An exhibitions showing some of the artwork and playing music created in special Grief Café sessions will go on display in Okehampton Library from January 26.

Community members are invited to a drop in session from 12:30-13:30 at Okehampton Library on January 26 to meet and chat to Amy Shelton, the artist that created the lightbox that will be on display as part of the exhibition until February 10.

Amy has worked in rural communities around Okehampton and Holsworthy and with the mobile library service across Torridge, Okehampton and Holsworthy Libraries, as well as with a host of local support agencies and community groups. During her sessions, people were invited to explore the traditional and gentle art of flower pressing, dedicating the flowers to people they miss. They repurposed old library stock as presses created a final artwork bouquet of preserved flowers gathered from the community and supported by a vintage library card box of dedications.

Emily Macaulay, Service Delivery Manager at Libraries Unlimited, said: 'Library teams hear stories about loss from customers every week – not just loss of family members, but loss of connections with their community or neighbours, loss of employment opportunities, loss of support structures. But would they want to come to a specific gathering and talk about their stories? Yes they did, and the art and music that has grown out of these sessions has been incredibly moving to see. We hope that these exhibitions reach an even wider community of people and will be meaningful and encouraging to them.

'Library staff will continue to be well placed to hear these stories and support our customers, as well as signposting them to support services and more community connection.'

Libraries Unlimited launched the Finding Connection Through Loss project in libraries through Devon and Torbay in early 2022 with Arts Council England funding. They staged art workshops, music events and other activities around the theme of grief, and appointed three creative leaders to put material displays together based on the stories told.

There will also be similar exhibition in the Paignton and Holsworthy libraries.