Community Project: Make Your Mark

Make Your Mark was a partnership project organised by Making Space and Big World Impact, with support from Artswork, The Asda Foundation and The Police & Crime Commissioner.

The project was focussed around a series of creative workshops for at risk and vulnerable young people in Leigh Park aged 9-19 from June – November 2015. The two-hour sessions which included things like textiles, fashion, illustration, craft, ceramics and jewellery took place at making Space and were booked in with a range of professional makers and artists.

The MYM Project happened in two stages. The first project which completed in May 2015 ended with a celebration event on the 9th May 2015 at The Hub in Leigh Park. Making Space and Big World Impact hosted the event and invited friends and family of the participants to celebrate the end of the first stage of Make Your Mark and all the incredible work that was created over the duration of the project. The day began with a fashion show of garments made and customised in sessions with June Allnutt.

The Mayor of Havant attended, along with artists involved in the project and lots of friends and family members of the young participants. Following the fashion show, the group were awarded a certificate and poster for taking part in the project. The celebrations then continued back at Making Space, with an exhibition showcasing all the hard work and creative end results. The exhibition included textile items including beanie hats, pencil cases and bags, a photography retrospective and cabinets of hand-crafted jewellery, as well as all the amazing sketchbooks created as part of the Arts Award process.

In stage one of the MYM project 83 young people took part and 15 achieved their Discover Arts Award and 2 achieved their Bronze Art Award.

Stage two of the MYM project has just completed. Working on a similar format groups attended a series of craft workshops at Making Space trying their hand at ceramics, jewellery, fashion, illustration & still life, textiles and general craft.  Over the 24 sessions we had 153 attendance’s.

The project ended with an exhibition where families, friends and participating artists were invited to Making Space to see all the work created over the project. Again the Arts Award was integrated into the sessions meaning that the young people also got to experience cultural visits and the exhibition contributed towards the ‘Share’ part of the Award. Making Space will also be putting forward a group of young people who have attempted their Explore Arts Award.

A short film about the Make Your Mark project made by students studying BSc (Hons) Television and Broadcasting  at Portsmouth University can be seen below.