Bolton teens' art exhibition

This exciting exhibition of work inspired by the Bolton galleries collection has been produced by young people working with the Farnworth Inclusion Team (Youth Justice Board project).

Art 4 Health project members pictured in front of a display of their art works. Louise Window from Bolton Museum is pictured far left. Paul Meagher the artist and Inclusion team worker is on the right. As part of the Bolton Museum and Archive Service wish to encourage community groups to engage with the collections and develop projects in partnership that explore themes of personal and community pride.

The project entitled “Arts 4 Health” lasted twelve weeks and looked at themes of risk taking behaviour, knowing myself, sexual health, and emotional well being.

Paul Meagher the artist and Inclusion team worker involved stated, “It has been fantastic to see how the enthusiastically the group have engaged with this project, and I believe the work is reflective of that excitement for art and health and culture”.

The project aimed to extend young people’s emotional vocabulary through self expression and to relate this to the wider Bolton community. It was important to communicate what life is like for many teenagers in Bolton South East today.

Lucy Kavanagh (Youth Work 4 Health keyworker) agreed saying “We found art to be a very interesting way to engage young people in some very difficult salient and thought provoking issues”.

This project was funded by the National Youth Agency and the Youth Justice Board of England and Wales.