Young people were able to express what risk means to them through an exhibition of their artwork displayed in The Gallery at The Point.
The young people were part of a social inclusion programme called Positive Futures and had been working with darts for a year. The exhibition, titled ‘Risk’, was the result of an exploration of this theme over the last three months.
At the heart of the exhibition was an interactive sculpture, aimed to epitomise ‘at risk’, which visitors were invited to interpret and add to. Made from glass and perspex, it examined the tension between danger and beauty and the intrigue surrounding it.
Other work featuring in the exhibition included graffiti art, textile portraits challenging how women are perceived and photo documentation of a pirate project which involved dance and visual arts.
Faye Roberts, an artist who worked with the group, said: "This is a very important exhibition for the young people, as they have put their heart and soul into their work, and they hope it will get across their messages about risk in a challenging, yet inspirational way. There is so much diversity and originality in what they do which is insightful and thought-provoking."
The work is more than just a diversionary exercise. The activities are driven by the young people’s interests and needs. Through engaging in the project many young people have increased their skills, expectations, confidence and aspirations.
Highly skilled artists have worked with targeted groups of young people to create products and deliver sessions that engage hard-to-reach young people and support them in a positive way. Through dancing, singing, making, snipping, questioning, laughing, mentoring, writing, imagining, spraying, building and creating young people have tried new things, taken chances, felt heard and truly engaged in creative activities.
Positive Futures is a national sports, arts and activity-based youth inclusion programme, funded by the Home Office. It operates in 123 projects in some of the most deprived areas across England and Wales. darts runs the only arts-only based Positive Futures project in the country.
Since April 2008 over 250 young people have engaged in the Positive Futures Programme with darts.