Odyssey
Odyssey is an exciting and innovative multi-arts project funded by Youthlink Scotland’s Youth Arts Open Fund. It aims to enrich the lives of disadvantaged young people in Dunoon through courses in visual art, design, technology, dance, movement, and drama. The project has so far enabled over 60 young people to gain valuable skills while increasing their confidence and well-being. Four community artists have been working with partner schools for over nine months, with courses and workshops, to create a series of exhibitions and performances based on young people’s ideas of empowerment and identity.
Artist Jill Bryson and filmmaker Neil Boyle have led the workshops, encouraging young people to express their creativity, celebrate their individuality, and share their thoughts and feelings. Young people have responded very well to the workshops, taking ownership each step of the way by choosing themes and materials and making decisions about the final exhibition of their work. Teachers reported that many engaged better and had more enthusiasm in school creative arts classes because of their work on the Odyssey project.
Groups involved so far in the Odyssey project are Dunoon Grammar School Learning Centre, Kirn Primary School, and Crossroads Young Carers.
“There was a lovely, inclusive, calm atmosphere in the room. There were no barriers to accessibility so all our pupils could access these workshops and participate in a way that was appropriate for them. These workshops have been so beneficial to the pupils. Pupils who were reluctant to participate at the start were fully engaged and producing creative, vibrant pieces of art by the end and were willing to enthusiastically explore all the resources Jill had supplied. Thank you so much for including us in this project.”
