Artists chosen by local young people to celebrate equality, fight racism and make positive change will be displaying their work across Lancaster from November 27.
Voices: Sparking Conversations in Art, will be a multi-venue exhibition by three emerging black artists from the UK displayed outside Lancaster’s City and Maritime Museums and The Cornerstone in Sulyard Street.
By placing the work outside prominent buildings, the aim is to encourage the community to think about Lancaster’s Black history and discover new and exciting art while walking through the city during lockdown.
The exhibition is the culmination of the Changemakers project run by Lancaster-based visual arts organisation, GRAFT, and involved teenagers participating in Zoom workshops to explore the role of art in activism, learning about the lack of opportunities and exposure for artists of colour in the UK, and researching and choosing artists to commission.
Lancaster City Museum manager, Rachael Bowers, said: “We are very excited to be supporting GRAFT in sharing exciting work from Black artists with the people of Lancaster. Many of us have experienced the positive effect that the arts have on our wellbeing during lockdown and this project gives people a reason to get outside and engage with culture while enjoying a socially distanced walk.”
The exhibition will be accompanied by an online map and curated digital space which can be viewed at https://voices.hotglue.me/
The artists were selected and commissioned by young people taking part in a cultural and creative education programme run by Lancashire Youth Challenge (LYC), Lancaster District Cultural Education Partnership (Culture Co-op), Lancaster University and Curious Minds. Six young people aged 13-17 have worked with GRAFT to curate the exhibition which runs until December 18.
One of the group said: “I’ve found it really interesting to meet artists and learn about racism. I want this exhibition to spread awareness about racism in Lancaster.”
The selected artists are Habib Hajallie, of Lebanese and Sierra Leonean heritage, who creates striking drawings in antique texts and maps with ballpoint pen; Sumuyya Khader, a Liverpool-based illustrator and printmaker; and painter, Herfa Thompson, from Leeds, who works in paint and digital drawing.
The exhibition is one of four projects to be completed by working class young people as part of the Our Place In The World cultural and creative education programme.
LYC chief executive, Guy Christiansen, said: “The young people involved with this exhibition have learned valuable transferable skills such as negotiation and decisionmaking and had training in producing contracts and building relationships with artists too. They’ve also had conversations about the Black Lives Matter movement and the lack of representation in UK arts of people of colour.”
Lancashire Youth Challenge is a dynamic charity which enables young people to build confidence and resilience via an exciting year-round programme of personal development and wellbeing programmes, creative arts activities, community impact projects and cultural education events.
Lancaster District Cultural Education Partnership(Culture Co-op) is a cross sector partnership (culture, education, arts, youth, community and voluntary sectors) brought together to create, grow and nurture art and culture in education for children and young people across the Lancaster district.
Curious Minds exists to improve the lives of children and young people by increasing opportunities for their active participation in arts and culture.
GRAFT is a Community Interest Company working to exhibit and support emerging artists and promoting the value of creative education with schools and young people. Launched in 2017, GRAFT delivers a programme of exhibitions, discussion, workshops and learning opportunities linking artists, schools and the community. For more information, visit www.graftlancaster.com
UPDATE: Two men charged with robbery and burglary offences at Morecambe and Lancaster shops
LISTEN: Community garden taking shape in memory of Heysham toddler
Second earthquake in two days hits Silverdale as tremors felt across Morecambe Bay
£2.5m funding boost for Eden Project Morecambe will help create new visitor zone
British Transport Police office returns to Lancaster Railway Station
Ryelands Community Connect scheme aims to bring together locals
Twenty vehicles caught speeding during police crackdown in Lancaster
Councillors call for halt to demolition of vandalised Morecambe 'youth hut'
Coastal pollution clean-up training to be held on Morecambe beach
Man seriously injured at Morecambe pub "making excellent progress" as investigation continues
Vandals target tractors used by King's Guide to Sands of Morecambe Bay to keep walkers safe
MP hopes for improved mobile signal at last as new mast installed in Lancaster
Maternity services at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary officially exit national special measures
Crews tackle kitchen fire in Lancaster
Opening date announced for animal rescue charity's new Morecambe home
Lancaster MP takes on Morecambe 10K in aid of new children's playground
Tributes paid to twice-Lancaster mayor who served on council for 56 years
Dancing Eric Morecambe Statue part of police campaign to warn about AI deepfakes
PHOTOS: Great Wall of China trek raises more than £300K for Lancaster hospice
Another earthquake hits Silverdale as tremors felt across Lancaster and Morecambe Bay
