Models of Practice
ArtSparks Programme & Youth Work

ArtSparks

In our approach to arts and youth work we think of three things: art as education, art as fun and art as a professional option.

The Rialto Youth Project’s ArtSparks Programme is ‘art as fun’ and at the same time, it takes a longer-term view of art education. Using storytelling as the key creative device, children are encouraged to create magical worlds through painting, making and performing. It’s about nurturing young imaginations.

EQUALITY

We believe in equality of opportunity for children and young people. We believe in the uniqueness, dignity and equal worth of young people and in their right to access opportunities that enhance their lives. Young people should be treated equally.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

We believe in challenging and making a long-term commitment to transforming unjust social conditions through a pragmatic interface with the real politics of change. We are committed to social justice around questions of access to education.

POWER OF ART

We believe in the transformative power of art and creativity as a way of working with young people. We have a long tradition and a strong commitment to arts and cultural practice as a means of creative expression across a range of forms including the visual arts, theatre, music dance and street performance.

Definition of ArtSparks RYP

ArtSparks is magical and imaginative. It engages through the wonder of the story. It’s a space of energy, excitement and pure electric enthusiasm for creatively nurturing the child and their imagination.

Definition of ArtSparks

Using a narrative-based approach, the ArtSparks Programme is an open and magical space where children’s imaginations are engaged by the wonder of the story. A child’s imagination is limitless and in the ArtSparks Programme we aim to creatively nurture both the child and their imagination. We create a safe, welcoming and familiar environment where the spirit of play can really take hold.

We believe all children should have a safe space to play without concerns or anxieties. We respect the uniqueness of every child’s contribution. It’s not a competitive space: no egos. It’s a space of energy, excitement and pure electric enthusiasm. Children are encouraged to dream, to imagine and to express themselves. All of these aspects are encouraged through performance and storytelling in the space. Children are encouraged to develop individual and collective work.

ArtSparks Philosophy

We place great importance on routine for children and parents. Sessions are held weekly at the same place and time, creating a routine. Sessions are prepared carefully, keeping distractions to a minimum and with lots of materials on display. Each session has the same structure with definite cues built in.

Our storytelling approach uses the ploy of a boy and a girl ‘your own age’ to take children on the journey of the story. In the end, the kids always become the heroes. Story cycles develop around a theme. The artist introduces the idea of an old couple living in the forest as the source of each chapter. Every week the artist ventures into the woods to collect the latest chapter. Sessions begin with reading out the latest chapter. At certain parts of each story cycle the characters have to battle through something. Each week challenges are built into the story. The story works like an accordion, contracting and expanding.

Each year the Programme proceeds in 2 cycles. The January to June cycle is based on a themed, storytelling process culminating in Summer Games. The second September to December cycle is skills-based, focusing on introducing new children and considering new themes. We also connect with key community-based festivals and street events.

Artist and staff have different roles. Relationships between staff and children are key. We’re mindful to someone becoming upset and their behaviours, encouraging participation, focus and engagement. The process benefits greatly from staff knowing the child. The artist is animated, performing and communicating a variety of ways for self-expression. Children are encouraged to be who they want to be, re-interpreting work and coming up with ideas.

Using prototypes, children learn how to make things. Motor skills are developed with close attention paid to what materials a child likes.

Importance is placed on building strong relationships with parents. If relationships are strong, children come regularly and parents make time to attend.

Riatlto Youth Project ArtSparks Programme

ArtSparks Programme

ArtSparks is a foundation programme in the arts for 4 to 8 year olds. We use storytelling as a creative device to enhance the imaginative and artistic capacities of that particular age group. The programme introduces a wide range of creative forms through storytelling as a central device. The story is brought to life through sound, movement and visual elements. The programme also has a key role in linking children into other artforms as they make the transition from ArtSparks into Stepping Stones which is the RYP’s transitional arts programme for 8 to 11 year olds in visual arts, dance, music and street performance.

Programme Profile

Each year the programme proceeds in two cycles. The first cycle, from January to June is based on the themed, storytelling process and culminates in Summer Games based on that year’s theme. The second cycle from September to December, is a skills-based programme with a focus on introducing new children to the process and considering themes for the coming year. Over each year the ArtSparks Programme also connects with key community-based festivals and street events such as the Halloween parade.

Rialto Youth Project Artsparks profile

PROGRAMME COMPONENTS

Introduction: basic art skills, equipment, shape, colour, texture & movement, Develop motor skills/dexterity, Drawing as play, Imaginative scoping exercises, Sense of visual narrative, Imaginative play, Social & Listening skills, Comprehension, Oral language & literacy, Concentration/focus, Memory, Understanding of mechanics/dexterity with 3D.

