From Blank to Brilliant – Children Transform Charity HQ
A group of Dundee children have made their mark on a charity’s headquarters by transforming its windows into art.
The Adventures of the Little People Group, run by Hilltown-based charity Front Lounge, designed vinyl prints for Front Lounge’s five windows.
Adventures of the Little People is Front Lounge’s after-school club attended by primary school children aged between five and twelve. The group enjoys games and a hot meal provided by chef Charley Griffin.
A recent activity saw them working with Dundee-based artist Louise Kirby, who previously taught learners pursuing the charity’s Kindred Clothing garment-making qualification.
Louise, who has transformed many local public spaces through art, said, “We worked around the charity’s themes of aspiration and hope, from what adventures they’d love to go on to what they’d like to do when they’re older. It was lovely to see them all collaborating and having fun with their ideas.
“We then used different techniques to engage them, from painting and mark-making to mood boards and looking at shapes, but all driven by their interests and imaginations, whether it’s space, palm trees, racing cars or lions! For those who couldn’t attend in person, we got them involved through worksheets to enjoy at home. It was amazing to see their imaginations come to life. In the process, we’ve transformed a patch of the Hilltown for the wider community to enjoy.”
Chika Inatimi, Project Leader, Front Lounge, said, “For over 20 years, our premises have stood as a white building, until now. Having local children support the transformation with vibrant colour has been significant, instilling a deep sense of pride in everyone who uses the space. It now mirrors the energy and spirit of Front Lounge, and marks a bold step forward as we evolve into a dedicated learning centre. Most importantly, this transformation has changed how the wider community sees and engages with the building, helping to make Hilltown a more vibrant place to live, work, and connect.”
Front Lounge Development Worker and mum-of-two Amy Deans added, “Too many children are missing out on the social aspects of life. Some families can’t afford to send their children to activities and clubs, while others may feel anxious and lack confidence.
“We know through many other projects we run that isolation can lead to poor mental health so we wanted to do something to offset this before these children get any older. As we often do at Front Lounge, we turned to creativity, which has an amazing power to change lives and build confidence. The charity’s motto is Life is Big: Be All You Can Be, and that thinking has come through loud and clear on our new windows!”
Louise Kirby is a visual artist and designer who enhances experiences and placemaking to support positive wellbeing. Her designs have a range of applications, from applied artwork to colourful pocket parks, colourful crossings and ground graphics, decorative steel gates, interior and exterior environmental graphics, and murals. Her artwork brings joy to site-specific places within the public realm.
To discover more about Front Lounge activities, visit www.frontlounge.org
ENDS
Images – Grant Keelan, PPG Photography