Artwork from Resolutions

Resolutions

Part of Coastal Currents Arts Festival, Resolutions is an arts & well-being project exploring how young people manage conflict. The Craftimation Factory, an award-winning Hastings based arts charity, will host a showcase event featuring the work of young people from Hastings & St Leonards at The Electric Palace, Hastings 20 September from 5-7pm. Janey Moffatt, Crafter-In-Chief at The Craftimation Factory writes.

Conflict is a part of living in groups and we all have the power to calm or inflame. A group of artists including Lee Shearman, Pip Rowson and myself, worked with local young people to explore stories of conflict, action and reaction through creative writing, prop making and monologue films.

I grew up in Northern Ireland where we dealt with conflict and the atmosphere around it every day. It was very draining as no-one ever talked about how they were feeling and we just suppressed everything. The first question children would ask when they met you was ‘Are you Catholic or Protestant?’ It was so divisive.

The resulting work from this project is bursting with the concerns that young people live with in their daily lives; it includes miniature books, props and a short film accompanied by a poem that interweaves students’ views on world events and shares their creative responses. Terrorism, war and greed are heavily referenced, with young people expressing their fears about the world they live in.

You are invited to explore their work at the showcase at The Electric Palace Cinema. Prior to and following this event, from 15 – 20 September & 22 – 27 September, work will be in various venues, forming a mini trail through Hastings; the venues are Wow and Flutter, Simply Garden, The Electric Palace, Pembuckles and The Crown. Flyers will be available at each venue with a blippar trigger that enables the viewer to watch the video work on their smart phone, with a map Pip Rowsonoutlining the location of the other venues on the reverse.

Further workshops for young people will take place from 19 September; if you would like further information about these you can contact Discovery College on 0300 303 8086.

Amy*, a young participant in the project said: “This is the first time I’ve thought about using art to help me with my feelings. We don’t normally talk about that in lessons.

“I’m having trouble with some other girls, they are bullying me. I don’t really have anyone to talk to but I will think about keeping a journal after doing these sessions.”

* name changed for confidentiality reasons

Resolutions

Showcase event: The Electric Palace, Hastings 20 September 5-7pm

Contact: Janey Moffatt Tel: 07535 279444 Email:  janey@thecraftimaionfactory.org

Website: The Craftimation Factory.

Also in: Arts News