Make, Build, Create: Spring Youth Programme 2025
During the 3 days of our Spring Youth Programme we took over the SAH gallery space and turned it into a working art studio.
Working with Esme Lower (mural artist and graphic designer) Holly le Var (artist and Youth Programme producer at SAH), participants were able to get an insight into two similar but very different working artists and their practices.
What Happened?
We started with a font warm up, making type faces out of found objects to spell “Everyone is an artist”, which ended up being the core philosophy of our easter creative programme.
We then used various materials (wire, string, netting, and other scrapstore finds) to constructed rapid ‘character sculptures’. These were used as a basis for our drawings, using a viewfinder to look for textures and find inspiration for abstract compositions, which were filled into a concertina sketchbook.
Keeping the theme of one thing flowing onto the next, we picked a favoured texture to transform into a larger drawing, monoprint, collage and stencil! On day 2, these drawings were taken and used as inspiration for a mural design, in which participants worked in pairs to combine their textures, overlap them and plan their composition. It was time to scale it up!
This was the moment we got out the spray paints, gathered up our stencils and headed outside. Onto some large MDF sheets, the participants worked in their pairs to create the layers of their mural, beginning with the background, adding in stencilled elements and stronger outlines, then finishing touches. Those who finished immediately moved onto fabric – exploring a different surface to spray paint onto, looking at repetitive patterns and textile design.
“From joining the group I feel like I’ve really come out of my shell” – Young Attendee
Throughout these processes, we had an ongoing routine of sharing other artists with the group, using a slideshow and books/magazines – really treating the space like an open art school. Esme even took us on a deep dive into her approach to collaboration, the processes behind making a mural and some key inspiration.
It was then time to turn all this work into an exhibition! We rapidly tidied the space, and got into teams of Hosting, Wayfinding and Curation to make it happen. The hosting team wrote a manifesto, prepared refreshments and guided visitors around the space.
“It’s been so fun, I got to make things and do things I’d never get to do at school!”
The wayfinding team made signs, titles, leaflets and posters to visually signpost the exhibition and the story behind it. And finally, the curation team organised the pieces – they chose how work was displayed on the wall, on the floor or elsewhere in the room to give maximum visual impact. This exhibition was attended by parents, members of SAH staff, building tenants, and was entirely youth-led.
For 3 days, young people from 13-16 yrs did a colourful gallery take-over. We worked in the space, set it up as a studio and then turned it into a pop-up exhibition at the end.
Meet The Facilitators: Holly le Var & Esme Lower
“I’m so looking forward to working on this spring programme! I’m incredibly passionate about weaving freedom and flexibility into what can often feel like something you either get right or wrong. Over the last 6 years, I’ve been testing workshop formats with a variety of age groups, observing how much their creativity evolves and thrives when they focus on process rather than outcome. I’m excited to go on a winding making journey with Esme and all the young people coming along!” – Holly
Holly le Var is the Youth Programme Producer for St Anne’s House.
She works across the youth activities for St Anne’s House, from our weekly open access sessions, to project based holiday programming.
Holly has a background in Spatial Practice, where she explored how we can better provide for the arts in our communities.
She’s interested in how third place provision can offer a contrast to the national curriculum, and how varied environments outside of school exploring creativity can cultivate more flexible, adaptable, emotionally literate, and resilient young people.
Holly is a print-maker and illustrator by trade, and likes to bring these mediums into conversations and workshops she produces.
“I’m really excited to work on the Make Build Create project with Holly and the local young people. I can’t wait to share my passion for creative exploration, especially through my own practice of large-scale mural work. I’m looking forward to experimenting with new ideas together, and seeing what we can create while learning from each other along the way.” – Esme
Esme (Melo) is a multimedia artist who works across mural and illustration, exploring themes of liveness, musicality, the body, strength, and playfulness.
She continuously pushes the boundaries of her nostalgic cartoon style, with her painting and illustration styles mutually enhancing each other and growing more expansive and daring.
The exploration of painting on a variety of surfaces has allowed her to broaden her practice, increasing its impact on communities and environments, such as reclaiming local spaces through bold public art.
Would You Like To Join Free Youth Programmes Like This?
Contact holly@bricksbristol.org to be put on an invite list.
