‘Art is a way of communicating’

- Róisín McManus -

Members of a local youth organisation have painted a series of artistic murals in Cavan Skatepark in an attempt to reduce vandalism locally.

Young people in the Face Off project came up with the idea to encourage more people to use the skatepark in Con Smith Park.

“We felt it would be best to include the whole of Cavan; make them enjoy the skatepark a little bit more and get people involved instead of thinking that the skatepark is a bit dull looking and not really entertaining to go to,” says Chantelle Metcalfe, a young member of Face Off and the director of last year’s group.

The idea was presented to Cavan County Council - which had its own concerns surrounding vandalism in the skatepark, and it rendered the murals.

The process took a couple of months, with the group having to consider ideas for artwork and costing of the paint. Four young people completed the designs over the course of a fortnight, with the help and guidance of locally-based artist Anna Wiercioch.

“I enjoyed working as a team and being able to communicate and express my ideas, my concerns about the skatepark,” Chantelle recalls, who joined last February in the second year of the programme.

“I wish I was there for the first [year] because it was really fun,” the 19-year-old enthuses.

“So, I’m now back for my second year in Face Off and hopefully it will be as good as it was last year.”

For Chantelle, the programme is a great way to make friends, create art and come out of your comfort zone.

“I was very quiet and shy but ever since I joined Face Off, I’ve become more open, more happy and more willing to talk to people for extra help.”

As was the case with the skatepark, projects completed by the group are based on ideas that the young people bring forward.

“We ask them what issues they are facing, how are they tackling those issues, different artistic disciplines they want to explore, and they come up with the idea,” explains Raquel Montero Calero, Youth Worker and Youth Arts Facilitator for the Face Off programme, which operates in Cavan Town and Ballyjamesduff, with young people from neighbouring counties attending.

“Art, in itself, is a way of communicating, and young people sometimes find it difficult to have a voice in their communities,” she says. “Through the art and the creative sector, young people find different avenues to talk about the issues they are facing.”

Face Off is funded by PEACEPLUS through the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and delivered by Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB). It is one of three projects available to young people between the ages of 14-24 years under Journeys.

Journeys is a cross-community, cross-border initiative of tailored programme interventions to support young people from diverse communities, including Cavan/Monaghan as well as Greater Belfast, Limavady and Derry, to realise their potential and become active contributors in building a shared, united and more cohesive society.

Teenagers aged between 14-16 years are eligible for the Alternatives Project, which is catered to young people who may be at risk of early school leaving. Young adults (18-24 years) can take part in the Options project, where young people set and work towards personal goals to enhance employability, confidence and citizenship. Those aged between 16-24 years can join the Face off project - designed for young people with an interest in the creative arts, encouraging collaboration and cultural exchange across communities and borders.