<IN.SCRIBE> was a youth mentoring program of KULCHAJAM Inc initiated with artist and art therapist Karma Barnes. The project operated for two years and brought together a team of artists, art therapists & youth workers to achieve youth development & quality artistic outcomes through a facilitated process leading to the instalment of public art works.
<IN.SCRIBE> provided development opportunities & diversionary activities to engage the region's youth. The project is generating public art works by youth, increasing the visibility & community engagement with local youth perspectives and visions and enlivening empty spaces within our towns.
The program operated in Byron Shire and included a school holidays outreach program in collaboration with Kyogle Youth Centre, as well as some extension activities for previous graduates of the in.scribe program.
We successfully provided youth with an opportunity to learn street art skills and be mentored by established professional artists.
The initiative engaged a selected group of creative youth including youth at risk to participate in a positive, creative, self development program that provides a creative platform for expression. The project works with youth to develop their own creative language based on personal values and themes, introduce and develop artistic skills, offer opportunities to collaborate and mentor the participants in the world of street art to develop the creative landscapes of the region through production, installment & presentation of youth art in public spaces.
<IN.SCRIBE> successfully supported:
OUR YOUTH: providing mentoring, personal and professional development, arts and creative skills, for the regions youth.
OUR STREET: Beautifying and strengthening community pride, while addressing graffiti problems and providing youth with a voice and sense of place.
LOCAL ECONOMY AND TOURISM: Strengthening our local identity as a hot bed of art and creativity, and showcasing culture as a core tourist attraction.
More about <IN.SCRIBE>:
The first <IN.SCRIBE> mentoring program ran from April to June 2014. The overwhelming positive response from participants & the community has lead to further programs that subsequently extended across Byron Shire and as far as Kyogle where we have run school holiday programs and worked with local youth organisatons. Participants developed a range of skills to create& install street art & three walls were realised at Byron YAC & in Brunswick Heads.
With current trends in the area of youth being exposed to antisocial & risky behaviours, the region has disproportionate statistics of drugs & alcohol issues, sexual assaults & significant incidents of self harm. The <IN.SCRIBE> project engages a range of participants, including youth at risk, in developing a sense of self pride, place & community value.