Young Arts is one of the charitable arms of NADFAS whose principles are to “inspire young people with lasting enthusiasm for the arts, an awareness of all art's heritage and its conservation”.  There are currently 13 Young Arts Groups across the West Midlands and over 249 Societies sponsoring young arts activities nationwide.  In 2008 a staggering 25,000 young people were involved in these activities in 103 primary schools and 102 secondary schools.

Our Young Arts team have had another successful year with the completion of the animated film.  This was where a group of teenagers in Stafford, with our help, put together an animated film, set to their own poetry/rap about their life and how they think the general public view the youth of today having compared their lives. This caused much comment at the lecture when shown to the members

In this new year we have committed £150 pounds in prize money at this year’s Staffordshire Open Art Competition and subsequent exhibition at the Shire Hall.  The prizes were awarded to 3 groups, the under 8’s, 9-14 and 14-16 year olds.

Young Arts have teamed up with Church Recorders, headed by David Brass, with an exciting new project! Church Trails for Children offers children of all the ages the opportunity to explore churches in their area and learn that there is more than meets the eye in many of these buildings!

If you think that may be interested please contact David on volunteers@sdfas.org.uk

Further projects are planned with a school in Stafford looking at the Holocaust. News on that as the project develops.

The biggest news in Young Arts is that Pam Cartwright is taking over as Team Leader.  Pam is an artist and has been a teacher for 35 years, 15 years at Stafford College and 20 years as Head of Art at Stafford Grammar. She has also been an ISA Inspector and has worked in outreach situations with prisoners, disabled and the recovering mentally ill.  Her work at Stafford Grammar also included working with pupils on the Duke of Edinburgh Award Schemes and with this she has completed many projects in the community with the pupils. So as you can see someone who will take Young Arts forwards and in very capable hands.

If any member has any comments, thoughts or ideas on this subject, please let Pam know on 01785 253341 or email her at youngarts@sdfas.org.uk