Graffiti as a tool to Campaign for Social Change

Urban arts Project- Opportunities to learn with international arts

This August, the Playhouse International Culture Arts Network (ICAN) and What IF? Project will bring international graffiti & mural artists to the North West. These artists will collaborate with local graffiti artists, share their expertise with local practitioners and work with young people living in interface communities of Derry-Londonderry and Moville, County Donegal.

The international artists Man One, Pablo Cristi, Ernel Martinez and Sidd Joag will lead a master class in Graffiti and Mural Art on Wednesday 3rd, Thursday 4th and Friday 5th August from 1pm - 5pm. The masterclass participants will have the opportunity to paint Free Derry Corner on Friday August 5. This class is open to artists, facilitators, educationalists, health workers and peace activists who are interested in learning graffiti skills at the same time as developing ways of using public art to discuss positive social change. During this master class participants will have the opportunity to learn from four leading international graffiti and mural artists.

The final week of the Urban Arts Project will enable young people to participate in graffiti workshops as well as DJing and parkour. This week will be youth-led, giving the young people the opportunity to collaborate with an international and local team of artists. The young people will be encouraged to highlight issues that are important to them using graffiti, DJing and parkour to illustrate their ideas.

"This is a great opportunity for young people to take part in a unique project with some of the worlds leading experts in urban art!" Siuan McLaughlin, from The Playhouse What IF? Project said.

The Playhouse What IF? Project, funded by the International Fund for Ireland, is a youth project that uses creative arts activity to enable young people to work with others from areas they are apprehensive of and support each other as they work towards common goals.

ICAN works to bring high quality artists to the North of Ireland and the Border Counties to work with, trade and exchange skills and knowledge with the local communities. Those involved use the arts to empower those affected by conflict by providing a platform for international and local people to connect and exchange. ICAN is a three year project which has been part-financed by the European Union's Regional Development fund through EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE III) managed through Special EU Programmes Body.

If you want to participate in either the master class (Wednesday 3, Thursday 4 and Friday 5 August, 1-5pm) or the Youth Art Project, (from Monday 15 to Friday 19 August, 11am-3pm) or gain and further information contact Elaine Forde on 02871 268027 or elaine@derryplayhouse.co.uk.

ICAN is a three year project which has been part-financed by the European Union's Regional Development fund through EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE III) managed through Special EU Programmes Body.