One artist appointed by Youth Forum, another artist sought!
Filmmaker Bruce Webb has been appointed by the Sandown and Lake Youth Forum to help create a place-changing £5,000 public art work for The Bay this autumn. The young people, who are supported by Community Action IOW youth workers, hope the appointment will, in their own words, “give us the opportunity to make a real change”.
Bruce was one of three shortlisted artist to do a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style presentation to the Forum last week. “I am really excited about working with the Sandown and Lake Youth Forum and helping them use filmmaking skills to tell their stories and views of the area within the context of the Biosphere,” he says. “With such a broad subject at our disposal, the process is going to be genuinely revealing insight into what the young people of the Bay think and want for the future of their home.”
Meanwhile, the new Newport Youth Panel, based at arts for wellbeing charity Independent Arts, has issued its own call-out for an artist. The 13-18-year-olds that make up that group are looking for someone who will help them “make a positive impact on some of the negative spaces in Newport (like the empty shops and the bus station) and make people feel happier.” Again £5,000 is up for grabs for the right artist; ideally someone who can help the Panel learn more about the Island’s Biosphere – particularly Biosphere Birds – and create a public work that is eye-catching and high impact.
Both of these youth-led place-based projects are managed by Independent Arts, on behalf of The Island Collection and the Isle of Wight CEP, in collaboration with Artswork (Southampton). They are part of Supporting Young Minds; a larger region-wide programme supporting young people’s mental health through creativity.
Janet Owen, chief executive of The Island Collection says: “It is so exciting to see this project take shape and being able to support this kind of collaboration is exactly what The Island Collection was set up for and is all about.”
“These place-based projects are all about ‘youth voice’, and it was a real privilege to watch the Sandown and Lake Youth Forum take ownership of the process for choosing the artist. They were very clear about what they wanted – asked brilliant questions – and I am excited to see what they produce with Bruce,” adds programme manager at Independent Arts, Peta Rainford. “We are looking forward to going through a similar process with the Newport Youth Panel.”
The Newport Panel say they are particularly interested in nature and Newport’s green spaces, climate change, and the future. Artists working in any medium are invited to apply for the £5,000 commission that will be delivered during October and November, and the deadline for applications is 12 noon on Monday 26th September. Artists interested in this commission should visit Newport Youth Panel seek artist for place-based commission – Independent Arts or email [email protected] for more information.
