Northampton school children to go on quests to solve worldwide issues with new arts project

School children in Northampton will be reflecting on current affairs like the coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement through a new project.

Pupils from eight primary schools will be taken on a fantasy-style adventure to come up with their own solutions to worldwide issues like equal opportunities in the arts industry.

Project leader Oskar White said: “This project will allow me to work with local schools, organisations and individuals to raise awareness of current issues and bring our community together.

"I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to do this for our town.”

The project will be an adventure story-writing project aimed at key stage two primary school children that highlights the hero inside everyone, according to Oskar.

Through a series of quests, pupils decide on their own imaginative solutions to challenges their character faces in a fantasy-style adventure that mirrors challenges in the real world.

Initially it will be a heavily digital project due to restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic but Oskar hopes everyone involved will be able to celebrate in person later in the year.

Oskar has been awarded a £500 grant from regional organisation The Mighty Creatives to set up the project, with help from the Northants Cultural Education Partnership.

The 18-year-old from Northampton has a strong background working on social-action projects, such as the Royal & Derngate arts leaders initative, to increase diversity in the arts and raise awareness about different communities in the town.

He has also recently been nominated for The Mighty Creatives' ‘creative voice’ award due to his level of creative contribution as a young person in Northampton.

“Youth leadership is very important and even more so now as it enables young people to support other young people to stay creative and gain access to arts opportunities and maintain their mental wellbeing," he said.

Oskar invites any primary schools, individuals and arts organisations that might want to get involved to get in touch via his Instagram page @oskarwhite_ or email [email protected].