6 February 2023
News
Talented year 11 students from The Brunts Academy in Mansfield will be taking over the First Art shop in Four Seasons Shopping Centre.
Illustrations by @aislynclarkeillustration will feature on merchandise available to buy.
Hosted by young people’s volunteering programme, Takeover, between 15 and 16 February a two-day pop-up shop will showcase a host of creative business ideas from the students in a real-life setting where people can buy goods and more.
Takeover is a two-year programme powered by the government’s Volunteering Futures Fund, aimed at fostering the creative talents of young people in Mansfield and Ashfield.
The current intake of 15 and 16-year-olds have been mentored on the programme since October 2022. Now they will be bringing art and business together for this one-off event in a real-world, hands-on experience, supported by First Art.
The pop-up shop has been devised and delivered entirely by young people from Mansfield.
A taste of the things to feature in the pop-up shop on 15 & 16 February.
It will feature a diverse range of their own products, including music, merchandise, a bakery, a gaming hub and hobby shop.
The Shop will be open to members of the public 11am – 4pm over the two days. People can buy goods and interact with the other initiatives. All proceeds will be going to Cancer Research UK.
It’s a great opportunity for young people to come together and collaborate with our ideas. There’s not that much culture or opportunities for young people in Mansfield to get involved with so it’s great we can express our creativity and business ideas to gain experience for the future”
Year 11 Students from The Brunts Academy
Laura Solly, Arts Teacher at The Brunts Academy and Takeover Facilitator, added:
Takeover has been a fantastic opportunity for our Year 11s, by allowing them to pursue a passion of theirs, whether that be music, art, poetry or baking and developing these into small businesses.
Pupils have even gathered advice and feedback from local business owners to support their enterprise projects. Running the shop is a wonderful opportunity for pupils to display their talents to the public and get experience in retail and business”.
A programme to nurture young talent
The youth volunteering programme, which launched last year, aims to provide young people aged 14-24, and those with disabilities, the opportunity to volunteer and develop their creativity, talent, leadership, and employability skills in the creative art industries.
Alongside its continued work with The Brunts Academy, applications are now open to join Takeover’s next cohort, starting in February, and will be accepting students from the Mansfield and Ashfield area.