Students tackle alcohol issues through art
08/06/2010
The Focus on Alcohol Angus project has recently worked in partnership with Angus College and the young peoples health and wellbeing charity Mentor UK to develop an arts based initiative. This project aims to help students explore the issues and interests that people and communities have in relation to alcohol. This has unleashed within the students at Angus College a range of positive and negative thoughts about alcohol. These thoughts have inspired a very personal and thought provoking exhibition.
Learner engagement officer Katie Anderson at Angus College said: "The exhibits range from the serious to the sublime, with digital photography, media work and 'beer goggles' made from bottle tops. The students have also expressed their feelings about alcohol in a clever exhibit called 'Message in a Bottle'. We have been keen to encourage the students throughout the project to look at the sensible approach to drinking alcohol through to where they can be put into situations of great harm. The results are fantastic." Katie continued: "The students involved have also been pleased to support the SHOUT group to launch their educational DVD at the exhibition."
Robert Peat, chair of the Angus Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, said: "I am delighted to acknowledge the range of creative work the students at Angus College have produced within this local and national project from Focus on Alcohol Angus and Mentor UK. It has clearly been a worthwhile partnership that has encouraged young people from across Angus to think about the realities of alcohol use.
"We know that by using creative, innovative approaches, young people can and will adopt positive approaches to their lifestyles in relation to alcohol. It is clear from the work of this splendid exhibition that the students at Angus College have achieved this. I extend my thanks to all the students who took part in this project and indeed all the staff who supported the project."
Heather McVeigh from Mentor UK added: "We are delighted to have been able to work locally with Focus on Alcohol Angus project and Angus College on this project. To date nationally we have not seen such an approach taken to explore alcohol issues with young people".