A new collaboration will see a series of art classes to benefit those in the early stages of memory loss.

Artslink, who provide classes, films, lectures and events for the whole community, will be teaming up with Sherborne Museum.

The sessions will be provided free of charge as part of ArtsLink’s four year Fizz! project funded by the Big Lottery.

Under the title ‘Art Sparks’ and led by tutor Kate Osman, a series of sessions have been designed using the museums collections.

She said: "Sometimes being creative enables us to connect with parts of ourselves we had long forgotten - I hope that our Art Sparks! program will help participants to find joy in creativity while reconnecting with past memories.”

Participants in the classes will create a memory box over the sessions and fill the box with memories from their experiences using the museums items as prompts and inspiration to access past memories and share those with friends and family in the future.

In collaborating in Art Sparks! both ArtsLink and Sherborne Museum see it as part of Sherborne being a dementia-friendly town with access to the museum and the arts being available to all and providing the start of more outreach opportunities for the community.

Sherborne Museum’s curator, Elisabeth Bletsoe, said: "We are very conscious of the role that museums play in creating memories for the individual as well as a community and that they can be a key to happiness and well being."

Colin Lloyd Chair of Trustees at ArtsLink added: “ArtsLink are delighted to be sharing the delivery of ArtSparks! with Sherborne Museum, continuing the commitment to the community of our health and wellbeing programme."

Classes are free and are to be held at the museum over the next nine weeks starting on Monday, September 26.

If you would like to join the classes or require more information contact Jules Bradburn on 01935 815899.