Take Splat! Youth make their mark with graffiti

IT’S undeniably the source of many complaints, but when used in a constructive way, graffiti can provide a creative means of giving voice to young people. SplatterVan is a mobile urban art facility that does just that by encouraging young people to have their say using graffiti, along with street art, animation, rap, break-dancing and DJ-ing. Having run pop-up events in Carlow for some weeks now, on June 23 the van will be parked in the field behind the Gaelscoil on Tullow Road from 11am-4pm when young people can literally make their mark by painting the van with spray paint, stencils or markers. “What we’re about is giving a voice to young people, many of whom have told us how disenfranchised they feel from society,” says co-founder Claire Coughlan. “Some teenagers feel nobody listens to them, and that older generations are even fearful of them. But they have a lot to say, and would like to have an input in their communities. “In one project we asked a group of young people in the care system to draw a character and write a story or script to express the messages they wanted people to hear. We made an animation of the results and sent it to Tusla, social workers and other relevant agencies in the area, who used it in their own training. “Giving children the tools they need to express their creativity is essential, especially those who might not have easy access to arts and culture. It helps them deal with the issues affecting them like bullying and mental health. “During Cruinniú na nÓg in Carlow, we’ll have all kinds of great stuff like badge-making, coffee art and graffiti to take young people out of their day-to-day routine, express themselves and have fun in the process.”