Argyll Youth Arts increases opportunities for young people in Argyll & Bute to experience creative arts activity. It is one of nine regional arts hubs developed as part of Creative Scotland‘s Time to Shine initiative, empowering young people through the arts and arts projects initiated and inspired by young people, supported by and working with arts professionals from their community and beyond.

Argyll Youth Arts positions young people directly in control of originating the programme in their region, supporting them to develop the skills and creative vision to realise events within their community and connect to an Argyll-wide network of youth arts activities. At the core of the programme and network are the Young Promoters and Youth Arts TV Channel Managers who will curate their own youth arts activities, as well as create a dynamic online presence for the region’s young creatives to connect, share and grow together.

Cove Park with other professional arts organisations including Dunnon Burgh Hall, Comar, Artmap Argyll, Artsqwest and The Tower form a Steering Group supporting the Young Promoters and Youth Arts TV Channel Managers as well as delivering a range of other activities.

The Argyll Youth Arts logo is the winning design of Grace Carroll, a student at Locgilphead High School, who was mentored by designer Maeve Redmond, a resident at Cove Park in 2014.

Craft Programme residents Will Shannon (2015) and Linda Brothwell (2012) are exhibiting new commissions at Build Your Own: Tools for Sharing at FACT, Liverpool.

The exhibition explores the connections between craft, technology and community. Commissions by Will, Linda, Rachel Rayns and DoES Liverpool showcase the potential of skill-sharing and collaborative making in the real world.

Will and Turner Prize 2015 nominees Assemble‘s Homework will set up a concrete casting factory in the backyard of a newly refurbished house in Toxteh, Liverpool, turning construction waste into mantelpieces to be installed in refurbished houses.

Linda will restore missing letters in iconic building signs in Liverpool with a new handcrafted alphabet that combines traditional English and Polish Wycinanki designs for her commission Acts of Care: The Lost Letters of Liverpool (see image).

Will and Linda will speak about the concepts and inspiration behind their commissions at the Build Your Own: Artist Talks, 12:30, Friday 5 June 2015, FACT.

Build Your Own: Tools for Sharing runs from 4 June -31 August 2015.