CREATE TO EDUCATE EVENTS
The Who Cares? Trust’s Create to Educate events have been and gone, but the great sense of achievement and success on the part of young people involved in the creative arts is still with us after these wonderful celebratory occasions.
On Friday 30 November 2007, delegates at BAFTA (Piccadilly, London) were greeted in the foyer by Lady Ascot, an elegant mannequin dressed by design student, Brenda, who is in her final year of Stage Design at Central St Martin’s School of Art and Design. This was a focal point of the visual art exhibition gracing the foyer where people gathered to network, select delicious hot buffet food and enjoy preliminary DVDs of young people performing as they waited for the seminar to begin.
The event was kick-started by Lewis Lecras, a young poet who read his poem entitled ‘Belongings’, celebrating a foster placement which has enabled him to find his feet and begin to believe in himself.
Presentations were given by Tate Britain; a photography project from Richmond Borough Council, including a young man who has had his photograph of Hampton Court displayed in Council offices; Flourish Art (which organises an annual exhibition of art by young people in care); a DVD of Arts Award success stories presented by The Arts Council; a film of young people from The London Borough of Islington taking part in an Inner Vision (organisation that promotes the involvement of young people in care in galleries and museums) project based on the Abolition of Slave Trade exhibition at the British Museum; presentations by care leavers from Westminster City Council, including the showing of a film created and edited by Sammy Behane, now carving out a career in the industry; and, finally, a live dance performance by young people from Birmingham City Council’s ‘Up for It – A Chance to Shine’ project.
On Tuesday 5 December, delegates at The Think Tank Science Museum, once again enjoyed an explosion of visual art display, this time enhanced by a solo exhibition by Dilhaur Rahman from Birmingham City Council, who is now studying for his Gold Arts Award.
Dilhaur was the first young person in care to receive the Silver Award. Alongside his beautiful nature photography, he showcased some stunning wood sculpture. This exhibition has certainly done the rounds!
Tony Howell, Director of Children’s Services from Birmingham City Council, gave a hard hitting message of support for the promotion and facilitation of young people’s exposure to and fulfilment through the creative arts, leaving no one in any doubt of his passion for this mode of expression and how high it should be on every local authority’s agenda.
An up-and-coming rock band from Telford and Wrekin got everyone in a rock ‘n’ roll mood with a self-composed instrumental piece. Dilhaur was then interviewed by Pepita Hanna, the regional Arts Award representative for the West Midlands.
Everyone sat back and enjoyed the antics going on at Oxfordshire County Council’s annual performing arts course, which was presented on a DVD. The Birmingham Dance Group finished the afternoon off with another fantastic and energised performance.
Grainne Sinclair, Project Manager at The Who Cares? Trust, gave an overview of the Create to Educate Project. Jenny Robson, Director of Programmes/Acting Chief Executive, chaired both events.
Photographs at the events were taken by Sammy Behane (London) and Dilhaur Rahman (Birmingham).
The Who Cares? Trust would like to thank everyone for making these events so successful and enjoyable–they were a real testament to the power of the creative arts to enable young people to grow in self-esteem and confidence, develop skills, realise their true potential and just enjoy themselves.
Related links:
The Create To Educate report has been collated in a colourful, accessible publication celebrating the power of creative arts, with illustrated project examples, recommendations and quotations from young people. The report is set in the context of government and other initiatives championing the arts as an effective tool to realise the aspirations enshrined in Care Matters: Time for Change.
Copies of this publication are available at an introductory price of £6.50, including postage and packing, in our Publications page.
For further information, contact Grainne Sinclair - Project Manager, Create to Educate:
Email: grainne.sinclair@thewhocarestrust.org.uk
Direct line: 020 7017 2782
The WHO CARES? Trust is a Registered Charity (No. 1010518).
A Company limited by guarantee. Registered in London (No. 2700693).
VAT Reg. No. 577 8530 91