Headspace Tamworth has celebrated its fifth birthday by opening a new art gallery for young people.
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Staff put out the call for works about three months ago and have been inundated with art of various mediums.
“The reaction of the youth in Tamworth has been great,” youth and community engagement officer Avril Oakley-Hollow said.
“They have gotten on board with the project and provided some fabulous artwork, from paintings and drawings to photographs.”
Young people and service providers turned up to help headspace celebrate on Wednesday.
“It was a fabulous night and everyone commented on how great it was to see the talent in the artwork displayed,” centre manager Linden Ross said.
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The small-space vertical gallery is for young people aged 12-25 years to display their art up to A3 in size.
The artists do not need to be receiving help from headspace to display their talents, but headspace’s youth care co-ordinators are encouraging young people in therapy to produce works.
The exhibitions will change when there is enough to replace what is currently exhibited.
The gallery will remain a permanent part of headspace Tamworth and has been funded through donations received during 2017.
From the beginning
Headspace Tamworth has helped young people thousands of times since it opened its doors in February 2013, spokesman Fergus Fitzsimons said.
The early intervention service is for young people aged 12-25 who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms that are affecting the quality of their lives.
It is operated by Centacare New England North West and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health.
Mr Fitzsimons, Centacare NENW’s chief executive officer, said headspace staff held 4011 sessions with young people during the 2017 financial year, and just under 12,000 sessions in the three years to June 30, 2017.
Mr Fitzsimons said headspace Tamworth remained as valuable today as it was in 2013.
“We’re proud to remain lead agency for headspace Tamworth and contributing to the empowerment of young people in our community,” he said.