ENCOUNTER & SHOWCASE

Introduction to imaginative worlds beyond the Homework Club: puppetry & child-friendly festival events in the city. Showcase events: Annual themed Summer Games: key showcase event for the January to June story-based cycle. Others include street events & festivals such as Halloween, Christmas & Easter.

PROGRAMME OUTCOMES

Greater awareness of visual arts forms through studio-based exploration, Identification /belief in the programme, Increased visual arts awareness, Enhanced literacy/language skills, Enhanced imaginative capabilities, Confidence in imagination, Ability to create in a range of visual means, Greater self-esteem, Pride in creative capacity, Improved social skills.

our critics speak!

Where & When

In addition to the weekly ArtSparks Programme, during Easter, Summer, Halloween and Winter we hold larger seasonal events. We bring together all the work, which the children have completed in that programme cycle and transform it into a theme based celebration day. In more recent years we have begun to hold some of these events offsite in places such as the gardens at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, which places a high value on the work done in the ArtSparks group. We invite the children and their families to participate, which gives the parents a chance to experience and share in the magic of the ArtSparks Programme. Children are introduced to visual art, making and street performance. If a child shows a particular interest within visual art or street performance, it is essential that their creative journey can continue. The RYP Stepping Stones is therefore the transition programme within these art forms as well as in dance and music. It is often the same artist working with the Stepping Stones group so they are familiar with the child’s work and can facilitate them to take the next steps forward. In addition to coordinating Arts Working Groups, the Arts Team Co-ordinators meet weekly to ensure a shared approach to planning and reviewing the RYP Arts Programme. The Rialto Youth Project’s Information Management System is core to such planning and review processes.

ArtSparks Where and When

Key Values

1

Working with Young People Where They're At

We believe in working with young people where they’re at. This requires flexibility and creativity. Our programme can change to meet the needs of the person rather than the other way around.

2

Building Relationships

We’re committed to building good, positive relationships with young people and their families. It’s at the heart of what we do. We aim to find healthy and constructive ways to build relationships. We value the difference made to young people’s lives by investing time in developing meaningful relationships between youth workers and young people.

3

Choice and Opportunity

We believe in offering real choices to young people and supporting them to make choices that are right for them. We’re committed to creating possibilities for young people to access life opportunities and to grow within their community.

4

Self-Empowerment

We engage, empower and support young people to build their own capacity. We believe in self-empowerment and working to empower young people. We believe in young people’s capacity to make good decisions and transcend imposed limits.

Rialto Youth Project Artsparks where and when

I have been working in the Rialto community for the past 10 years or more and now when I see teenagers that regularly attended the art group ask about how I became an artist, what’s it like to be an artist and asking about art colleges and that they would love to do what I do is hugely rewarding. The spirit of play in children is vital, the visual arts exercise that. The importance of visual arts as a regular ingredient in a child’s day is crucial, all work and no play will a dull generation make

Kieran McNulty, Artist & Facilitator RYP ArtSparks Programme

Programme Coordination

The Rialto Youth Project’s ArtSparks Programme is coordinated by the ArtSparks Working Group, which is comprised of four Homework Club staff and one artist. This Working Group meet at the end of each 10-12 week programme cycle to review and to plan the next cycle. In addition to coordinating the Arts Working Groups, the Arts Team Co-ordinators meet weekly to ensure a shared approach to planning and reviewing the RYP Arts Programme.

The Rialto Youth Project’s Information Management System (IMS) assists in the ArtSparks Programme planning and review. The Information Management System stores Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) for every young person from 10 years of age upwards. It also stores Programme Session Sheets, Summaries and the Logic Model Planning Tool. These tools enable us to plan and develop the ArtSparks Programme with young people. The IMS also allows us to extract quantitative and qualitative data, enabling us to plan and support our work from a strong evidence base.

Rialto Youth Project and the Arts

The RYP ArtSparks Programme is one of 5 core developmental arts programmes. RYP is also engaged in many long-term collaborative arts projects, seasonal festivals, performance events / exhibitions and conferences that attract hundreds of local participants and multiple audiences city-wide and nationally. There is also an active EU and International dimension to key aspects of the work of RYP and the Rialto Arts Plan (2012 – 2016). The Rialto Arts Plan sets out a vision for a new and innovative model of local arts development, to be delivered through key strategic partnerships organised at local, city and national level.

Contact

Dannielle McKenna

Rialto Youth Project,
St. Andrew’s Community Centre,
468 South Circular Road,
Dublin 8.

P: (01) 4531638
E: Dannielle