Christmas Stamps Gibraltar designed by St.Bernadette’s Service Users

This year’s Gibraltar Christmas stamps are artworks extracted from a magnificent Christmas collage created by 33 artists at the St.Bernadette Resource Centre in Gibraltar to celebrate the International Day of People with Disability in December. The stamps are extracted from artwork that has been entirely produced by adults with learning disabilities. This project began in January 2014 and, by using the concept of a collage, all users of the Centre have been able to participate. Artists were encouraged to express their understanding of Gibraltar and Christmas and how both are important to them.  The inspiration for the stamp is the International Day of People with Disabilities in December which aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities and to celebrate their achievements and contributions.

Samantha Sacramento, Minister for Equality, Social Services and the Elderly noted, ‘These stamps are original and absolutely beautiful and it gives me great pleasure and immense pride to be able to showcase so prominently people’s abilities instead of focusing on their disabilities and this is a perfect example of what can be achieved. Having been so closely involved in this project myself, I know how important and fun the whole process has been for everyone involved. I am very grateful to the management and staff at St Bernadette’s, the volunteers from the Arts and Craft Society and the Philatelic Bureau for working together to enable this to become a reality but more importantly I wish to thank every single artist who has given Gibraltar such a unique stamp this Christmas.’The International Day of People with Disability is a United Nations sanctioned day (3rd December 2014) that aims to increase publicawareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.

Technical Specs

Design:    Stephen Perera Illustration / Photography:    St.Bernadette’s Service Users Printer:    Cartor Security Printers Process:    Offset Lithography Colours:    4 colours Stamp size:    31.75 x 31.75mm M/S 160 x 97mm Issue date:    2014-11-03 Stamp Values:    G, 40p, 64p, 70p, 80p & £3 MS