IS ART ACCESIBLE

In this issue, I’m talking about the obstacles that young people face in rela�on to accessing art and offer some advice on how we can overcome these barriers.

I look at where and how young people can view art, develop their own skills and how we can create art from things around our own home with li�le or no cost.

IS ART ACCESSIBLE TO ALL?

BY LARRISSA BURTON

Art is o�en overlooked or nega�vely perceived, however, it is important for us young people as it can develop many skills and it introduces us to diverse cultures and lifestyles; it can depict current events as well as historical ones which are some�mes be�er recognised and understood through art. Art is much more than just pain�ngs, it is something you can learn from, a way you can express yourself through, it benefits well-being and mental health, which is why it is so important that everyone is able to enjoy it. Whether that is through crea�ng art themselves or looking at unique pieces by others.

Young people should have access to resources and clubs and be able to join in crea�ng art and developing ar�s�c skills. This is a problem for many people who live in our area as opportuni�es are limited, especially for young people aged 12 and above as there are so few opportuni�es that we can take advantage of. Art is o�en aimed at young children or adults rather than teenagers and young adults, the art on offer does not fit the criteria for developing our skills and keeping us interested.

A posi�ve thing that came out of the pandemic is that art galleries moved online, meaning anyone can view art from a computer, whether from home or a public library. Now you can simply search online art galleries and many will pop up for you to browse through. Liverpool and other ci�es have some fantas�c museums and art galleries, which showcase beau�ful art created by lots of different ar�sts, many even free to enter. This is fantas�c if you live close by, otherwise, you need to travel there and this means museums are o�en out of reach for many groups in society. Thankfully, art can now be accessed in many ways, not just through visi�ng museums and art galleries. Another fantas�c way to access art from your home is through podcasts and social media. Social media and podcasts are things that can help young people access art easier, if you want discussions on art topics then listening to a podcast is a wonderful way to learn more about the subject. If you would rather look at great pieces and find out more about the ar�sts who created them and their inspira�on, then social media is a great place to start. There are so many accounts on social media that post about art by famous and more obscure ar�sts and some even reveal how they create their art which can be interes�ng to watch and learn about.

Something everyone can try at home is coffee pain�ng, I have experimented with this technique recently for my A level college work. If you do not have watercolour then instant coffee watered down works well, try different concentra�ons. Making more abstract pain�ngs can be fun too, take one part acrylic paint with ½ parts of PVA glue and add a splash of water to create a runnier paint consistency - crea�ng a medium called pouring paint. Use several colours, pour onto a small canvas or board, and manoeuvre the board to spread the paint. Although it is a li�le messy, it is a fun way to make unique pieces of art every �me! If you do not want to create messy art and want something more detailed then using biro, pencil and fine liner are great mediums to use to create drawings and if your fine liner is not water-resistant then you could use a pen and wash effect by adding water and blending with a paintbrush. Art should be aimed at younger audiences as well, so all age groups can feel included. That’s why Culture HQ is such a great idea, it brings people together at a local level and encompasses everybody, showcasing art from all age groups. Take a look at pop art, modern art and abstract art. These are o�en styles that younger audiences prefer. Lots of colour and texture that catch the eye. This is something galleries should get on board with. Also, galleries should showcase art made by younger people and people from different ethnici�es and cultures to show a broad range of work so everyone has something they can enjoy. Both the pieces I have created have a coffee wash background and I have layered fine liner on the pumpkins and tree stump. I decided to use acrylic to contrast with the muted colour of the pumpkins.