It is not every day that GCSE art students see their work framed and hanging on gallery walls. But from Thursday 26 November to Friday 22 January, young artists from across Bangor will do just that as Response & Invention opens to the public at Seacourt Print Workshop.
The exhibition marks the culmination of an innovative schools programme led by Seacourt Print Workshop and match funded by Arts & Business NI Investment Programme and developers Bangor Marine. Since March, pupils from Glenlola Collegiate, Bangor Grammar, Bangor Academy, and St Columbanus’ College have stepped out of the classroom and into the city to explore regeneration through art.
Taking inspiration from artist Gerd Winner, pupils documented Bangor’s derelict and disused spaces through photography and sketching. They then stepped into Seacourt’s studio to learn traditional printmaking from professional artists, transforming their observations into striking original prints.
Celebrating the pupils’ achievement, Seacourt Director Emma Drury said:
“There is something powerful about giving young people the opportunity to look at a familiar place and imagine something new. Through this programme, pupils have engaged with Bangor in a whole new way, transforming new perspectives into art that is entirely their own.
When they come back to Seacourt, they’re coming back as artists to see their work on the wall. I hope for them it will be a real source of pride, and perhaps for some of them it might secure a future as a creative.”
For Olivia Grzybowska from Bangor Academy, the opportunity to have her work displayed in a professional exhibition is beyond what she ever imagined:
“It’s something I never thought would happen in school, so I’m really excited for the public to be able to see my work. We’ve put a lot of time into making our prints, and seeing them framed and on display will be something to feel really proud of.”
Highlighting the importance of investing in the city’s next generation, Damian Mitchell, Director of Bangor Marine, said:
“Bangor has a fantastic arts community, and we’re delighted to support Seacourt in giving more young people the opportunity to be part of it. They are the city’s future artists and residents, so getting them involved now helps build a cultural life they can help shape and enjoy for years to come.”
Speaking about the Investment Programme funded project, Sarah Mackey, Operations Manager at Arts & Business NI, added: “We’re delighted to support this creative partnership between Seacourt and Bangor Marine. It’s been wonderful to see young people embrace the opportunity to try something new, develop their creative skills and share stories that matter to them. The exhibition, ‘Response & Invention’, brings their ideas to life, giving us a glimpse of how the next generation sees the possibilities for Bangor’s future.”
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