What changed your life? (street arts outreach team edition)
Post date: 2017-10-19 04:38:26
Views: 361
If you are or have been involved in delivering arts (in very the broadest sense of the word) activities for young people in an outdoor/outreach type situation, what are the tips, tricks and even (portable) arts items that have changed your life?
I've recently taken over running a street arts outreach team in a city in Scotland. Every thursday evening I go out with a Youth Worker and an artist (normally a different one each week) and we deliver a different arts activity for 30 minutes for young people aged 8 - 16 in four nearby economically and socially challenged areas. These have ranged from Parkour to mask making to collaborative drawings and temporary sculptures.
I've been involved in this programme as an artist for a long time, so I know the ropes in terms of engaging professionally with the young people and health and safety, as do my colleagues. What I am interested in hearing about are the creative tips, tricks and even (portable) arts items that have changed your life in similar situations. What have you found indispensable in this (or similar) lines of work? What do you never leave the office without because it always comes in handy? What are the surprising artsy strategies that help you do what you do?