Coalisland Arts Project is helping Young People Paint a Brighter Future
13th September, 2024
Once a week, a group of young people, aged 12-16 years old, come together at the Orgas Centre in Coalisland to socialize and meet friends. Just like any group of teenagers, they love to spend time together but what sets them apart is, that at each session they get to work with different artists, who will help them explore their emotions and promote positive mental health through a creative arts workshop.
Run by Beam Creative Network, the Artistic Minds project is funded through the National Lottery by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland as part of their Young People and Wellbeing Arts Programme. It is one of 18 projects which received investment thanks to the scheme in locations across Northern Ireland this year.
The programme was set up by the Arts Council to help give a voice to young people through drama, music, visual arts and literature activities. Last Autumn, organisations were invited to apply for up to £10,000 each to support arts-led projects, with a particular focus on developing proposals which included young people experiencing higher levels of disadvantage or exclusion and more vulnerable groups, such as those living with a mental health condition, eating disorders or addiction.
Beam Creative Network are running arts workshops in Coalisland focused on promoting positive mental health. The sessions have been funded by the National Lottery through the Arts Council's Young People Health and Wellbeing Arts Programme.
Through National Lottery Arts Council funding BEAM was able to run 20 arts-based workshops for young people this year. Their focus on mental health and wellness, puts the opinions of young people front and centre of the project. Every meeting includes a half hour discussion session, followed by 90 minutes of arts activity to express key themes that matter to individuals. So far, the group has had the opportunity to work with professional artists to explore creative writing, drama and arts and crafts activities and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Grace Girvan, Project Manager at Beam Creative Network, explained,
“This project has been invaluable for the young people participating in it. It’s improving their emotional wellbeing, their confidence, their social and communication skills and its given them an opportunity to come out and socialise with their friends and make new friends too. The National Lottery funding has been so important for this project – providing an opportunity for us to get out and help a group of people that we wouldn’t normally get to work with.”
The workshops are due to conclude in October, when there will be an exhibition showcasing the artwork they have created for friends and family.
Lorraine Calderwood, Development Officer for the Young People and Wellbeing Arts Programme at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented:
“Thanks to funding from the National Lottery and money raised by National Lottery players for Good Causes, we are delighted to have been able to support this fantastic project in Coalisland.
“The positive links between engagement in the arts and improving our health and wellbeing are firmly established. Projects like this can be a real game changer for young people helping to introduce them to new arts activities but also helping to build better social skills, confidence and resilience. BEAM has done a fantastic job in engaging young people with a wonderful range of artists and activities over the last number of weeks, teaching them skills and promoting positive mental health in a fun, friendly and creative environment.”