Builth Wells Easter exhibition celebrates young people’s bravery and creativity

An Easter exhibition of large scale, clay artworks, produced by young volunteers who have come together from Mid Powys, will be exhibited in Builth Wells from March 27 to April 30.

The exhibition will be held at MOCACymru Builth Pottery HWB on Church Street which has held free creative, therapeutic pottery workshops since last October as part of a project that reached out to young people aged from 14 to 25.

Celebrating resilience, heritage and hope for the future, the exhibition is the result of
the ‘Kindred Clay: Shaping Clay – Shaping Connection’ project. 

Twenty-five young people participate in the inclusive project, which encourages
creativity, learning skills, sharing ideas and making new connections and friendships by spending time together in a professional studio away from screens and telephones and Smartphones.

The arts-based hub is a creative, inclusive venue for young people, where equality, opportunity and innovation are priorities.

Young people have produced 16, large scale stoneware vessels and sculptures for the exhibition in collaboration with professional potters and artists, including Hannah Cullingford, Blue MacAskill and Alex Allpress. Each work was inspired by a local
story, event, conflict or issue impacting young people’s lives.

Kindred Clay has been led by Mark Kapustin, a 14-year-old Ukrainian student at
Ysgol Calon Cymru Student and Hannah, who designed a website and curated the
show at the gallery based on Church Street, Builth Wells.

“We applied for the grant because we wanted to effect change at a very scary and
volatile moment in history,” explained Mark. “We wanted to run wellbeing pottery
sessions to create conversations to understand the trauma and resilience in
vulnerable people, financially at risk families and anxious young people isolated by
area, mental health, transport and finances.

“I’m really proud of the sessions we ran and the young people who made work. Our
exhibition will look fantastic.”

Six workshops focused on relevant issues that young people are facing. The project has connected people of all ages with the aim of preventing isolation and mental health issues.

Kindred Clay is supported by a £1,500 youth-led grant funded by the Welsh
Government and managed by Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations
(PAVO). The grant scheme is designed to empower young people across Powys to take the lead in shaping their communities.

Grant applications were written and submitted by young people aged from 14 to 25
years and Builth HWB/ MOCA Cymru social enterprise was one of five volunteering
projects awarded a total of £6,550. A panel of young people selected the
successful projects from 17 bids.

Clair Swales, PAVO chief executive, said: “This youth-led initiative demonstrates the
powerful impact of young people driving volunteering projects that support creativity,
sustainability, inclusion, intergenerational connections, and community development
across Powys.

“The lack of activities for children and young adults, alongside the risk of young
people leaving the area, is a growing concern in the county. This initiative shows
what’s possible when we listen to young people and work with them on projects they
want to see in their communities.”

Blue runs Builth Pottery HWB while artist Alex tutors the vibrant AfterSchool Pottery Club on Wednesdays which has become a creative hotspot in the rural town.

“Young people want to be ambitious and thrive in their society,” said Blue. “This exhibition demonstrates their strength, resilience and important contribution to our politics, society and what connects us.

“The idea was to make large scale stoneware vessels and sculptures that tell a story,
personal or inspired by life.”

Builth Pottery HWB runs a weekly, term time pottery club that brings all parts of the
local community together and learn, nurture and be creative.

“Club members are trained to become community volunteers who support and
inspire other young people,” added Blue. “Not everyone wants to play rugby and
football or be in young farmers – some have high anxiety about groups and contact
sport and also single gender spaces.”

Hannah, volunteer curator, added: “Working on this project and attending the Pottery
HWB has highlighted how much of a positive impact being creative can have on your
mental health.

“We are really proud that we feel we removed barriers for anxiety about trying new
things, encouraged young people taking part to make positive changes in your life
and enabled access to free arts and crafts respite.”

For more information about Builth Pottery HWB, contact Blue or Alex on Tel:
07926211555 or visit Facebook.com/builthpotteryHWB .