C110 article

Art / People • WheelWorks Multiple Realities Project
November 2003 - October 2004

The WheelWorks team here describe an on-the-ground approach to social and artistic inclusiveness in Northern Ireland.

The Multiple Realities Project was a twelve-month arts-led cultural development programme for young people aged thirteen to twenty-five from cultural- and ethnic-minority communities in Northern Ireland. Six groups of young people explored aspects of their collective or individual identity while working alongside professional artists through the medium of new digital technologies.

The programme was a hugh success and culminated in a high-profile launch and exhibition at the Waterfront Hall from 4 - 29 October 2004. Participating young people produced art work of the highest quality which celebrated cultural diversity, challenged stereotypes and promoted dialogue between cultural- and ethnic-minority communities and the wider community in the north of Ireland.

The aims associated with the Multiple Realities Project were:

• To promote the self-esteem and confidence of the participating young people.

•To encourage and support the expression of identity and experience.

•To develop arts-led projects which initiate and support future sustainable culturally inclusive projects for young people.

•To demonstrate the effectiveness of an arts-led approach in the social, cultural and personal development of young people.

•To increase awareness and understanding of cultural diversity and discrimination.

•To promote dialogue between the participants and the wider community.

•To challenge stereotypes.

During November and December 2003, six groups of young people were identified and confirmed as participants in the programme. Many more groups of young people from cultural-minority communities were interested in the project than were able to participate, highlighting the lack of similar programmes already in operation in Northern Ireland.

The programme ran in two phases, with three projects taking place in the January - March 2004 phase and three during the period April / May - July 2004. Before the first session of each project, the following meetings took place:

•Initial meeting with Youth Leader and Project Co-ordinator.

•Meeting with young people, Youth Leader and Project Co-ordinator - agreement of art form and young people's self-directed aims for their project.

•Meeting with young people, Youth Leader, Project Co-ordinator and artist(s). Discussion of themes / ideas, etc. Demonstration by artist(s).

Every Young Person, Youth Leader and artist involved in the Multiple Realities Project completed an evaluation form which informs the final Multiple Realities evaluation report.

An Advisory Panel made up of the Project Co-ordinator, WheelWorks Director, WheelWorks Board Members, participating Youth Leaders and representatives of funding organizations was established at the outset of the project and met throughout the project. The role of the Advisory Panel was to monitor the progress of the programme, to highlight its successes and discuss any issues arising, and to explore possibilities for the future development of the programme.

Tie-in events and festivals formed an important part of the programme, with a high level of interest and support demonstrated by relevant organisations, individuals and funding bodies. In addition to the premiere of the Rainbow Project's film at the 12th Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, four of the Multiple Realities projects were exhibited at the West Belfast Festival in August 2004.

The programme was also featured regularly in local and national media. In June 2004, two Anti Racism T-Shirt making Workshops were held in Belfast as an additional self-directed arts activity, supported by the Youth Council for Northern Ireland Community Relations Youth Service Support Scheme (CRYSS) and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. young people aged 13 - 25 from all over Northern Ireland took part in discussions facilitated by representatives from the Ballymena Community Forum and the Belfast Islamic Centre. young people were then encouraged to create their own original anti-racism image and transfer it onto a T-Shirt, guided by professional artists. Each Young Person then nominated a public figure from their own community to whom a copy of their T-Shirt would be sent. The T-Shirts were exhibited at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast throughout August 04.

As a result of the Multiple Realities Project, young people were able to produce a range of multi-media essays informed and generated from the arts-led process that will serve to raise public awareness relevant to the life experience of the participating young people and raise questions about discrimination and exclusion. The presentation of young people's work in a professional format and the launch of the Multiple Realities CD-ROM and publication at the high profile exhibition in October 2004 will both raise the profile of the young people and celebrate their innate creative talent. In this way, the aims outlined at the beginning of the project have been met.

The Multiple Realities Project is supported by the Youth Council of Northern Ireland (YCNI), Peace II funding, Lloyds TSB, Belfast City Council Good Relations funding and the Dream Ireland Digital Step Programme.

Rebecca Greer: Rebecca, animation still, from Group 1: Dyslexia and Dyspraxia Support; courtesy WheelWorks

Group 1: Dyslexia and Dyspraxia Support (DADS)

Location: Maghera, County Derry

Participants: Ten young people

Art Form: Animation and Music Project

Final Product: A CD-ROM with five short animations with original soundtracks

As part of the Dream Ireland-led Digital Step Partnership, WheelWorks co-ordinated this animation project with young people from Dyslexia and Dyspraxia Support (DADS) in Maghera, County Derry, from January to March 2004. The group included young people from both DADS and the North Eastern Education and Library Board Youth Service.

