The stART Project is a visual arts project for young people aged between 16 and 19.

stART involves

• Learning new creative skills
• Working with professional artists and photographers
• Going on visits
• Keeping a diary
• Doing a Bronze Arts Award
• Having fun in a relaxed environment

Activities include

• Drawing
• Photography
• Printmaking
• Sculpture
• Collage
• Lots of other art stuff!

No previous experience of art is needed, just an open mind!
The course lasts for 8 weeks and takes place on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 10 til 2.30.

The course does not affect benefits with the exception of New Deal.

The course takes place at The Open Art Space at Tees Valley Arts, Melrose House, Central Middlesbrough.

What people have said about the course;

"It's a course that helps you to get on another course and gain more qualifications."

"I loved it, it was fun and interesting."

"I didn't expect to do half the things on the project. It was class."

"I liked the fact that it was a very relaxed environment."

"I wasn't sure in the beginning what to expect but I thought the course was very educational but fun at the same time, you never felt like you were learning."

"I have enjoyed it and Tees Valley Arts is great. The staff are very fun and helpful to be with. Thanks guys!"

"I thought the start project was better than college because you could have a fag break, listen to music and chill out whilst working.

StART is really useful for many reasons other than just art and creativity; it is good for your life! This is what some people have said about how stART has made a difference to their lives;

"I have more confidence to explore new skills. I have also improved my existing art skills."

"I learnt to develop patience."

(I have) "more mental stability throughout the duration than without the course."

"I feel a bit more comfortable around people."

"It gives you better communication skills that you can carry on in life."

"Gives you something to do for 3 days a week that will be fun but better for you."

"It seems to have made me focus on what I want to do."

"Helps give you an idea of what career you would like to go into."

stART Art

This is a selection of artwork from stART. There is loads more, but we can't show everything!

What people said;

"It has been really fun"

"I have greatly improved my drawing skills...and my writing skills aswell."

"At the beginning I thought art was just about painting/drawing but I have now learned that art comes in many forms which can relate to many different subject matters."

stART people in Art Action!

The stART Project involves working with local professional artists and photographers, this means that you get to try out all sorts of different artforms like printmaking, stencilling, collage, sculpture, mixed-media, illustration.............etc.

What people said;

"I really enjoyed doing this course, gunna miss everythink and everyone...I liked doing

• Metal embossing
• Collages
• Stencilling
• Just drawing doodles was my thing
• Face it
• Painting
• Photographing and editing"

Dear Diary

The stART Project involves doing the Bronze Arts Award.

The Arts Award is a national qualification which helps young people to develop as artists and arts leaders. The Bronze Arts Award is a Level 1 qualification.

What people said about the award;

"The arts award will help in the future. This course has also helped get on to another art course which will also help in my future career."

The arts award involves taking part in the arts, going to arts events, researching an arts hero or heroine and sharing skills with others. All of this is recorded in a diary.

Everyone does their diary in their own individual way which means you can personalise and decorate diary entries to your taste.

What people said;

"I really enjoyed keeping my diary up to date & decorating it."

50 Cent, Angelina Jolie, Greenday, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Chase & Status, Buddy Holly, N-Dubz, Gwen Steffani, Tupac Shakur, Martin Parr

These are all artists that people have chosen as their arts heroes and heroines. Part of the Arts Award involves researching and summarising an arts hero or heroine. People chose all sorts of different art heroes who are usually someone whose work they respect.

What people said :

"I really liked doing my hero writing, I done mine on Eminem. I liked it that much that I now am reading his books"

Out & About

Part of the arts award involves going to arts events and venues. The stART Project has visited MIMA, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Baltic, Lazarides and The Angel of the North.