The talents of young people across Liverpool are being celebrated this week in a new exhibition at the city’s Tate gallery.
Artist, photographer and filmmaker Joann Kushner has collaborated young people from three areas of Liverpool – Norris Green, Toxteth and Walton – to present ‘Welcome to My World’. The programme aims to create work that explores issues relating to their lives and communities.
Joann Kushner told JMU Journalism: “The exhibition allows people to have their say without the burden of adulthood and to embrace some developing sense of themselves. Their honesty and views of the world with fresh eyes. Seeing their work is great and watching them grow.”
The idea for the exhibition came from a project called ‘Postcode’, a stop and search programme in Liverpool and New York, which has similar policies.
Tate is one of eight galleries which is part of the Circuit programme, a four-year national initiative connecting 15-25 year olds to the arts in galleries and museums, working in partnership with the youth and cultural sector. Led by Tate and funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Circuit aims to reach 80,000 young people.
Tate Director Nicholas Serota said: “Cultural organisations play a vital role in encouraging young people to use their imaginations and to express themselves.”
When asked about what makes the exhibition unique, Young People Curator Catriona Bourke said: “It is a starting point, it allows people to listen to you about your concerns and worries about what is happening in their world. It brings the communities together.”
Welcome to My World is free and opens on Saturday February 1st for two weeks.