The artistic talents of young Westminster residents are being showcased in local libraries across the city, highlighting their feelings towards issues such as climate change and equality.
By encouraging young people, aged under 18, to produce thought-provoking works of art, Creative Collective is giving a platform to younger residents to share their thoughts and feelings on major issues.
The project ensures that those who might normally struggle to be represented in traditional ways, have a chance for their opinions to be promoted within the local area, as well as across London. This year’s themes include love and
unity, climate change, your future and equality.
Westminster Creative Collective was established by the council’s dedicated cultural youth engagement team, City Lions in partnership with Children’s Services, local schools, professional artists, libraries and archives.
It started in 2021 as a significant moment in time to capture the thoughts and feelings of young people in Westminster and due to its popularity, is continuing this year.
This year’s exhibition will feature in Westminster’s libraries from 6th June to 8th
July. It will display paintings, artwork, drawings, short films, poems and digital work by young people and will be available to all residents to come and enjoy.
After this, a selection voted for by the general public will be displayed at Westminster City Hall and then finally in the world-renowned Saatchi Gallery from October half-term through to November.
A parent of a young person who submitted artwork to Creative Collective this year said:
“Thank you so much. T is honestly so happy. What a difference City Lions has made to him over past year or so. You have given him so much confidence to believe in himself from this project, so I honestly want to say thank you.”
Councillor Tim Roca, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Young People, Learning and Leisure said:
“Our youth engagement team, City Lions do a fantastic job at involving young people across Westminster in the many cultural and creative opportunities happening across our city.
“The Creative Collective is an authentic and powerful way to get an insight into the views of our young people whilst celebrating their artistic talents.
“All the entries are truly excellent and I can’t wait to see them all displayed in our libraries this summer”.
