Impact Arts

Impact Arts celebrated the culmination of their current youth
employability programme in Ayrshire at a packed event at the Harbour Arts
Centre on the 28th of March.

Eighteen young people aged 16-19 graduated from the Creative
Pathways course, showcasing their efforts at an exciting multi-media exhibition
on the 28th of March at the Harbour Arts Centre.

The event was attended by Councillor Ruth McGuire and
Councillor John Ferguson, who handed out the certificates, and a host of
referrers, partners and the young people’s proud family members.

Creative Pathways, a creative approach to youth employment,
is an opportunity for young people aged 16-19 to access creative arts training
as a viable career opportunity. Young people who were not involved in
education, employment or training choose from two paths, Eco-chic Fashion Freak
(sustainable fashion design) or Urban Green (creative landscaping and garden
furniture and accessories manufacture) and engaged full time with Impact Arts’
dedicated and inspiring art tutors. They learned essential technical skills
associated with their chosen programme and are now being supported to pursue an
occupation using their newfound creative talents.

A special mention should go out to six of the young people
who won awards for achievement, attitude, creativity and camaraderie: Lewis
Neison, Robert Dobson, Martyn McLanachan, Shannon Brown, Gemma Allen and Fiona
McCanlish.

Lynne Carr, Chief Executive, Impact Arts said:

“This year’s showcase was a high octane event and we were
delighted at the turn out. There was standing room only, and this really
brought home to the young people how much they had achieved. The event was
brilliantly compered by Darren McGarvey AKA Loki, and I would like to thank all
of the Impact Arts Ayrshire team, and most importantly the young people
graduating from the programme for making it a very successful evening.”

The showcase took the form of a film installations, a pop up
shop and an exhibition. The Eco-chic Fashion Freak group exhibited a collection
of unique reconstructed clothing and the Urban Green group presented scale
models and computer aided drawings of community green space transformations
alongside a range of garden furniture. Many of the items on display were sold
on the night.

Councillor John Ferguson attended the event. Commenting, he
said: “I was delighted to present the certificates at the Creative Pathways
event and was very impressed with the exhibition, showcasing the fantastic
efforts of some of North Ayrshire’s talented young people.

“I am certain they all have bright careers ahead and I wish
them all the best for the future.”

North Ayrshire Council Cabinet Member for Economy and
Employment, Councillor Marie Burns added: “We are committed to tackling the
issue of youth unemployment and getting more people into work by providing them
with the support and training they need to enter the jobs market.

“Programmes such as Creative Pathways are a fantastic way to
do this, by equipping young people with new skills and instilling a sense of
confidence that will help to set them on a successful career path.

“It also helps us expand the talent pool we have in North
Ayrshire, which will help attract and grow the creative industries in the area,
as part of our commitment to building a vibrant local economy with more
businesses and jobs.

“I would like to congratulate all of the young people
involved on their achievements.”

The exhibition will run until the 25th of April and all are
welcome to attend to see how Impact Arts use the arts to help people make
positive, lasting change in their lives and to celebrate the successes of the
18 individuals who have taken their creative employment journey together.