This year’s Bright Lights: Youth Arts Festival will be bigger than ever and feature events, exhibitions and workshops at Arts Centre Washington (ACW), National Glass Centre (NGC) and Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens (SMWG) and a citywide programme.
The festival is supported by Sunderland Culture and Culture Start, which was launched last year to provide greater access to creative activities for children growing up in low-income households across Wearside.
Central to the festival will be the Bright Lights Youth Arts Exhibition (Saturday, February 8 to Saturday, March 15), curated by the Celebrate Different Collective, a group of young people aged 13-25 from across Sunderland who co-produce their own cultural events, work with artists and learn new skills.
For this year’s exhibition, the collective challenged young artists to respond to the theme of ‘What is the future and my place in the world?’ The collective suggested the following interpretations of the theme: the environment; the internet; community, pride and gender euphoria; hobbies and interests, and what brings you joy?
More than 200 pieces of art were submitted and about 40 artworks form the exhibition.
Georgie Donkin, of the Celebrate Different Collective, said: “We were really impressed by the quality and variety of the art that was submitted. The shortlisting process was an interesting process which I think we all enjoyed.”
Rachel Warren, another member of the Collective, added: “It was fascinating to see the different responses and interpretations of the themes we set.”
As well as the exhibition, ACW will be hosting several other Bright Lights events and activities including:
- Film Shorts Showcase: Wednesday, February 26 (6pm-8pm). Young filmmakers from across the region screen their films.
- Growing Pains: Thursday, February 27 (7pm) A collection of original short performances that examine the journey of growing up, capturing the highs, lows, and in-betweens of youth today. Created and performed by students from Sunderland College.
- Washington Emerging: Friday, February 28 (6pm) An evening of live music by the North East’s best up-and coming young musicians.
- Re: Style: Clothes Upcycling Event – Saturday, March 1 (11am – 2pm) Bring along old unwanted clothes and learn how to upcycle them into something new.
Meanwhile, a series of Bright Lights Fringe Festival events will be held across Sunderland.
These will include a Teen Eco Party, a free event at SMWG on Saturday, February 22. This is an opportunity for young people to explore the stories of the museum on a guided tour created by Celebrate Different Collective. Highlights will include a teenage market and a Guerilla Garden Textile Takeover.
Another festival film event will be hosted at SMWG on the same day at 7pm when the film The Breadwinner will be screened. The film is set in Afghanistan in 2001 when, after her father is captured, a young girl disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family.
ACW will also host an Introduction to DJ-ing on Tuesday, February 25 (1.30pm). The session, for 11–19-year-olds, will be led by music producer Liam Huitson who will lead a workshop on mixing, scratching and creating your own DJ set.
On the same day, young people aged 11–19-year-olds will have the opportunity to attend a Felt and Fabric Pot Plant session. The workshop, at 1pm, will be led by Nicola Lynch and participants will create a plant pot, using felt and fabric.
On the same day and at the same time, potter Lindsey Grieves will lead a Sculptured Clay workshop, in which participants will be able to explore ideas, sketch designs and learn hand-building and sculpture techniques to bring their pots to life.
A Wildlife Glass Engraving workshop at NGC is already sold out.
Matt Blyth, Culture and Heritage Officer at ACW, said: “Our Bright Lights Festival gives young people a perfect platform to celebrate their creativity and to recognise young people’s talent and imagination. We’re thrilled that the festival continues to grow year on year.
“This year through the Culture Start programme the festival is going citywide with events taking place at ACW, Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, National Glass Centre and other venues. There are loads of different types of workshops for young people to get involved in from film making to glass engraving, alongside special events such as Washington Emerging – our showcase for emerging new musical talent in the city.”
For more information on the programme, or to book tickets, visit www.artscentrewashington.co.uk