BORDON’S Forest Community Centre is inviting groups, schools and individuals across the town to get involved in a new community art project.

The idea is to “spread kindness to strangers” by creating unique pieces of artwork and then abandoning them for people to find.

Michael Rutland, from the Forest Community Centre, explained the concept: “We were inspired to start this community project after Rachael Hiscock joined our Friday morning art-and-craft group and shared how - as part of a global art abandonment initiative started in 2012 by Canadian artist Michael DeMeng - she had been painting and abandoning pebbles.”

The process works like this: a label attached to each piece of art will contain instructions for the finders, telling them they can either keep the artwork or “re-abandon” it for someone else to find.

The artists can also ask, on the label, for the finder to send a picture or post a comment on the Whitehill and Bordon Art Abandonment Facebook page, which will be created especially for the project.

The pieces produced could range from small canvases to ceramic cupcakes, painted pebbles, creative writing or anything else that could reasonably be called art, according to organisers.

Guidelines are being drawn up to ensure that all artwork conforms to a set of standards so “the environment is protected” and permissions are gained from landowners. The project can not just be a get-out-of-jail-free card for creative litter bugs.

Forest Community Centre manager Lindsay Kelly said: “We will be working in partnership with a number of local organisations including the Deadwater Valley Trust and Bordon Library.

“There will be a series of children’s art workshops at the Forest Community Centre in the week preceding the Whitehill and Bordon Summer Fun Day on August 12, which will launch the week of abandonment and finding.”

The Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company this week confirmed it would support the scheme.

Councillor Andrew Gibson (Test Valley Central), Hampshire County Council’s executive member for culture, recreation and countryside, added: “This is a great opportunity for Bordon Library to work in partnership with the local community centre and engage with local residents.

“The theme for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge for children is ‘animal agents’, which will be used for two craft activities to be held at the library for families to create art pieces for the project. I’m sure they will be wonderful creations for people to find.”

The two family activity sessions at Bordon Library will be held from 10am to midday on Tuesday, August 8, and Thursday, August 10, ready for the launch of the “week of abandonment and finding” from Saturday, August 12.

“It is about the joy and empowerment that creating gives, a generosity of spirit and the wonderment of finding something unique and handcrafted,” Mr Rutland added.

He said organisers were grateful for the support from Tesco, both financially and practically.

Tesco Bordon community champion Fi Edwards said: “I think this is an amazing opportunity for local groups of all ages to be involved with a local project in the town, doing something very different.”

* To get involved, email [email protected].