The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Digital delight: Kids at heart of YouTube film
An outdoor art project that helped Dundee kids escape lockdown boredom by decorating their neighbourhood is the subject of a documentary film set for its online premiere next week.
During April and May, the Menzieshill Outdoor Art Project laid on a variety of activities that took place across the city’s western district.
Tutors were brought in to provide a photography workshop, street-art class and craft lessons, all culminating in an outdoor exhibition.
The scheme is already the subject of a photography display unveiled last month across building-site hoardings that face the east side of Dundee’s Slessor Gardens.
This shows children exploring their surrounding streets with digital cameras, others experimenting with stencils and spray cans, while mixed generations try weaving and stitching.
Taken by Glasgow-based photographer Eoin Carey, this alfresco show whets the appetite for a short film by Dundee’s Nathan Brake, whose previous work has focused on the challenges facing children in care and, in the award-winning Hidden, the lives of Dundee’s sex workers.
His latest commission promises to make for easier viewing, not least because it reminds us of spring sunshine – plus there are shots of bashful participants talking about how keen they were to get out and learn new skills.
Yet, this film has serious messages: notably the point made by one onlooker that communities such as Menzieshill can feel ignored, alongside the importance of creativity in inspiring confidence in young people.
The art project was part of the Creative Expressions initiative of Edinburghbased Bethany Christian Trust (BCT), a nationwide charity that works to prevent homelessness through building stronger communities.
In Menzieshill, BCT was already involved in a drop-in cafe and food bank, with the inclusion of artbased activities a recent development.
For BCT creative expressions co-ordinator Sam Rowe, the aim was to give participants renewed self-confidence.
“We really wanted to show people what they could achieve by expressing themselves and acquiring new skills.”
As Sam believed this should be a grassroots effort, he first asked members of the community, including its young people’s group Connect Youth Menzieshill, what opportunities they were interested in and discovered an appetite to get outdoors.
“They talked about Menzieshill having a lot of green space, which they felt was undervalued or underused. People felt they should be taking a greater sense of ownership.”
Sam put out a call for local artists to get involved, selecting street artist C Gul – known for his round cartoon seagulls across Dundee – textile artist Rhona Jack and photographer Ciara Menzies.
Rachel Mallinson, Connect youth co-ordinator at Menzieshill Parish Church, relished the opportunity to take part in the photography workshop with her son David.
“Some young people have been desperate for face-toface activities instead of online interaction.
“The exhibition was really fun; it’s nice to see your pictures put on display and everyone at the workshop took pictures of a whole variety of things in the community.”
Rachel saw her neighbourhood anew, thanks especially to one 11-year-old lad.
“He thought the community was no good, because of all the rubbish lying around and it wasn’t good for the environment.
“I live in Menzieshill and you don’t realise how used you are to seeing rubbish on the streets that you start to not notice it anymore.”
David, 15, adds: “It made me take pictures of things I wouldn’t normally take photos of, it was a challenge.”
BCT aims to continue offering creative opportunities and Sam hopes the film will inspire others to get involved in their own areas.
“I hope viewers see the value of these projects and take the opportunity to support them, whether financially, with a little bit of time or through their skills.”
You can join the premiere of the project on YouTube on August 26.