Introduction
Stretch is a registered arts charity that started in the north of England but now has a national remit. The vision of Stretch is to inspire lifelong learning in socially excluded groups through participation in the arts and to expose disadvantaged groups to the benefits of museum and gallery education.
The informal and free choice learning that occurs within museums and galleries can appeal to different learning styles within the group. Stretch works with disadvantaged groups: the offending community, drug addicts, homeless hostels and mental health groups. These groups have most to gain from participating. It has been documented that marginalised groups can experience a sense of role-engulfment; by giving them a chance to be a learner/visitor they hopefully forget their role of offender or drug addict. The projects are designed to concentrate on soft outcomes as much as subject matter and skills.
