A summer arts project at the Younity Hub gave young people from The Walshes estate the opportunity to design and create a vibrant mural for the centre.
Delivered during the summer holidays by Severn Arts in partnership with Active Youth Outreach Services, the project gave local young people the opportunity to work alongside professional community artist Aidan Ryan, also known as Mind49, to design and paint a mural inspired by what The Walshes means to them.
The project was designed to support positive engagement during the school holidays, encourage creativity and help young people develop a stronger sense of ownership and pride in their local area.
Around 20 young people were involved from the very beginning of the project. Artist interviews were held at St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School and a group of children helped select the artist who would lead the project.
For successful artist Aidan Ryan, the project had a personal connection. He said: “I come from a similar background and upbringing to many of the local children, so I understand the importance of creative opportunity and how it can change young lives for the better. We engaged a large number of young people and showed them that they are more than capable of helping guide a project like this. The final mural truly encapsulates the energy of the children and the youth club.”
Across three workshops, participants explored ideas, developed designs and learned how to use spray paint techniques safely and creatively. Young people were encouraged to contribute their own artwork and ideas, helping to shape the final mural that now brightens the Younity Hub. The project culminated in a community unveiling event attended by over 30 people including families, volunteers, staff, district and county councillors.
Some of the young people’s comments captured the excitement and pride they felt:
- “When everyone goes back inside, they’ll all see my artwork.”
- “My mom’s not gonna believe that my picture is on the wall.”
- “I didn’t think an artist would ever paint my idea.”
Hayley Duffen, Younity Youth and Community Project Manager, AYOS said: “Working with Aidan was fantastic. He made some great relationships with the children through his own experiences and really motivated them to produce some terrific art pieces and taught them some amazing skills. Some of the children still talk about how they’d love to do more artwork like this in the future.”