Digital Me: Drawing on our lives in Portsmouth

On the 6th October 2022 in Portsmouth’s Guildhall the premiere of the “Digital Me: Drawing on our lives in Portsmouth” was held.

This summer care experienced young people aged 16-21 worked with Digital voice for communities to produce a short film sharing their unique perspective on Portsmouth including:

• How they see the city
• The issues they care about
• How arts and culture impact their lives
• What they would like to change

The care experienced young people took part in a six week summer programme with a mix of workshops including; cultural visits, work with professional artists, dealing with difficult people, storytelling, Dockyard and Portsmouth museum visits and theatrical/ costume workers.

The young people involved have all been taking parts in Portsmouth’s Creative skills Programme, a pre-employability initiative designed to equip care leavers and young people in challenging circumstances with life skills, confidence, and a sense of possibility.

Supported by Digital Voice for Communities, whose award winning DigitalMe programme gives young people the opportunity to tell their stories and enact change within the service they use the young people then worked intensively to produce the short film being premiered at the event through the creation of digital avatars. This film allowed the programme participants to tell their emotive personal stories and explore issues they care about. The film is a powerful message in hopes to inspire and inform decision makers and service providers.

Following the screening was a Q&A, one quote from a participant that particularly stood out was “Sometimes you don’t even know you have the skills or confidence, if I didn’t do the [creative skills] workshop I wouldn’t even be talking to you all today. I got the confidence to do things I haven’t done before”

To watch the videos click the link here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMVdK9TjnXIsY5Ei9b-VjXLIA0czwwn4w

More information about Portsmouth Creative Skills can be found at https://artswork.org.uk/our-work-with-young-people/portsmouth-creative-skills/

Tags:

Creative Skills Portsmouth Cultural Education Partnerships For 15 – 25 yrs Youth Voice