Children unveil gallery exhibit

Pupil Daanish Afzal in Batley Art Gallery.

More than 300 youngsters have contributed to the Change 2014 exhibit, which opened its door to the public last week.

Coordinated by community arts organisation Mosaic and Batley Girls’ High School, the project saw pupils work with local artists and with a number of different materials and art styles to create the exhibit.

Each school chose a group of children to take part ranging from age five to 13.

They were asked to choose from 3D textiles, digital art or print making as the focus for their workshops.

The artist worked with the youngsters for three sessions spread over a number of weeks.

The 11 schools involved have been visiting the gallery in Batley Library to admire their work.

Mosaic chairwoman Julie Haigh said: “We are thrilled to see the creative work of so many talented young people and adults coming together and being presented with such quality it does them and us real credit.

“The exhibition is just the tip of the iceberg.

“The project has been about creative experimentation and learning but has also involved valuable learning of other kinds.

“The young people in particular gain a huge amount of confidence and pride not just from seeing their work in the exhibition, but from going on the creative learning journeys that led there.”