101 young people have worked with professional creatives, on three youth-led creative projects, to make a difference to their communities in the first year of the Young Cultural Changemakers programme run by Artswork on the Isle of Wight.
The projects have supported mental health, community connection and intergenerational relationships and are expected to impact at least 4,010 young people this year.
Watch the film
To mark the first year of the programme, which is funded by Arts Council England, Artswork commissioned filmmaker Bruce Webb to film the end of project celebrations.
For the first project, following an open call-out, young people from the IOW NHS Youth Forum chose artist Laura Hathaway to help them create a sensory garden for secondary-aged children at St Mary’s Hospital.
The young people were involved in every aspect of the project, from planning the design, painting murals, weaving a willow den, making wooden planters and planting them up.
In creating the garden, the Youth Forum were mindful of the particular needs of young people who are neurodivergent, and wanted the garden to support the mental wellbeing of everyone who used it.
Blake: An amazing experience for the young people involved
Paediatric Consultant at IOW NHS Trust, Emma Blake said,
“The garden project between the IW NHS Youth Forum, Artswork and artist Laura Hathaway has been an amazing experience for the young people involved in the transformation, and has created a wonderful therapeutic space for patients, families and staff to enjoy.
“Young people and staff have recognised this as a priority for years, but have been unable to make that change a reality without the creative support and funding from Artswork.”
The project, which is expected to benefit around 3,600 people a year, was also supported by the Rotary Club, who fundraised for the garden’s decking, and other partners including Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife, Care in the Garden and willow weaver James Bradley.
In Simpler Times
The second commission was developed from a cartooning workshop and consultation run by Adam Gaterell for students at the Island Learning Centre, where the young people identified a lack of respect between the generations as a significant issue for them.
A call-out to artists was developed from this and the students chose artist Teresa Grimaldi to work with them to explore this theme.
The result was the animated film, In Simpler Times, which looks at childhood in the past and now, particularly through intergenerational conversations between the students and older participants from arts for wellbeing charity, Independent Arts.
Ascend Arts Festival
At a consultation and rap workshop in October 2023, young people from the Community Action Isle of Wight’s Bay Youth Forum said they wanted to create an arts festival by young people, for young people – they wanted to challenge the stereotyping of young people and negative attitudes towards the Bay area, and provide free creative activities for 10–18-year-olds.
Between January and July, the group planned every aspect of the festival, from branding and marketing to programming and decorations, supported by Artswork’s Placemaking Creative Producer, Peta Rainford, and creative professionals including Lauren Fry, Elaine Sheldrake, Jess Ong and Jack Whitewood and Kai Davies from Ventnor Fringe.
In preparation for the Ascend Festival, which took place on 12th and 13th July, attracting more than 200 children and young people, students at the Bay CE Secondary School took part in storytelling workshops with Sue Bailey, songwriting with Jess Ong and samba drumming with YES! Creative Beats.
Wadsworth: Hope success of this event will help to be the launch pad to develop a weekly free music and arts programme
Julian Wadsworth, Youth Intervention and Development Officer – Community Action IW, said,
“Community Action Isle of Wight’s Bay Youth Project have been so grateful for the partnership working with Peta Rainford and Artswork and the Island creative partners to support the Bay Youth Forum to design and deliver an amazing weekend of music and arts and cultural performances and workshops for their peers.
“Young people’s musical and artistic talent was clearly demonstrated over the two days with young people from across the Island showcasing their talent or taking part for the first time.
“Thank you to Sandown Town Council Broadway Centre for hosting event and we do hope that the success of this event will help to be the launch pad to develop a weekly free music and arts programme for all young people in the Bay area.”
Rainford: I am incredibly proud of all that the young people
Peta Rainford said,
“I am incredibly proud of all that the young people have achieved in the first year of Young Cultural Changemakers.
“They identified the changes they wanted to make and with Arts Council England funding and the support of incredible partners and talented local creatives, we have been able to empower them to make real change on the Isle of Wight through creativity.”
Year two commissions are already underway, including a crime prevention project, a mental wellbeing project and a project supporting literacy and oracy.
News shared by Peta on behalf of Artswork Isle of Wight. Ed
