Youngsters get a taste for fashion at National Portrait Gallery

A group of 15 young carers from children’s charity, Action for Children, aged 14 – 19, stepped in to the world of fashion at the National Portrait Gallery, in two day-long ‘Fashion and Photography’ workshops (21 & 29 November). The youngsters who attended are supported by Action for Children’s Haringey Young Carers project.

In the workshops, funded by the Vodafone Foundation, they learnt about different areas of design through a tour Gallery’s collection of fashion portraits, guided by industry experts. Participants took inspiration from this to create their own designs for t-shirts, culminating in a photoshoot, with youngsters modelling their t-shirts and peers taking photographs.

Lucy Ribeiro, Learning and Access Manager at the National Portrait Gallery, explained, “The Gallery is committed to increasing access to vulnerable children and young people, and the partnership with Action for Children enables us to reach new groups in order for them to increase their skills and develop their potential.“

Jeanette, 15, said, “I really enjoyed the workshops - they were interesting and good fun. I really got in to fashion design, and learnt lots about the industry, and studying photographs on the tour around the Gallery helped me to develop my own artwork. At first I was a bit nervous about modelling for photos but my confidence grew during the sessions and I didn’t feel shy by the end of it. I definitely want to study fashion design again in the future!”

Ruth Baldwin, Action for Children’s Arts Initiatives Manager, said, “Taking part in the workshops and visiting the National Portrait Gallery has been a fantastic experience for these young people. As well as enhancing their appreciation of fashion and photography, the workshops have also brought young people together with peers who understand what it means to be a carer, enabled them to express themselves through the arts, and to build on their own self-esteem.”

These workshops mark the first stage of Action for Children’s partnership with the National Portrait Gallery which will continue in 2009.

For more information, log on to Npg.org.uk.