Art Take Part

The ‘Olympic’ children and their families were invited to spend a fun-filled morning at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Cultra, just outside Belfast. The children made masks, dangly spiders and badges with the help of the Young Arts volunteers. They also enjoyed decorating and eating cupcakes as well as playing games, having their faces painted, and in some cases, their nails too!

The event was organised in partnership with National Museums NI and Culture NI/Voluntary Arts Ireland Art Take Part project. It brought together local children who were born on the 20th December - as well as participating in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games these children will be invited to be a part of events to celebrate the visit of the Olympic Torch in Northern Ireland.

The Co-operatives, an initiative from Voluntary Arts Ireland, were established to give young people aged 11-25 increased opportunities to access the arts activities. The young people delivering work-shops for the 2012 Children, lead the co-operatives which offer members training, information, support and advice, helping them to access funding, resources and access to decision makers in the youth and arts sectors.

Young Arts Creativity Co-operatives are groups set up by young people aged 11-25 to help themselves and other young people access the arts. The Co-operatives are youth-led and respond to the needs of the young people in their local areas and communities.

The Larne Young Arts Co-operative was the first group set up, established after a research project carried out by Voluntary Arts Ireland, indicated that young adults living in more rural locations were not able to access the arts because of financial and transport issues, lack of amenities and resources, and lack of consultation with young people regarding relevant and appropriate provision.

The Larne Co-operative is in the process of setting up a social enterprise, training other young people in how to set up and manage groups and also to deliver arts activities as this type of youth-led training and facilitation has proven very popular and successful with young participants.