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A WESTCLIFF-based entrepreneur is calling for submissions to her new art project which aims to show off the area’s creativity and boost community spirit.

Lottie Barker is the creator and artistic director of Clifftop projects, a local social enterprise that brings artistic activities to people throughout West Dunbartonshire.

Lottie has worked in community arts for the past seven years, mainly teaching dance to toddlers and local care home residents. In 2018, she and her husband, a visual artist, delivered the Creative Clean Up project.

Lottie told the Reporter: “This year I decided to form a company - Clifftop Projects. By registering as a Community Interest Company, I knew that I would be able to fundraise and apply for grants that could help create artistic projects for even more people in West Dunbartonshire.

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“I am passionate about accessibility within the arts and one of the aims of Clifftop Projects is to ensure that high quality artistic engagement is available for all.”

Pre-lockdown, Lottie was a valuable member of the community, teaching ballet classes for young people at The Cutty Sark Centre in Bellsmyre, as well as weekly classes with Alzheimer Scotland and in care homes across Dumbarton.

Now she is looking for submissions to the Our Westcliff project, which encourages residents to create a representation of their house – a drawing, a painting, anything, and emailing the results to Lottie to make into a collective artwork.

“The requested artwork is a house as that is where we are all currently spending the majority of our time,” Lottie said.

“I wanted to create a sense of our Westcliff community that although distant in our separate houses we are all still there within those walls for one another.

“I hope that the final artwork will showcase both the individual talent and creativity of Westcliff and foster the community spirit of the area.

“I have already met families that I didn’t know who have come to drop off creations and had conversations with new people on the street.

“From this project and feedback on what the residents of Westcliff want from a creative organisation, I will be able to continue working with residents after lockdown and deliver more activities catered to the wants and needs of the community.”

And Lottie has shared what helps her cope with the troubled days of lockdown and how art might help those struggling to fill the time.

She said: “Lockdown is challenging for all of us in so many ways.

“My way to cope with the uncertainty is to focus on something creative each day.

“I think all too often we think of these activities as something for young people and forget the benefits it can have to all of us.

“Why not do some finger painting, put on your favourite song and boogie in the kitchen or chalk a message on your patio – it doesn’t matter what you do or make, just enjoy doing something creative and fun.”

To contribute to Lottie’s project, send the final art piece to lottie@clifftopprojects.co.uk, and for more information visit clifftopprojects.co.uk/ourwestcliff.