Exhibition synopsis

The below is my first draft 350 words to be used in the exhibition/catalogue:

Identi-tee explores how creative critical reflection can be used in contemporary society to help teenagers build an awareness of self and identity in relation to both their culture and their community, in turn it looks at ways for teenagers and their communities to work collectively to produce work that reflects their experiences and the places they live. 

A strong sense of self and place can allow young people to feel confident, embrace change, recognise and manage risk, take responsibility for themselves and contribute in a positive nature to their communities.  

A central aspect of Identi-tee was encouraging encounters between teenagers, designer makers and local people of different generations leading to rich experiences and helping young people develop expertise, understanding, communication skills, confidence and awareness to create stronger families and communities.  These encounters can have a positive affect on the teenagers involved, allowing them to reflect on and develop their hopes, dreams and aspirations. 

Workshops were run with youth organisations, allowing young people to collaborate and discuss themselves, their relationships, their society and their environment, and how all these components affect sense of self.  

Key themes of personal wellbeing were developed and explored through creativity and reflection, the results of which can be seen in my exhibition.

These workshops could lead to developments in the field of personal identity in adolescences, its importance, and change it from a non-statutory component of the national curriculum, which could lead to widespread use of the workshops in schools and youth groups.