Project Type:
Mental health & wellbeing
Dates:
July - Oct 2020
Participant Group:
Young people from Sligo Comhairle na nÓg, Leitrim Foróige
Artist:
Andy Parsons
Partners:
Sligo Comhairle na nÓg, Leitrim Foróige, and Sligo Leitrim Children & Young People Services Committee
Funders:
Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Northwest Regional Drug and Alcohol Taskforce, Sligo Leitrim Children & Young People Services Committee, Sligo Local Community Development Committee
Mental Health and Wellbeing project
Kids’ Own has been working with a group of young people from Foróige Leitrim and Sligo Comhairle na nÓg on a project focused on mental health and wellbeing. We were delighted to be involved in this project that allows young people to have their voices heard on the issues that matter to them, as well as having a positive creative experience that they lead and develop.
During practical sessions facilitated by artist Andy Parsons, participants explored a range of media and techniques to begin playing with ideas and getting inspiration for artworks exploring themes of wellbeing and mental health.
Associate Artist Andy Parsons described the groups’ work:
“We began the project by looking at Dada, Punk, Letterpress and a whole range of different approaches to combining image and text. The young people took these starting points and made original and spontaneous images, creating a set of uniquely contemporary images.
The imagery and approach varied to each individual and the messages were crisp and concise. The groups articulated the difficulties facing their generation at this moment in time with humour and subtlety, a delicate balance to pull off for the most experienced graphic designer!
I think the energy and humour of the posters will reach out to audiences and provide little moments of insight, humour and solidarity.”
Participants had important things to say about the process:
“The artist, Andy, made it so easy to just get stuck in and use the materials and techniques he was showing us to just go for it and make whatever we felt like we should.” Kevin.
“I really enjoyed working my time working with Andy, and the other young people on the project. I was surprised by how easily we gelled together and began creating artworks so quickly.” Najat.
The next part of this project with Foróige Leitrim and Sligo Comhairle na nÓg showcases the young people’s work to wider audiences across communities in both counties. Participants had powerful messages to share through their artworks; some of these words were shared on the printed posters. The words on the collaboratively-created posters displayed in Leitrim were written by Kevin and Najat.
Their posters were printed on large boards and displayed on poles and elsewhere across Leitrim and Sligo! They will be displayed throughout October to coincide with World Mental Health Day.
The Sligo project was funded by Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) and created by Sligo Comhairle na nÓg and Sligo Leitrim Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC). The Leitrim project was also supported by the Northwest Regional Drugs and Alcohol Taskforce.