The wonderful art exhibition put on by the Good Shepherd and involving many different partner charities and agencies came to a fantastic end with the ‘Friday Lates’ takeover of Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

After two weeks of the ‘Recovery is for Everyone’ exhibition at the Newhampton Arts Centre, which followed nine months of workshops funded by Arts Council England, the project drew to a conclusion with another memorable evening at the Art Gallery, including a visit from the Good Shepherd’s patron Robert Plant.

Robert popped in at the start of the evening to chat to the artists and view their work.

Also on the night came the screening of two powerful videos, one edited and produced by James Weston detailing thoughts around the exhibition from those involved (see below) and one edited and produced by Graham Everitt, focusing on men’s mental health.

The night also featured live art from Matt ‘the Artist’ Lloyd, a workshop put on by creative practitioner Hannah Boyd McKee, powerful spoken word performances from spoken word poet Ian Henery (pictured with Robert Plant), live music from DJ Fissionsound and performer Neone the Wonderer.

Good Shepherd Community Engagement Worker Kate Penman, who has overseen the project right through from the funding application to delivery, including a launch night at Newhampton Arts Centre, was delighted with the results.

“It’s been an incredible project and one in which everyone involved has risen to the many challenges to make it such a fantastic success,” said Kate.

“I just want to thank all the partner organisations who have worked with us, all the creative practitioners who delivered such fabulous workshops, everyone who came along to view the exhibition, but also all the participants who have shown the strength they have through Recovery in displaying their creative talents for the world to see.”

The Good Shepherd would particularly like to thank SUIT, Recovery Near You, Wolverhampton 360, the University of Wolverhampton, Creative Black Country, Newhampton Arts Centre and Wolverhampton Art Gallery for their support.

In total, over 300 people visited the exhibition for the two events alone.