The Magic of Colour
“All colours and paintings tell all sorts of different stories. We can ask people: What do the colours say to you? What sort of story do they tell you that an artist is trying to show you?”
Becky
“How do we see colour? How do we feel colour? We all experience colour in lots of different ways.”
Charlotte
This Autumn DIY has been taking part in an exciting project at Salford Museum and Art Gallery – all about our different experiences of colour.
The ‘Exploring the Collection: Colour’ exhibition at Salford Museum and Art Gallery is a fabulous exhibition that showcases a variety of the museum’s collection – including paintings, ceramics, costume and decorative objects.
DIY artists have been exploring their personal responses to the ‘Exploring the Collection: Colour’ exhibition using visual arts and drama. This work will culminate in The Magic of Colour – a joint exhibition of artwork, film and live theatre.
DIY Gamechanger Charlotte Little has been working on communications for the Magic of Colour project. She has been taking photographs (some of which are included in this Latest News) and has been asking participants questions about how they see and feel colour.
DIY’s visual arts group and DIY BUDS drama group have been based in the Learning Room at Salford Museum and Art Gallery for a while now – but is the first time that the groups have collaborated on a project that responds creatively to work within the Art Gallery itself.
The groups have been drawing connections between colour, emotions and wellbeing. What does colour mean to us? What feelings does it prompt? What memories does it bring? And, from a multi-sensory perspective, they have been asking questions like “What do individual colours smell, sound, feel, taste like?”
DIY members exploring their responses to colour, using coloured fabric. Photo by Charlotte Little.
DIY members exploring their responses to colour, using coloured fabric. Photo by Charlotte Little.
The visual arts group has been meeting on Thursday mornings and working with visual artist Claire Hignett to explore different responses to colour. Group members have been doing lots of sketching in the gallery. They have been creating zines, mixing paints and printing layers of different colours on top of each-other to explore effects. They have been spending time looking closely at the art pieces on display in the exhibition, using a single colour to inspire their own artworks.
DIY members working on some screen printing. Photo by Charlotte Little.
DIY members working on some screen printing. Photo by Charlotte Little.
Screen prints by DIY members. Photo by Charlotte Little
John working on some screen printing. Photo by Charlotte Little.
Paul used blue and chose to focus on ‘Rocky Coast Study Number 1’ by Colin Trevor Johnson. As part of her communications role for the project, Charlotte asked Paul some questions about the artwork:
Charlotte: “Why did you choose that one?”
Paul: “I liked the way it was laid out.”
Charlotte: “Why did you pick it out of all the blue ones?”
Paul: “Nice patterns.”
Charlotte: “How did you feel when you were doing it?”
Paul: “Made me feel happy. I like drawing and copying.”
DIY members exploring their responses to colour, using coloured fabric. Photo taken from films captured by Hilary Easter-Jones.
Paul exploring the colour green, using coloured fabric. Photo taken from films captured by Hilary Easter-Jones.
The BUDS drama group has been meeting on Thursday afternoons and working with drama specialists Georgia Affonso and Olivia Schofield to explore different responses to colour using different senses.
“We look at the different colours and we imagine the different stories behind it. We have been painting with coloured silks and ribbons and using a magic want to control the silks and control the colours. We have been turning different coloured silks into characters.”
Becky
Becky exploring colour in Salford Art Gallery, using coloured fabric. Photo taken from films captured by Hilary Easter-Jones.
The group has also been working with film-maker Hilary Easter-Jones to record some of their creative ideas. They have been visiting different parts of the gallery to create a film which will be part of the final exhibition.
Sharing the Magic of Colour
DIY artists will be hosting a sharing event at Salford Museum and Art Gallery on Thursday 11th December 2025 from 1pm to 3pm.
This sharing event will take place as part of UK Disability History Month a platform for raising awareness of disability justice and promoting understanding and inclusion
If you would like to come along to our free event, visit our Eventbrite page to reserve a spot. We would love to see you there. Enjoy our exhibition of artwork, drama and film, and chat to the group of DIY artists that have created the exhibition. Light refreshments will be provided.
The Magic of Colour project is being funded through the ‘Whose Art, Whose Culture Fund’ – Managed by Salford CVS on behalf of Salford City Council; monies from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund via Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
