UPSKILL – Arts (Music – Creative Arts)

UPSKILL – Arts is a division of UPSKILL Barrydale that understands the need for the youth in the community to be able to express themselves through Creative Arts workshops and mentoring, that is as important as any other skill(s) they can learn.  

Some examples of the creative arts expression is through music, dance, fashion, learning the art of pottery and making things from recycled trash (like goblets from bottles -and all kinds of items from recycled plastic).

We are planning to work with The Magpie Collective in Barrydale to teach the youth how to make items from recycled trash like bottles, plastic milk bottles, bottle caps and wire into creative items to sell.

The town has a few weekly Markets that we will have some stalls set up in, for the youth to sell items such as: wire cars and wire electro-culture sticks that are already being produced in the community and can become a recognized product to sell on market days.

Graham the director of UPSKILL Barrydale worked with Net Vir Pret in creating a very successful Barrydale’s Got Talent in 2023. Barrydale’s Got Talent gave the youth the opportunity to compete at an event where they could express themselves with singing, dancing and creating their own fashion from recycled plastic.

The ongoing plan is for Barrydale’s Got Talent to grow into a bigger event including a box car race, wire car building, cooking, photographic, painting and sculpture competitions as well as a fashion show.