Katherine Penfold - First Old Boat. Photo courtesy Norwich Arts Centre

A new exhibition in Norwich is displaying a diverse range of work by artists with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Collected Passions runs until January 11 2007 at Norwich Arts Centre’s Café Gallery and is the product of the Asperger East Anglia course in digital media run at the venue.

The project started as a series of tutored workshops over 12 weeks at the arts centre where the artists were helped to gain new digital skills to focus on their individual interests.

They were taught how to make a DVD that featured video, photos, music and text providing them with a way of organising and sharing their passions. Collected Passions showcases a range of their images, slideshows and interactive DVDs.

Natasha Goldthorpe - You Didn't See Me Slide Today. Photo courtesy Norwich Arts Centre

Displays include Katherine Penfold’s Aspects Of Old Age, a poignant audio-visual DVD looking at the way the Norfolk countryside has changed over the years. Lauren Hunt produced animations made with the Flash software tool, exploring her interest in the ancient myths of faeries.

The artists each received a bursary to attend two courses and other options open to them include website design, Photoshop skills and animation.

One of the artists plans to apply to the access course at Norwich City College and another is deciding which arts course to apply for at university.

Dragonfly Ladybirds by Tom. Photo courtesy Norwich Arts Centre

“The work created speaks volumes about the individuals who have worked on this project,” said Libby Double-King, an art therapy worker who was a support tutor on the project. “It is creative, personal and, most importantly, the participants are proud of it and have enjoyed the journey towards making it.”

She suggests local people with Asperger’s Syndrome who want to get involved with art should contact Norwich Arts Centre who can tell them what courses are coming up. One to one tuition is also available for those who are unsure about having classes with others.

Asperger’s Syndrome is a form of autism affecting the way a person communicates and relates to other people. Sufferers can have difficulty in communicating and forming social relationships.

Asperger East Anglia offers assistance for anyone in the region who has Asperger’s Syndrome and their families. Visit their website for more information.