News

Over the last 9 months Impact Arts has been working with a group of young people on their ‘Home’ programme. Part of Impact Arts’ flagship programme Creative Pathways, the Home programme teaches young people who are furthest from the training and employment market woodworking, furniture design, upholstery and a host of soft skills which will prepare them for a career in the creative industries.

The group have been commissioned to make over office space in The Whisky Bond building. This redevelopment houses the Glasgow Sculpture Studio and offers permanent creative office space alongside flexible gallery and events spaces in the trendy creative community around Speirs Lock.

Gary Watt who is working on The Whisky Bond development said:

“We’re delighted with the outcome of the Home programme. We asked the team to take a blank canvas and transform it into creative workspace that we could showcase. The result is fantastic, and we congratulate everyone at Impact Arts on designing and delivering something special. We can’t wait to move in!”

Paul Hinchliffe, Impact Arts Home Tutor has been working with the young people since the beginning. He has assisted the participants with the design process, helping them to produce mood boards, and to craft the furniture ahead of the installation.

Paul said:

“The boys have been brilliant throughout the process, bouncing ideas off one another and really thinking outside the box to come up with designs that would suit the creative office concept. They have handmade much of the furniture and the quality and workmanship just shows how far the boys have come in such a short space of time – from having no experience of woodwork to producing tables and chairs that are design conscious but eminently usable is an amazing skills transformation.”

Lynne Carr, Chief Executive at Impact Arts said:

“The participants on our Home course have been working so hard on their Creative pathway, and planning/developing the creative space for the Whisky Bond is just the icing on the cake of what has been a brilliant nine months for the boys. These young men will be moving on to positive destinations with the strength of so many exiting experiences behind them, but I know the Whisky Bond make over will be a source of pride for them for many years to come.”

Dean Ford, one of the participants on the Home programme said:

“Working with Paul and the rest of the staff at Impact Arts has been fantastic. I have learned so much and would now like to find a job using the woodworking skills I have learned. The Whisky Bond makeover was brilliant, I am proud that my hard work has paid off and my designs will be there for all to see.”