Artists seek to give deprived young people a new vision

Some of the most talented visual artists in the State are coming together to bring "the experience of art" to deprived young people in Limerick.

Working under the auspices of Young EVA - which grew out of the original EVA art event founded in 1977 - the project is being supported by Limerick City Council, the Garda and part-funded by Allied Irish Banks through its Better Ireland Programme.

While Young EVA has until now helped artists work with young people already interested in art, this year's programme is different, says Ms Sheila Deegan, arts officer with Limerick City Council.

"In the past we have sourced the children through art teachers in the schools. This year we have chosen young people who wouldn't be doing art as a subject in school and who have had no experience of making art themselves."

EVA was founded by local artists to bring their work into their community "so that, together, sense and meaning could be made in and of the world all shared", according to their literature.

The artists involved in this year's Young EVA will be working with young people from some of the most deprived parts of the city, including St Mary's Park and South Hill, in a 10-week series of workshops.

"Not only will they gain the experience of making art but they will have access to the EVA exhibition and the artists. We hope they become not afraid to engage with contemporary art," said Ms Deegan.

She said that while many of the young people would have an awareness of art, they probably would not see it as a medium through which to articulate themselves.

Mary Casey (16), a Traveller living on a halting site in South Hill, is working with photographer Amy Riordan.

"It's the first time I've had a chance to do something like this. Normally like I'd be watching telly or chatting, that kind of thing. I've learnt a lot of new things, using the camera, make-up. It's very different." She said she thought it would make her more confident and that she would like to study photography.

Ms Riordan explained that young women Travellers were exploring issues of their own identity and femininity as she documented their performances on film. The exhibition will open at the Belltable Arts Centre next month.