Animator Veronica Tate and Musician / Producer Paul O'Hagan facilitated this eleven-session project, combining animation created in Macromedia Flash with music-technology-orientated composition to create the artwork and sounds for these animations. The animations explore issues relating to growing up with dyslexia and / or dyspraxia in Northern Ireland.

"I enjoyed collecting and choosing the artwork for our project. It was also brilliant to see our animation completed. Everything I took part in was new and interesting."

Claire McLaughlin, participant

Above: Together; from Group 2: Black and Ethnic Minority Children and Young People's Project

Chrisen Allen and Catherine Morris; Best mates, interactive image;both images courtesy WheelWorks

Group 2: Black and Ethnic Minority Children and Young People's Project

Location: Belfast

Participants: Nine young people

Art Form: Digital Photography and Animation Project

Final Product: Interactive CD-ROM with five short animations and interactive images.

As part of the Dream Ireland-led Digital Step Partnership, WheelWorks co-ordinated this digital-photography and animation project with young people from the Black and Ethnic Minority Children and Young People's Project, Belfast, during February and March 2004.

Digital photographer Andy Berndt and animator Veronica Tate facilitated this six- session project, combining digital photography and animation created in Macromedia Flash to create the artwork for these interactive animations and images. Young people from ethnic minority communities explored issues relating to identity in Northern Ireland.

"The Young Adults were enthusiastic, open and keen for knowledge. It was an exciting time and they explored the technology without fear. A fine group."

Andy Berndt, artist

Group 3: The Ladz Group, Rainbow Project: Closet, still; courtesy WheelWorks

Group 3: The Ladz Project at the Rainbow Project

Location: Derry

Participants: Six young people

Art Form: Film and visual-art project

Final Product: Closet, a nine-minute film

 As part of the YESIP Cultural Development Programme, WheelWorks co-ordinated this film project with young people from the Ladz Project at the Rainbow Project, Derry / Londonderry during February and March 2004.

Filmmaker Stephen Mullan and visual artist Sally Young facilitated this four-session project combining all aspects of the film making process with prop making and set design. The film focuses on issues relating to 'coming out' as a young gay man in Derry, and was premièred at the 12th Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in July 2004.

"This project gave the young people involved the opportunity to increase their confidence and self-esteem and to participate in a very positive experience. The film will now be used as a training tool for the Rainbow Project throughout Northern Ireland."

Sean Morrin, Youth Leader

Group 4: Chinese Welfare Association: activity shot; courtesy WheelWorks

Group 4: Chinese Welfare Association

Location: Belfast

Participants: Twelve young people

Art Form: Visual Art Project

Final Product: Ten mummy sculptures presented digitally on interactive CD-ROM

As part of the YESIP Cultural Development Programme, WheelWorks co-ordinated this visual art project with young people from the Chinese Welfare Association in Belfast during May and June 2004.

Throughout this four-session project, visual artist Colin McGookin guided participants through the different stages of creating their own mummy sculpture. This involved mask-making, creating structures from willow, spray-painting and digital photography. Each young person's sculpture represents aspects of their identity.

"For my mummy I have put lots of Chinese onto it; I didn't put any translation along with it. I didn't think it mattered what the Chinese said, what does matter is that I wanted to show people about the culture that I miss and the language I love to use."

Jessie Chen, participant

Group 5: Community Day Services based at the Fallswater Centre: Photo booth, animation still; courtesy WheelWorks

Group 5:: Community Day Services based at the Fallswater Centre

Location: Belfast

Participants: Six young people

Art Form: Film and Visual Art Project

Final Product: Photo booth, a six-minute film.

Supported by the Belfast City Council Good Relations Unit, WheelWorks co-ordinated this film and visual-art project with young people from Community Day Services at the Fallswater Centre, Belfast, during May and June 2004.

Filmmaker Stephen Mullan and visual artist Sally Young facilitated this five-session project which involved participants in every stage of the film-making process, from prop making to filming animated sequences. The film focuses on the different interests and activities of the group members.

"You just never know what people get up to the rest of the week when they're not at your art workshop. In this case we know exactly what these guys do, and we have the evidence on film!"

Sally Young, artist

Group 6: Gay and Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland: The never ending story, film still; courtesy WheelWorks

Group 6: Gay and Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland

Location: Belfast

Participants: Five young people

Art Form: Film and Visual Art Project

Final Product: A ten-minute film entitled The never ending story

Supported by the Belfast City Council Good Relations Unit, WheelWorks co-ordinated this film and visual art project with young people from Gay and Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland (GLYNI) in Belfast during June 2004.

Film maker Ken Armstrong and Visual artist Sally Young facilitated this 4 session project which covered all aspects of the film making process, together with set and model creation. The film focuses on issues relevant to gay and lesbian youth in the north of Ireland through the medium of animation.

'I learnt how to operate a digital camera, and how to make a rocket out of plastic bottles! I enjoyed filming different places in Belfast, and building on my team work skills.'

Terry Sergeant, participant