Celebrate equality through art

The festival explores art and its relationship to gender equality and freedom. After last year’s success, the fantastic event is back for Hull UK City of Culture 2017.

The Warren Can Do project is aimed at those aged between 14 and 25. The local youth centre organises learning activities for young creatives so that they can build their confidence and make new friends.

Through this, they help them to make the most of their potential, as well as cope with the stresses and pressures of growing up.

Art Celebrating Equality fits into this programme, as it involves free workshops in venues across the city that will empower and inspire young people to create art and be involved in the City of Culture festivities.

We spoke with Can Do Coordinator, Lisa Wedgner, to find out more about this unique and thrilling concept.

“Over the past year, we’ve organised several workshops delivered to students battling all sorts of issues, such as mental health and multilingual barriers,” explains Lisa.

“Young people also rarely get a chance or the space to be creative in this way and challenge their stereotypes.”

There will be online and open workshops run by artists that youths are encouraged to take part in. These include photographic imagery, digital illustrations, spoken word and poetry, and even shadow performances.

It’s perfect for those who have a bit of extra time over summer and want to experience something a bit different. You can find out more information about specific events on the project’s blog.

“So far, we’ve seen many young people developing vital skills and willingly coming up with the content that they want to share,” adds Lisa.

The images and art that they create will be a positive representation of themselves:

“I think nowadays, youths are very misunderstood and often blamed for things that aren’t necessarily their fault. Being creative is also getting increasingly more difficult, financially and due to more being expected of our teens.”

The incredible opportunity of being involved in the City of Culture and Freedom Festival is an aspect of the project that Lisa is most looking forward to:

“Their creations will be projected onto The Warren’s building opposite Queen’s Gardens during Freedom Festival,” she enthuses. “It’s a golden opportunity for them to show the rest of Hull and the world how they want to be perceived.”

If you know someone aged 14-25 who might want to get involved, please contact Lisa at lisaw@thewarren.org. Afterwards, the general public can view the final project during September’s Freedom Festival.