Weston-super-Mare Glow 24: 'See what we can do'

Some of the SWAN members went to the opening night of Glow on Tuesday

The opening night of Glow 24 has taken place. The dazzling light festival launched on Tuesday in Weston-super-Mare with illuminated artworks and community collaborations. But what many people may not realise is that one of this year's main attractions has come from the centre of one of Weston's most deprived estates.

For anyone who has ever written off the young people from Bournville, 14-year-old Aston has a message: "Don't side-line us. See what we can do."

The estate in Weston is home to many people struggling financially and where family breakdown is common.

Working with the local community has always been key for the organisers of Glow and it was here they found the voices and input for a sculpture they hope will be a show stopper.

Playful, yet ever-so-slightly menacing with its rotating, fire-filled orbs, In the Balance looms large in Grove Park, where the festival is taking place.

Artist and designer Felix Rowberry was asked by Glow organisers to create the sculpture working with young people from the South Weston Activities Network (SWAN).

• Glow light festival brightens town

She describes the shape and movement of it as "child-like", reminiscent of a mobile that may hang above a baby's cot, but the heavy features of metal and fire are an imposing reminder "of the times we are living in and the fact young people are growing up into a really uncertain world".

And that's not least the children and young people who helped Felix make it during an August weekend at St John's Youth Club.

Aston said the workshop with Felix was "absolutely amazing"

Aston - who describes himself as "into everything" - lives with his nan and started going to the youth club about two years ago.

"We were cutting out different shapes - I chose a WWE logo - I kinda messed up a bit, but stuck with it. I really put my passion into it," he said.

"Whenever I get stressed out, things like this just help me get away from all that.

"It was absolutely amazing."

Tegan said the sculpture has given him a sense of pride

Tegan, also 14, said young people in Bournville are often "dragged down" from things they are inspired to do.

"I didn't have anything to do after school, just sat at home doing nothing, I was really bored," he said.

"Then when I got into [youth clubs] it really helped spread my imagination, it helped me with what I want to do in the future.

"Making things for other people to see and admire, and when they see it, they might also think, 'I want to do this', that makes me really proud."

Young people and their families were invited to the metal workshop in August

About 150 people were gathered together by SWAN to join Felix to plasma cut the shapes that were then welded onto the fire sculpture.

"It felt pretty special," SWAN apprentice and community youth leader Poppy Lakner said.

"It was sort of powerful and something you never really get involved in."

Children and young people just three years-old right up to 18 and 19 were encouraged to pick a design that was either connected to nature or that meant something to them.

Felix (right) also worked with SWAN on an initial project that led to the conception of In the Balance

"We probably went a little above and beyond but I am really glad we made something to the scale we did," Felix, who has created metalwork and special effects for shows like Doctor Who, Top Gear, and X-Factor, said.

Based in Somerset, she runs regular workshops helping people build their self-confidence and realise their own creative potential.

"It was just amazing watching the community youth leaders reaching out to people," she said.

"Of all the work I do, one of the things I feel most passionate about is using my skills to show people it is totally fine to just have a go."

Poppy said she hopes seeing In the Balance at Glow will bring people together

"Those pictures [on the orbs] mean something to each and every one of us," Poppy said.

Now 18-years-old, Poppy has a flat near the sea front, but growing up was hard with an unstable home which led her to SWAN.

Through the charity and its partnership with Super Culture - which runs the Glow event - Poppy said she has been shown what she can do.

"I want to give back to the families and the young people and support them through like what I went through," she said.

Poppy dedicated one of her creations to the leaders at SWAN who have supported her

"Seeing the young people's faces light up, how they have got this big artwork, they have very low confidence, and yet wow this is something I did and that is something I think we are all very proud of," Poppy added.

The sculpture is accompanied by a soundtrack, which explores environmental themes and features the voices of the young people from Bournville, put together by Weston-based poet and youth worker, Sophie Shepherd, and sound artist Jordan Cottle.

"It's just cool that they have been able to make something that they can be proud of," Sophie said.

"They were hesitant to start with, but to hear their own voices and have their voices heard, is really important."

Kally Critchley has been working with young people in Bournville for five years and hopes the project will broaden their horizons

Specially commissioned by award-winning Walk the Plank, 'In the Balance' had its first unveiling at Lightwaves at Salford Quays in Manchester - with some of the young people from SWAN invited to go along.

"Our young people very often don't leave the estates," youth participation worker Kally Critchley from SWAN said.

"To go to Manchester... they were blown away by it, by the sights that they saw, by going out for pizza with their families - which was a first for some of them - and stopping at Old Trafford, the boys are still talking about that now.

"It was a really big thing for them and if it wasn't for Super Culture and this project we wouldn't have that opportunity."

Kally has been working with SWAN for about five years to support young people and families in Bournville, Coronation and Oldmixon.

"Life is just tough for these young people," Kally said.

"The really important bit for me is there is life off the estates, and they are just not aware of that yet, that is why I want to broaden their horizons, there is a big world out there."

In the Balance was first unveiled at Lightwaves in Manchester

Having the opportunity to work with a female metal fabricator on a culture project is intended to help young people think about careers outside of the norm, in a community where there are often limited pathways.

"For some of our young people now, they can realise they can go and do metal workshops, or whatever they want," Kally said.

"That is what is important and special, because they don't realise their potential, so doing projects like this helps young people to see they can achieve great things."

Glow is a 'pay what you like' event - aimed at opening up culture and arts to everyone who may not normally be able to afford tickets to these sort of events.

Paula Birtwistle said that because Glow is so central to Weston, they also want it to be "by the people of the town"

Paula Birtwistle, originator and artistic director of Glow, said the vision for the festival has always had an emphasis on community collaborations.

"We found that if people are involved they have this amazing connection, they want to come here, they feel proud, they feel involved, they are really part of it," Paula said.

"Last year we had a really successful trial run with Felix and we had the best feedback, so we looked for an opportunity to try and do a bigger project.

"We didn't really dream we would end up with something this big but we managed to find a way to collaborate with this which is now going to tour nationally and internationally with Walk the Plank."

Away from In the Balance Glow has more than 25 light installations at the main site at Grove Park while the festival extends into the town centre with free pieces showing off Weston at its most colourful.

For Aston, seeing his creation up - in well flames - left him "buzzing" and he hopes others will come and see it too.

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