Gallery TS1 is open for business again between 5th and 16th February – this time offering unique hand-made gifts with a Valentine’s theme.
Gallery TS1 Middlesbrough is a pioneering Creative Apprenticeship Scheme for young people not in education, employment or training. Modelled on a programme initially developed in Chicago and Birmingham, Middlesbrough Council have worked in partnership with Tees Valley Arts in order that the programme can expand its remarkable success in turning around young people’s lives.
Based in a commercial shop/gallery space with workshop facilities, Gallery TS1 offers 12 young people the opportunity to work with three professional artists, Adrian Moule, Kim Thomson and Amy Readman, to create high quality, saleable products, and then sell them to the public.
Gallery TS1 also works in association with Trinity Guildhall and the Young People’s Arts Award .
Based at 57 Corporation Road, Gallery TS1 targets hard-to-reach groups of young people who have been referred by agencies such as Connexions, Youth Justice, Youth Psychiatric Services, Teenage Pregnancy Support and the Safer Middlesbrough Partnership.
Gallery TS1 has worked with around 250 young people, previously disengaged from education and training, with over 90% of them going on to college or further vocational training. The scheme is funded through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund Middlesbrough Partnership and is one of the most successful projects of its kind.
Rowena Sommerville, Director of Programmes at Tees Valley Arts said “it’s really exciting to see how well the Gallery is doing in terms of the effect on young people’s lives. To see trainees go on to bigger and better things is absolutely fantastic. For many, this is their first opportunity to show what a positive contribution they can make to their town and we should be shouting from the roof tops about their talents and commitment”.
Gallery will re-open for two weeks, Tuesday 5thth Feb – Sat 16th Feb, 10am – 4pm, Closed on Sundays and Mondays. (57 Corporation Road, opposite Middlesbrough Empire)