downland scarp, deeply incised by a dry valley. It also has an element of scrub and a lower woodland fringe, a major car park and a restaurant/pub next to an Iron Age Hill Fort.

Faculty of Arts, University of Brighton

The Faculty of Arts and Architecture unites the disciplines of art, design and humanities with architecture and interior design. The Faculty offers a module titled Extension Studies which enables students to take part in projects such as this and to gain credits towards their course for the work they do.