Youngsters building for a creative future through workshops

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1.	Robyn Corrigan, aged 12, creates artwork at the Lego workshop in Selby with Laura Sanderson.

Creativity using Lego building blocks is being taken to a whole new level in a series of workshops being held in Selby.

Young people from the age of five up to 18 will be working with the bricks to design patterns that can then be printed into works of art.

The free workshops in Selby Town Hall are the brainchild of graphic designer and founder of Art is My Career, Laura Sanderson. With the help of Cllr Steve Shaw-Wright she will stage six sessions between now and March using a £1,500 grant from the our locality budget.

“Art is My Career was set up to give young people opportunities to explore the creative arts and see what is available for future jobs, so we can retain their talent here in North Yorkshire,” said Laura Sanderson.

“People look at art as a hobby, but I want to instil into them that it is also a career. These workshops are just one of the ways we can do this and without the locality funding they wouldn’t be happening.

“The idea of using Lego bricks resonates with young people and we want them to use their imagination to be even more creative with them, they will build a design and then print the pattern they have made. It could end up as a greetings card or a piece of art on the wall, that will be up to them.”

The volunteer-led workshops – the first of which took place this week (Tuesday, November 7) – take place in December, January, February and March. See more information on the Art is My Career website or follow aimc.cic on Instagram.

Cllr Shaw-Wright, who represents the Selby West division, added: “This social, but educational, activity is taking place in a mainly deprived area and is giving young people the chance to use their creativity in a new and exciting way.

“I am delighted to have been able to help fund them and hope they will make some of these youngsters think about a future career in the creative industries.”

Each North Yorkshire councillor has a £10,000 pot from the locality fund to help community groups and organisations finance projects and events.

See more information about councillors’ locality budgets.