New window-based artwork developed by young people lights up Armley Leisure Centre

Fantastic new window-based artwork inspired by the creativity of young people is now gracing the front entrance of a popular west Leeds leisure centre.

This follows the completion of ‘Highlines’, an arts project delivered at Breeze Saturday Night Project at Armley Leisure Centre, which saw local artists Fabric Lenny, Lou Sumray, Nick Lewis and Leo Brazil, join forces with young people that regularly attend the club to create an amazing window installation. The design brings together a variety of images created by young people, which were developed through hands on workshops with the artists and also local musicians.

In partnership with Active Leeds, Youth Service and Positive Futures, this particular initiative forms part of Leeds City Council’s successful Breeze Friday and Saturday Night Projects which have been running for 10 years in communities across the city. The projects offer young people affordable access to these fantastic facilities every Saturday night in term time, including swimming, gym, multi-sports, arts and crafts, games, and beauty.

Currently there are around 200 visits from young people to the Breeze Friday and Saturday night projects across the city. It is estimated in total, there have been approximately 60,000 visits from young people to the projects over the last decade.

The Breeze Friday and Saturday Night Projects are funded through the Area Committee Youth Activity Funds, Leeds Housing Advisory Panels, Pudsey Targeted Services Cluster and Leeds Inspired. The ‘Highlines’ project was commissioned by Leeds Inspired.

Cllr Lisa Mulherin, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, said:

“We are incredibly proud of our Breeze Friday and Saturday Night Projects, which provide the opportunity for young people across the city to have fun, make new friends and learn new skills and talents.

“It has been absolutely fantastic to see the creativity of our young people in west Leeds come to the fore through this particular ‘Highlines’ project, which has resulted in some wonderful window artwork being installed at Armley Leisure Centre.

“The young people played an important role in the design and concept of the windows, and we would like to offer a big thank you to local artists for helping to bring their vision to life. We look forward to seeing more innovative work such as this one being undertaken as part of our Breeze projects in other areas across Leeds.”

Notes to editors:

For more information visit: www.breezeleeds.org/fnp or our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BreezeFNP

The Highlines projects took place over ten weeks at the Breeze Saturday Night Project, which runs every Saturday in term time as follows:

Juniors (8-12 years old) 6-7.30pm

Seniors (12-18 years old) 7.30-9pm.

Cost: £1.50 or £1.00 with a breezecard.

Leeds Inspired is part of the city’s cultural programme that celebrates arts events and projects throughout the year, supporting high quality, accessible cultural experiences for Leeds’ residents and visitors. Founded in 2012, Leeds Inspired supports culture in the city through grants schemes, commissions and a ‘What’s On’ events website. Leeds Inspired is part of Leeds City Council. www.leedsinspired.co.uk

Artist Fabric Lenny can be contacted: fabriclenny.info

For media enquiries, please contact;

Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 39 51578

Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk