Review by Steve Cooke
The power of the creative arts to change lives was powerfully demonstrated at the first showing of the short film The Power of Creativity – The Vibe Legacy.
Young people gathered with their artist facilitators, supporters and friends in Vicolo Del Vino on Butts Avenue in Rochdale Town Centre to watch an inspirational, moving, funny and celebratory film of the wonderful achievements of young people facing mental health challenges.
We live in an age where mental health challenges are increasingly affecting our young people in an environment in which the creative arts are facing challenges for their very existence not only in venues but also in our schools and local communities.
This film tells the story of a local project demonstrating how elemental the creative arts can be in supporting well-being and improved mental health.
The Vibe Project was funded initially by Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale NHS CCG then GM NHS Integrated Care Partnership as a socially prescribed project with a difference.
The Vibe model being very different to many interventions and courses available to young people facing mental health challenges with no time limits: some young people were with the project for 8 years.
This gave them the security of belonging, the time and space to develop friendships, grow feelings of self-worth, find and express their voice, develop skills and the confidence to communicate their story in their own way with whom they chose through the creative arts.
An environment in which they could start to believe that they had something to offer to themselves and others, becoming valuable contributors to their communities ready to successfully engage with training, employment and volunteering.
The hands-on leadership model was to be respectful, to listen and to be empathetic in all interactions with each other. The expectation was that being enveloped by that environment young people would themselves develop the same social skills - which they demonstrably did!
The artists including such a musicians, filmmakers, poets, DJs, visual artists, photographers and digital artists inspired, supported and enabled young people to find their voice through the creative arts and to express and share their stories through whatever medium worked for them.
The young people were in complete control with no time pressures and no judgement – the artists were able to share their own enthusiasms and extraordinary skills in a completely new environment beyond the stage, recording studio and exhibition venues.
The led to such as a young man on the autistic spectrum referred by Early Break. He was 15 years of age and in care. He initially went to Vibe with his foster mum and Early Break support person. He quickly settled in and was able to take part in activities without external support. His foster mum reported that she was delighted as this was the first time that he had shown enthusiasm for and looked forward to anything. He bonded with an existing member [also with autism] sharing their mutual interests. Together they were involved in designing and building a light box to enhance their photography. He then started guitar lessons and designed and built an electric guitar gaining skills and confidence through his achievements and obtaining a musical instrument to play.
Another example is a girl aged 10 referred by her mother as she was struggling with the tensions created by her mother and father spitting up and her mother introducing a new male into the family home. She was initially very quiet and stuck to whichever parent brought her down. The team and other young people gently encouraged her to say what she liked doing and involved her in suitable activities. She soon became involved in an art project to decorate internal walls with murals, working in a group including a Visual Artist and a young man who is developing his own visual art creativity. She started to spend all her time away from her supporting parent joined the guitar project and engaged in one-to-one sessions with a Vibe Musician. She became confident in her newly acquired skills and proud of her creativity which she continues to develop and enjoy.
Some young people told their stories through the creative arts in front of an audience of 200 at the Middleton Arena, others made videos, audio tracks and showed their work in exhibitions. They all shared their creations with other young people, their families and friends.
Three young people became trustees of the Vibe Rochdale, and several took on the roles of mentors/facilitators for other young people, one young person is about to start her post graduate masters degree, and another has achieved a First Class Honours Degree in Digital Art and Animation.
This is a story to encourage and inspire those who hold the funding purse strings to support the creative arts and open them up especially to our young people.
A full report of the Vibe Project including many images and links to videos and music made by young people can be read at https://www.allacrossthearts.com/post/vibe-impact-report-celebrating-changing-the-lives-of-young-people-through-the-creative-arts
The film [approx. 23 minutes] can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpVqWEimHpM
Comentários