A new free art club is taking bookings for next term after becoming an instant hit with creative youngsters.

UCLan’s Art and Design Saturday Club is the only free club of its kind in Lancashire. Running every week until Easter, the club is designed for 13 to 16 year olds who are keen to develop their artistic skills.

Advertisements

The Club is part of the National Saturday Club initiative, which was established four years ago to give young teenagers a taste of what it would be like to study art after leaving school. The initiative also allows youngsters to build a portfolio without the pressure of assessment, and provides them with access to studio facilities they wouldn’t normally have.

The UCLan Club will take part in two national events – a masterclass with an industry professional and the Summer Show, where all Club members from around the country exhibit their work at Somerset House in London.

Read more: Northern Young Adult Literary Festival returning to UCLan

The sessions are led by UCLan fine art lecturer Jayne Simpson and senior lecturer in 3D media fine art Andrew McDonald.

Andrew said: “It’s been an instant hit with places being filled almost as soon as the Club was announced. It’s like a mini art school and everything we produce will go to the National Saturday Club summer show in London.

“The young people will be able to try their hands at ceramics, painting, sculpting and drawing, amongst other things.

“Creative industries are an essential part of the UK economy and through the Saturday Club, we’re taking the excellent work schools already do and building on it to harness the talents of the next generation.”

Read more: Fishwick pupil wins competition to name new £3m nursing home

Students from Corpus Christie Catholic High School have been for a Saturday Club taster session.

Student Zahra Abbas said: “It’s great to have the time to focus on being creative. I think this is a fantastic initiative that will give lots of young people a chance to get really involved in art, especially as it’s free. It restores art as a necessity rather than a luxury.”

Young people who are interested in joining the UCLan Saturday Club next term can complete a questionnaire to register their interest.

Sessions take place on Saturdays from 9.45am to 12.15pm in UCLan’s Hanover Building on Bhailok Street.

For more information, visit the UCLan Saturday Club website. The National Saturday Club website also provides information about the initiative.

What do you think of the initiative? Let us know in the comments below.