Traveller children’s art unveiled at Waterfront Hall

Traveller children’s art has been unveiled at Belfast's Waterfront Hall as part of the Gayla Expression Arts programme.

The programme, run by the Belfast Traveller Support Group, is funded by the Children’s Fund through their executive programme of funding for children in need and children at risk.

Over the past year two arts development workers have provided an eclectic arts programme for over 100 traveller children aged between four and 12 from camps and sites across the city.

Fiona Lovely, of the Belfast Traveller Support Group, said: “We have given the children the opportunity to try a wide variety of high quality artistic mediums, including mosaic, sculpture, junk art, acrylic on canvas, photography, creative writing. We even put together a radio play. We basically want to them to take part in as many different activities as possible – whatever will excite them and capture their imaginations.

“The programme has had a great effect on the children. We wanted them to learn to really appreciate their environment, and so we spent a lot of time outside, especially at the Windy Gap on the Mona Road, letting the children explore the mountain they live on."

Organisers of The Gayla Expressions Arts programme, which is a three-year project, hope that traveller children will gain even more recognition from their work which highlights the "valuable artistic and cultural contribution that their community can make to Northern Ireland".

The Gayla Expression Arts exhibition will be on display at the Waterfront Hall throughout August.

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