A youth group from Bramley have created a large-scale comic artwork depicting parts of their lives at Leeds Art Gallery…the only difference is that they have all been drawn as cats!
West Leeds Youth Inclusion Project has been working with Leeds City Council in a series of comic art workshops, designed to give the young people a fun experience of Leeds Art Gallery – where most had never visited before.
The aim of the art workshops was to help overcome preconceptions that Leeds Art Gallery was 'not relevant to them'.
West Leeds Youth Inclusion Project (YIP) is part of the larger organisation BARCA-Leeds, a non-profit organisation, making a positive contribution to children, young people and their communities through health and education.
The workshops were delivered in partnership with Play is Sorted (part of BARCA-Leeds); Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP); and the Fairfield Partnership.
* Click here for more BARCA-Leeds news.The group from the Fairfields Estate in Bramley, Leeds have been working with comic artist Jim Medway, whose CV boasts exhibitions at The Lowry in Manchester, as well as venues in Edinburgh, Newcastle and London.
Jim Medway, comic book artist, said: "I'm pleased to be involved with this friendly, positive and creative group of young people. Their response to both the gallery and the comics workshops we've been doing suggests they are keen to continue visiting galleries, and try their hands at all kinds of art forms."
The project was run to work in conjunction with the national Cult Fiction exhibition which visited Leeds Art Gallery from 27 September - 11 November 2007. The final workshop in the project takes place on Monday January 21.
Gemma Dooley, Youth Worker at Fairfields Community Centre said: "The young people and workers really enjoyed themselves. The art work was great and I'd just like to say thank you to Leeds City Council for giving our young people this opportunity."
Councillor John Procter, Executive Member for Leisure, said: "Projects like this are really important for Leeds City Council. It shows how inclusive our services are in bringing Leeds' fantastic collections to a wider audience. I hope the young people involved are inspired enough by Leeds Art Gallery to bring their family and friends to see its wonderful collections."
