CONCRETE NARRATIVES

Creative Arts & Action Jam - October 28th-31st 2024

Bar Park Creative Project: A Safe Space for Youth Expression and Engagement.

Picture That:Creative Photo Sessions (with Georgia Williams - SM)

4-Day Visual Exploration | Daily Sessions from 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Ready to level up your skills as a visual creator? These sessions are all about using different tools and techniques to show off your unique perspective and vision of your city. Whether you're snapping pics with your phone or experimenting with disposable cameras, you'll learn how to capture the concrete environment in ways that make people stop and look twice.

Monday 28th October 12-2pm: Get your hands on a disposable camera and explore how to capture the city from different angles and moods.

Tuesday 29th October 12-2pm: Turn your phone into a powerful tool for storytelling—learn tips and tricks to elevate your shots.

Wednesday 30th October 12-2pm: Try out cameraless techniques like cyanotypes and create something totally unique that reflects your urban surroundings.

Thursday 31st October 12-2pm: Show off your work in a mini-exhibition where your visuals meet sculptural art, all set to a killer soundtrack.

Thursday 31st of October 2-4pm: Exhibition

Physical Arts Sessions at Bar Park

4-Day Action-Packed Series | Daily Sessions from 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Hit up the new Bar Park space and get stuck into some high-energy physical arts. Led by skilled artists, these sessions will have you trying out different moves and styles, all to the backdrop of music and having a blast with your mates.

  • Monday 28th October 12-2pm: Test your strength, flexibility and flow withCalisthenics.

  • Tuesday 29th October 12-2pm: Learn to flip and balance with Parkour.

  • Wednesday 30th October 12-2pm: Get into the groove with Dance and acro-pole skills.

  • Thursday 31st October 12-2pm: Feel the adrenaline with acrobatics

The days the disciplines are on may vary according to workshop leader availability

Drop-In Anytime – No Sign-Up Needed!

Join us for one session or come to all four—it’s totally up to you! Everything is designed to be fun, easy to join, and all about expressing yourself and your vision of the city. Don’t miss out on this chance to get creative, get active, and have a laugh.

Location: Gloucester bar park, Bakersfield, Gloucester Park (next to the Skate Park)

Dates: 28th-31st October 2024

Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PMA Packed Program of Arts and Activities

Exhibition:

Experience the City Through the lens of Gloucester’s young people Join us for "Concrete narratives", an immersive exhibition showcasing the creative visions of local young people, as they transform the Bar Park space in Gloucester Park into a vibrant gallery of photography and movement. This unique event is the culmination of a week-long series of creative sessions, where participants have explored and expressed their perspectives on city life through various visual and physical art forms.

This is more than just an exhibition—it's a celebration of youth culture, creativity, and community. "Concrete Narratives" is an invitation to see your city through new eyes, to appreciate the diverse talents of its younger residents, and to support the development of a vibrant cultural hub right here in your neighbourhood.

Location: Bar Park, Bakersfield, Gloucester Park (next to the Skate Park)

Dates: Thursday 31st October

Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Details: Open to the whole community, refreshments provided

The Creative Arts and Action Jam is a transformative youth initiative developed in partnership between CHIPSA and The Venture Centre, funded by the National Lottery's Million Hours Fund. This programme is designed to offer young people in Gloucester a safe, engaging, and inspiring environment during the October half-term (28th-31st October 2024). Young people will have the opportunity to participate in open-access, drop-in sessions that blend creative arts, physical movement, and music, all while fostering community connections and empowering young participants to express themselves.

Addressing Key Challenges

The project stems from the need to provide young people, particularly those aged 11 to 18, with meaningful and positive alternatives to anti-social behaviour in areas where they may be most at risk. By offering accessible, varied and fun, and sessions, the project not only engages young people in constructive activities but also helps develop their creative and physical skills, all within a safe and supportive environment. The Million Hours Fund, supported by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) and The National Lottery Community Fund, specifically aims to extend the reach of youth work and provide spaces where young people can thrive.

Creative Arts & Physical Activities

The project features two dynamic strands, each designed to resonate with different interests and passions:

  • Picture That: Creative Photo Sessions – Led by Georgia Williams, this 4-day workshop encourages young people to develop their skills as visual creators. The sessions explore various tools and techniques, from disposable cameras to mobile photography and cameraless processes like cyanotypes, empowering participants to capture and present their unique perspective on their city and environment. These sessions culminate in a collaborative exhibition where their work will be displayed throughout the Bar Park space.

  • Physical Arts Sessions at Bar Park – Running simultaneously with the photo workshops, these sessions offer young people the chance to explore high-energy physical activities such as calisthenics, parkour, sport and acrobatic pole, and tricking. Participants are encouraged to build confidence, physical coordination, and creativity in a dynamic, music-filled setting.

Impact and Community Engagement

The heart of the Creative Arts and Action Jamis the idea of turning Gloucester’s Bar Park into a vibrant cultural hub where young people can express themselves through multiple art forms. By giving youth a platform to co-curate their work in an open, community-facing exhibition, the project highlights their voices and perspectives, transforming their urban environment into a space of creative expression.

On the final day, the project will culminate in "Concrete Narratives: Bar Park Pop-up Gallery", an immersive exhibition open to the wider community. This event showcases the photographic and physical artworks developed throughout the week, hanging them across the park’s bars and structures to create visual walkways. The exhibition also features live performances of the physical arts, inviting the community to experience the energy and creativity of Gloucester’s young people in an entirely new way.

Aims & Long-Term Impact

The Bar Park Creative Project aims to:

  • Provide Positive Alternatives – Offering young people engaging activities that steer them away from anti-social behaviour.

  • Foster Creative and Physical Development – Encouraging participants to discover and refine skills in visual arts and movement-based activities.

  • Build Community Bonds – Strengthening connections between young people, local artists, and the wider community.

  • Promote Youth Empowerment – Giving young people the tools, skills, and platform to express their unique perspectives and contributions to the cultural life of Gloucester.

By creating opportunities for young people to engage in creative exploration and physical activity, the project promotes personal growth, community cohesion, and the development of a vibrant youth-led cultural hub in Gloucester.

Sustainability and Future Goals

The project not only provides immediate benefits through its October half-term programming but is also integrated into the activation programme in the bar park ensuring a lasting legacy within the local community. By engaging local youth, artists, and community organisations, the project seeks to foster ongoing collaborations and inspire future initiatives, ensuring that young people in Gloucester continue to have access to safe spaces for creativity, physical activity, and personal development.

This initiative has the potential to be scaled and replicated across other parks and communities, encouraging a culture of engagement, self-expression, and mutual support that can positively shape the lives of young people and the city as a whole.