Pink Fruit Bat Arts is different to other artists and art workshop providers because it comes from a strong educational background that underpins the projects and workshops offered. Having worked in education Sally has a sound understanding of ECM and the experience of working with children from different economic and social backgrounds. The projects and ideas are not purely about art processes but about how art can be used as a vehicle for exploring themes, ideas and issues that young people deal with. Working as an art teacher and a form tutor Sally has an understanding of how young people are bombarded with new experiences and how the way they deal with them shapes their character and their lives. Providing an avenue for expression and a forum for discussion is something that is fundamental to the projects delivered by Pink Fruit Bat Arts.
Building long standing relationships and partnerships with young people and the agencies set up to protect them from harm and help them achieve is what PFB aim for. We firmly believe that every child does matter and aim to provide a service that will support the work of community groups and youth workers in their aims to deliver integrated, accessible and personalised services that are centred around the needs of young people.
The South Normanton Gala Shop Project
Working in collaboration with The Gala Committee Pink Fruit Bat arts developed links between the local shops and the local schools and youth groups in order to create artwork that was used to decorate the shop windows as part of the Gala.
Pink Fruit Bat Arts co-coordinated the creation of the work, contacting and visiting schools and youth groups in order to run short workshops that were used to produce the work. Liaising with Staff and Youth Workers from Brigg Infants, The Green Infants, Glebe Juniors, Frederick Gents Secondary, Buzz Ticket Youth Group, and The Zion and Community Church Youth Groups.
Liaising with shops to propose the project, and type of work shop keepers required to suit there business and needs. Hanging of the work was also done by Pink Fruit Bat Arts.
The project created a link between people in the local community, the local shops, young people and the Gala- a key event in the local community calendar. The project aim was to develop a sense of ownership and involvement for different parts of the community to events and activities happening in their village.
Buzz Ticket
Buzz Ticket is a Youth Project run by the local church and SNAP development. Pink Fruit Bat Arts' role on the bus is to use art to tackle issues that young people deal with, from alcohol and drug abuse to sexual health and healthy lifestyles.
Working with and leading other Youth Workers on the bus, Pink Fruit Bat Arts design bite size projects that are suitable to the confined environment of the bus and the change in role on a weekly basis. The project uses art and discussion to help young people be aware of issues that effect them and how to deal with situations that they experience.
Example projects-
Any Questions/Any Answers
Young people were encouraged to come up with questions about the issue displays around the bus. They created cards using templates and decorated them using graffiti style drawing. They discussed questions with each other and the Youth Workers and then wrote them on their cards.
Using Stickers to record the answers they then went around the bus asking others to write down their answers to the questions. The answers were collected and stuck to an answer board. The cards and the board then formed a display on the bus window which requires others to link the answers with the questions.
Who Am I?
Using a light source, paper and pencil, young people recorded their silohettes as a starting point for a piece of artwork. They were encouraged to create a mind-map of ideas about their beliefs, values, likes, dislikes and style. This provoked discussion about the difference between what we likes/dislikes and beliefs and values and how we express them through our style. They then collected images and words from magazines that they felt expressed the things they had written. Then they stuck their collections into their silhouettes to create self-portrait about ‘who they are’. The portraits will be displayed as passengers on the bus windows. Providing a sense of ownership of the bus as a place where they have a voice.
Community Art
Young people were encouraged to get involved with developing work for the Gala Shop project. They were asked to volunteer to help create the artwork and received certificates to show their willingness to take part in making their community a brighter place.
Mosaic Workshop -
SNAP Development
The Community Garden project in Pinxton required the input of the community to make it a successful enterprise in the village. Pink Fruit Bat Arts was asked to create a series of mosaic slabs that would be used to decorate the garden. Young people were encouraged to come along to the community centre to create mosaics designs that reflected what they would like to see in the garden or activities they thought should take place there. Very few young people came along but those that did were encouraged to voice their opinion about the garden and create designs. The workshop was successful as 4 slabs were made with designs including butterflies, an Andy Goldsworthy style spiral, ice creams and lollipops.
