Greetings from Glenrothes
Key Partners
- Fife Council’s Changing Children’s Services Fund
- Artists Martin Ayres and Lisa Fleming
Partners
- Fife Council Policy and Organisational Development,
managed on their behalf by Fife Cultural Coordinators Phase 1. - The Place
- Macedonia, Thornton, Collydean and Exit Youth Clubs
- Glenrothes Local Forum
- Brian McFeely
- Chris Young
- Fife Airport
- The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh
- Dynamic Earth
Audience
This project was aimed at five groups of 6 – 8 young people from Glenrothes, members of the Thornton, Macedonia, Collydean and Stenton Youth Clubs and young people who attend The Place.
Process/activity
The project enabled each of the 5 groups to work, over a series of workshops, on two images. A final image created at the end of the project resulted in the production of eleven images overall. Central to the project was the opportunity for each of the five groups to explore the area of Glenrothes in which they live. The project worked towards a finished product, in this case the Glenrothes postcards summarising the views of the young participants of the town in which they live. The groups were encouraged to look at Glenrothes from a wide range of perspectives. Digital Art workshops took place during which the young people developed skills in digital photography, image manipulation and computer graphics amongst others. The workshops considered a variety of design topics including a look at the way in which visual imagery is and can be used to express a variety of views of any given subject. Themes and issues affecting young people were explored and the groups were encouraged to produce an image that summarises their views of their community. Works in progress was shared at a gathering of the groups involved. This process fostered links between young people from the different areas of the town and enabled participants to meet and share ideas. At this point a final ‘universal’ image was created involving all of the participants, an appropriate end to the project as a whole.
Context
‘Greetings from Glenrothes’ is part of the Fife-wide ‘Outside In’ project. Many of the young people recruited have already taken place in the ‘Outside In’ video project centred upon the potential for development of the Riverside Park, Glenrothes. ‘Greetings from Glenrothes’ explored the ways in which young people view their own community and environment from their own perspective. It also encouraged a broadening of perspectives by ‘taking them out of it’ in a variety of ways. The project used concept of a ‘Universal Address’, often written by children in the form or micro/macro environmental identity from name and street to galaxy and universe location. It was envisioned that this address concept would define the work done by the young people and inform the sessions and the final exhibition.
Aim
The aim was to provide the young participants with an opportunity to consider and develop their ideas about the communities in which they live and also be ‘given a voice’ with which to express their views through a process of learning ways in which visual images can be used to articulate ideas. Participation also offered young people the opportunity to acquire skills relating to digital art and photography in the process of producing postcards offering an alternative view of Glenrothes far removed from anything previously seen! The postcards were reproduced in large format that formed the central part of an exhibition which was a platform for the work produced. The project was intrinsically about Glenrothes but also allowed participants to broaden their horizons through their inclusion in a variety of new experiences. The concept opened the door to a range of interesting and exciting opportunities for the young people.
Objectives
‘Greetings from Glenrothes’ was designed to encourage young people to develop their ideas about themselves and the town and world in which they live. Throughout this process they were encouraged to explore the use of visual imagery as a means of communicating ideas. The images was produced as postcards to promote a positive and dynamic image of the town. The participants were encouraged, as part of this ‘get-together’, to share their ideas about the project and their experience of it.
Outcome
The project resulted in an exhibition of 11 images shown at a variety of venues within and out with Glenrothes. Because the groups were working with quality digital equipment the images were presented in large format. There was also supporting information and images including quotes and impressions from the young people involved.
