FtSE Member News: The Foster Care Co-operative - The Annual "See Me" Children's Art Exhibition

Here at The Foster Care Co-operative in Wales, we’re very excited to announce that this year’s annual “SEE ME” art exhibition is being held in The Oriel Gallery in the prestigious building, The Senedd, in Cardiff Bay; between Monday 11th May and Friday 15th May.


The exhibition will feature artwork from both our looked after and birth children from around Wales.  The idea behind the yearly event is to give the young people cared for by The Foster Care Co-operative an opportunity to express their thoughts, feelings and experiences of the care system in Wales.  Some of the pictures will be accompanied by narratives explaining the at times moving thoughts and memories behind the piece. 

The event is sponsored by Jane Hutt AM, who will also open the exhibition at the exclusive launch event on Monday 11th May 2015, at 10am.  Alongside her will be other keynote speakers include Karl Davies, Chief Adviser Wales at the BBC Trust, plus our fantastic foster carers and some of the older teenagers who are having their work displayed.  If you would like to join us at the event, claim your free ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/see-me-childrens-art-exhibition-tickets-16629277617

Executive Director, Ian Brazier, for The Foster Care Co-operative says, “The project is something to be celebrated, for all the children and the staff who have been involved.  The children who are based throughout Wales have spent a lot of time and creativity working towards this, and it has allowed them to acknowledge their feelings and allows them to express themselves.  The work that has been produced is fantastic, and I’m glad that they are able to display it in a fantastic venue in the heart of Cardiff.” 

Local artist Prith Biant from The Creative Thinking Company (http://thecreativethinkingcompany.co.uk), who will also talk at the launch event, worked with the foster carers and the looked after children during the Easter break to create the artwork.  The workshops included; ‘Paint each other!’ which gave both the foster carer and young person an opportunity to create portraits of each other.  The second was based around the theme ‘What makes you come alive?’  Working with the children to understand what makes them feel good, whether it be sports or a trip to the beach.

Children in foster care are surrounded by negative stigmas.  The exhibition project has always been about wanting to show that some of the myths about foster care are not only false but they are also harmful to the youth in foster care and can greatly hurt their confidence.  Often due to an irregular or unstable background, they require a little more attention, encouragement and support, and most of them just need stability and someone to give them a chance.

Katrina Rohman, Marketing & Strategy Officer, for The Foster Care Co-operative in Wales said, “It was heart-warming to be involved with the art workshops, working alongside the very talented artist, Prith Biant.  One moment in particular stands out to me; a thoroughly shy 7-year-old, Jacob, did not want to get involved and spent most of the workshop watching his sister paint.  However Carlton aged 17, who is currently studying child care in college, went out of his way to support Jacob.  With his efforts, at the end of the day Jacob had produced a few fantastic pieces of art, including one of his foster carer Mandy, and was engaging with others within the room.  It is fantastic to see first-hand how creativity can improve a child’s communication and social skills.” (Jacob's picture is featured above) 

The exhibition will run between Monday 11th May and Friday 15th May in The Oriel Gallery in The Senedd in Cardiff Bay.  It is a free event, open to the public.  


Source:
http://www.fostercarecooperative.co.uk/fostering-with-us/news-and-events/the-annual-see-me-childrens-art-exhibition/
 

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