About
In 2022, through conversation with our community, we were asked if some local children and young people could volunteer at the centre during the week, instead of going to school. Exclusion from mainstream education, or ‘refusing school’, is an increasingly prevalent issue and growing national concern. As a community driven centre, we felt we could do something to provide and alternative education for those who needed it.
With funding from the Fife Rural Development Fund, we established a new pilot project with Madras College. This partnership would support young people – who don’t find classroom settings accessible – to attend Forgan Arts Centre instead.
Creative Practitioner, Jek McAllister, was appointed to curate and lead the project. The resulting programme is a rich mix of art, craft, and horticultural workshops led by established artists which took 19 students, aged 13-15 years, on a journey through traditional and contemporary practices. Throughout, the group filmed the activities and the project will culminate in a shared meal that the students cook, eaten on a table they’ve designed and built, with ceramic crockery they’ve made.
Contributing Artists
We appointed Lead Creative Practitioner, Jek McAllister, to curate the overall programme. Like all the team members, they are also a practicing artist. The project engaged nine artists in total, each with a speciality art form or focus and experience working with a mixed ability group of young people. The artists included:
- Kate Harvey, textile artist and designer
- Mim Seddon, ceramicist
- Andrew French, carpenter and wood worker
- Rowan Lear, horticulturist, photographer and teacher
- Hannan Jones, musician
- Sean Patrick Campbell, photographer
- David Smith, artist
- Chris Dooks, artist and support worker
With special thanks to Clyde Built Radio and Hannan Jones for airing Forgan Lunch Club. Listen in here.
This role is funded by the Fife Rural Development Fund.
