Young people create modern day memorial at York Minster
York Minster is working with young people from York Youth Offending Team to create a modern, street art inspired memorial to the First World War, as part of the cathedral’s programme to mark the conflict’s centenary.
The ‘ID’ project will encourage young people to explore the legacy of the First World War while working with one of the world’s top female street artists, CBLOXX, towards their bronze level Arts Award.
Part of the cathedral’s community outreach programme to encourage new audiences into the Minster, the 16 to 18 year olds will develop their artistic talents over a 10 week period resulting in the creation of a huge memorial for display in the cathedral.
“We will be working with a small group of young people to explore themes of remembrance from the First World War and the concept of ‘what makes a hero’, while working towards the Arts Award,” explains Helen Moore, York Minster’s Community Engagement Officer.
“The work will be inspired by York Minster’s memorials and displays about the First World War including the Kings Book of York Heroes, which is part of the cathedral’s collection and is a unique memorial to York people killed in service due to the conflict. The book is unique because it not only includes names and biographies but also individual photographs, which is unusual for a memorial and which we hope will help the young people relate to and reflect on the identities and legacies of the people included.”
Each young person will use spray paints to populate their own giant canvas with names from the Kings Book of York Heroes to create a contemporary medal shaped memorial. This will be displayed at the cathedral’s York Minster Nights event in the autumn, as part of the city-wide Illuminating York festival.
“Identity is such a massive part of what street art is all about,” explains artist CBLOXX, “so combining the art form with this theme is a perfect match. It will be great to see the young people of York cultivate their own creative identity which they can feel proud of, while building up to making their mark at York Minster’s autumn event.”
The project is being run in partnership with the City of York Council Youth Offending Team and CBLOXX, from Leeds-based street artist collective Black Rose, from 30 April, and is a legacy of the cathedral’s York Minster Nights event which took place in October last year.
It is one of three projects for children and young people being run by York Minster as part of its four year programme to commemorate the centenary.
For further details, visit www.yorkminster.org
PHOTOCALL
Media interested in photographing the project are invited to attend a remembrance tour for the young people taking part at York Minster on 28 May, from 4.30pm – 5pm, when the group will be in the Treasury (access through the Undercroft) to see the King's Book of Heroes.
It may also be possible to accommodate requests to attend an art workshop session at the Lighthouse in Heworth (The Lighthouse, Sixth Avenue, Heworth, York YO31 OTT) during the course of the project.
Please contact Jay Commins on 01904 500698 or email jay@pyperyork.co.uk in advance for further details and to confirm attendance.