OVHA Stained Glass Project

We are working in partnership with Keira Mclean - stained Glass Window extraordinaire - to celebrate working class communities and the people who make them - Our Community Heritage Project will lead a series of workshops that explore the stories and histories of Cardenden.

This creative exploration will aid the co design and co-creation of a community-Stained Glass Window, Print Publication and short film.  Stained Glass window making is an endangered craft and we want to change its image a bit.  The course is initially run over 16 weeks and during the workshops you will learn traditional techniques of Stained Glass which will become the breathing part of our completed window.  We will be mentored throughout by Keira McLean, Caireen Stuart and Joey Simons.

The project is accessible to all by telling the stories of working class and under - represented communities.  In the first 6weeks of the project we have been blown away by the support and representation from our community, and it just shows at the heart of every great toon, is a community who wants to learn and is passionate about where they stay. 

So far, each participant (15) has created a small window each to take home and have attended some a brilliant field trip to Kirkcaldy Museum and Galleries, prior to a muddy walk to the site of the Last Duel of Scotland and Carden Tower. 

 Now it's time to put the hard graft in and start creating the 4x2 ft-stained glass window which will be installed within our reception area.

Positive affirmation from Keira and some of our attendees:

"Keira Mclean We are just at the beginning of our new community heritage project with Ore Valley Housing Association . But so far, it’s the gold standard of community arts. When we as practitioners say, ‘you know the group would benefit from seeing this history close up” they say, “ what size bus do you need?” Or when one of our groups show great aptitude and I want to work with them more intensively, they say “ how much do you need? Can we buy them a starter set of tools?”

"It’s amazing! This organisation understands praxis and trusts us and our methodology to deliver the most rewarding and meaningful project."

"I don’t normally share the feedback we get but I’m gonna start now cause the impact our projects have is immense."    

“This course has saved me. It has helped turn my life around. I really appreciate you”

“I’ve felt this has given me more reason to get up and out of the house than any other class it’s not just ordinary crafting group using glue dots”

“This course lifted my health issues due to the circumstances of losing my wife as she would have been proud of me attending. I have a personal urn of her ashes next to my stained-glass window, instead of sitting depressed in the house there is a social aspect of meeting with other tenants in the community”

Beautiful and heart breaking in equal measure. Cause there’s nothing for folk.