- Excerpt from the Hull Daily Mail Monday August 13th 2001-10-02 -

SUMMER SKILLS

Youngsters from north Hull have been taking a part in a project that teaches them new skills as well as keeping them occupied in the summer holiday. Nicola Juncar finds out about HU6 happenings.

Although it has rained constantly over the past week, it has certainly not dampened the spirits of a group of youngsters from north Hull.

More than 20 secondary school pupils have been keeping themselves occupied, while staying out of the rain, at the HU6 Happenings art event at Hall Road Community Centre.

HU6 Happenings is a programme of youth activities available to youngsters living in the HU6 postal area who are between 11 and 19 years old.

The activities, happenings throughout most of the summer break, range from tuition in how to be a DJ, jet skiing graffiti art, rapping and ice-skating.

One of the tutors helping to run the project, David Okwesia, said: “There is a real need for these types of work-shops as young people enjoy them but to get professional lessons is normally really expensive.”

HU6 Happenings has been funded by the Community Initiative Budget and Summertide, another organised event offering activities to young people throughout the summer.

The Project co-ordinator Martin Brabazon explained how HU6 Happenings started: “We held a similar event last year that proved to be really popular, but it was mainly aimed at youngsters who were thought to be at risk of committing a crime.”

“This year it has been opened up to everyone, as people know how boring the long holiday an be and it is a way of staying occupied.”

He adds: “We have taken time to improve on and enhance the activities this year to create as many opportunities to experience as possible.”

This was achieved by joining forces with the Streetlife organisation.\\The group mainly visits schools, holding workshops in graffiti art, break-dancing, tie and dye, rapping and Djing.

These activities, often referred to as being “underground culture”, were first popular in America.

With time, the trend has travelled across the Atlantic, with a little help from influential artists such as Will Smith as the Fresh Prince, Puff Daddy and the most recent to cause a stir, Eminem.

Mr Brabazon, 32 has worked as a youth worker for more than 10 years.

He said: ”I like working with young people. They are so full of energy and have so much unfulfilled potential.”

“If more people tried to break down the barrier to talk to young people they would find that they really are about their community and what goes on around them.”

So far, the event has proved a real hit. Mr Brabazon said: “The activities that we are providing make up the young person’s culture. It also gives them the chance to learn about the history of that culture.”

With a great deal of interest from the public and the surrounding community’s growing support, HU6 Happenings looks set to become an annual event. Mr Brabazon added: “I would really like to come back and do it again next year and maybe we could introduce even more activities. We have had many requests for break-dancing sessions, so this could be a possibility”

There is still time to be a part of the fun, though you will have to book a place.

This can be done by telephoning or visiting the venue where the activities are taking place.

. Useful contact numbers are:

. Greenwood Library: (01482) 331257
. St Michael’s Youth Centre: (01482) 806015
. Streetlife: (01482) 440325
njuncar@hulldailymail.co.uk

It’s wall in a day’s (art)work

Making sure the youngsters are hitting the target with their spraycans is art tutor David Okwesia.

David is the artist and project co-ordinator for Streetlife.

This week, youngsters from north Hull have had the opportunity to receive professional guidance in graffiti art.

David explains: “We were at Court ark Youth Centre last week and this week we are working at Hall Road Community Centre. There are 15 to 20 youngsters, all under 17 years of age, taking part and so far it has been really successful.”
The graffiti project involves much more than spraying any design on a wall.

David explains: “I have asked them all to draw their design on paper first. I have also introduced mathematics into the work so they are accurately working out the size of the design, so that it can be transferred from paper to other materials. The youngsters have not been allowed simply to write their name or a `tag’. Instead we have introduced a theme by which they have to choose a word and try to illustrate it. An example of this is when someone chose the word `ice’ and we used certain colours and shapes to create the effect of ice around the letters.”

One of the teenagers working on the project is Jennifer Dawson.
She said: “I chose to work on the word `bounce’, as I saw some Tigger toys, the character from Winnie the Pooh, and he inspired me. Also, where we are hoping to display the works there are a lot of nursery school children walking past and I thought it would be a nice idea if they saw it.”

SPRAY SKILLS: Graffiti

We asked children from North Hull what they thought of the HU6 Happenings summer arts project.

Gary Milner, 13 of Orchard Park, Hull “It has been good fun. I have been working on the graffiti project. We’ve been given the opportunity to do something that keeps us off the streets.”

Heather Hagyard, 13 of Hall Road, Hull; “The graffiti project is fun and I would do it again. For my piece, I have chosen an Earth scene. I am not too sure where the idea came from, I just felt inspired to do it.”

Kayleigh Allen, 13 of Orchard Park, Hull: “I have liked the project so far and if it was on again next year I think I would do it. I think schools should make graffiti art a part of the curriculum and not just have it for summer events.”

Rebecca Hagyid, 12 of Hall Road Hull:
‘I like the graffiti art because you are allowed to get messy while you work. I’m working on a picture of a champagne bottle. I got the idea when I saw a stack of bottles in the art room.”

Jennifer Dawson, 15 of Orchard Park, Hull: “I have really enjoyed it and I would ome back again. I wouldn’t like to see this sort of artwork in schools though, and I don’t think teachers would agree to it anyway.”

Darren Milner, 15, of Orchard Park, Hull: “The project has been good and I would do it every week if I could. The design I have done is very colourful. Graffiti art should not be done in schools. I think people should leave it to the street.”