Raw talent from inner-city estates

• Mary O'Hara
• The Guardian, Wednesday 7 January 2009
• larger | smaller
• Article history

An exhibition of young people's gritty artwork is to open at City Hall, London. Photograph: PR

Fine art and inner-city youth clubs are not obvious bedfellows, but a new exhibition by Dulwich Picture Gallery, south London, hopes to demonstrate the value of bringing the two together by featuring the artwork of young people from some of the capital's poorest boroughs.

Six years on from the launch of its art outreach project, the gallery's latest exhibition, Kennington Kids: Raw Urban, will feature the work of young people coached by professional artists and will be put on display at London's City Hall.

Based at Alford House youth club, which draws in teenagers from large council estates between Brixton and Kennington, the outreach project encourages socially excluded young people to come to evening drop-in workshops to learn about and make fine art. According to Julia Wolfe, director of learning and public affairs at the gallery, the fact that the artwork is to be exhibited at such a high-profile venue for the first time is a validation of how good the work is. The artwork is striking, varied and frequently angst-ridden. Some of the images allude to the violence the youngsters see around them.

Wolfe says she championed the gallery's outreach activities to "inspire young people through art". She says she doesn't expect art to turn their lives around, but believes that it can "open doors" for disaffected youngsters and provide them with valuable experiences and knowledge they might not otherwise get.

"Many of the young people are hesitant about getting involved at first," she says. "But they have been responding in a very positive, amazing way."

The success has been possible, she says, because the gallery, the artists, youth workers and the kids are "making a real commitment". Finding artists with the right temperament for the job isn't always easy, but those who sign up take it very seriously and get a real sense of accomplishment, Wolfe adds.

Feedback from the young people suggests that they are acquiring role models and discovering hidden talent. "The teachers were almost like our friends," says 14-year-old Jason. "They had a lot of respect for us, and we showed them respect back." Another, Sammy, says: "In school, I didn't really enjoy art - it seemed so boring and dull. Also, I was never good at it, so I never took an interest. When I came to the workshop, it was different. The teachers were not like those from school; they were really relaxed and just let you get on with it."

Wolfe says: "Parents and young people tell us the difference it makes. It is patronising to assume that these young people won't be passionate about art. It's about providing the opportunity."

• Kennington Kids: Raw Urban is at the Mayor's Office, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA, 6 January to 30 January.

• guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009