RSVP London

The dialogue around art and culture and the ability for art to change people’s lives, have been revised through the reality of ‘multicultural’ Britain, a rapid change in technology, ‘new media’ and the introduction of arts, cultural and social policy. Initial government strategies for change have no doubt shifted from an economic to social focus. The increasing use of artists and arts based projects for the sake of community cohesion demonstrate the agreed impact not merely on artistic excellence of a final product but in the benefit of its inclusiveness with participants.

We are at a phase where we ought to appreciate, that art no longer hangs purely for its aesthetic appreciation but as a tool for social reshaping and integration. As a tool the arts provide a plethora of insights into the high resolutioned social constructs who’s pixels can be deconstructed in order to make better sense of the continued impact of the arts and the importance of its process.

The recent re-brand of the 198 Gallery parent of the Urban Vision project to 198 Contemporary arts and learning, has maintained art inclusion as one of its key missions to introduce and provide new skills for young people in its surrounding area.

This year the 198 Creative Learning, are hosting the first youth exhibition ‘Different Endz’, since its recent re brand from Urban Vision. The exhibition will display the works of young people who have participated in a series of projects through out the year. This year’s projects include participants creating interactive websites and designing fashion accessories around issues of identity and heritage whilst living in a multicultural society. Graphic design and photographic campaigns against crime have been used as a platform for young people to express their concerns and views. A series of talks will be hosted in the advent to provide a forum for dialogue and exchange about process to product.

The exhibition is open to all interested in the arts and social sciences including teachers, lecturers, practitioners and creative practitioners working with young people.

We are calling for short papers and presentations exploring notions around the arts and young people. Papers are invited to address but not limited to the following themes;

Moral Panics and Resistance through art inclusion
22 May 6.30 - 8.30
The talk will explore;
• What kinds of representations of young people are in the public?
• What do young people have to say about these representations? and
• How do young people demonstrate resistance to social structures?
• How are youth ideas represented in their creative work?

The role of reflection and evaluation
29 May 6.30 - 8.30
• What impact can the role of reflection have on the success of a project?
• How do practitioners reflect on a projects process?
• In what ways do young people use reflection through out the life of a project?
• How do we effectively evaluate creative projects

There is also the current exhibition of works by young creative’s open to all interested in the arts and social sciences including teachers, lecturers, practitioners and creative practitioners working with young people.

Attendance if free, but places are limited.