Rebecca Fraser’s six-week project to capture the imaginations of young children and their families in a housing estate in Tollcross, Glasgow, encouraging them outdoors to play, explore and connect with each other through the artworks they create.
Local, outdoor community space is more important than ever as families continue to spend more time at home, particularly for those who do not have access to their own garden.
Inspired by the discovery of a tiny fairy door made out of lollipop sticks on a tree near her home, local artist Rebecca Fraser has embarked on a six-week project to capture the imaginations of more young children and their families in a housing estate in Tollcross, Glasgow, encouraging them outdoors to play and explore and connect with each other through the artworks they create.
Supported through Starcatchers’ Big Inspirations, local families with babies and children 0-5 received a creative art pack every week containing an outdoor challenge and all the arts and craft materials they need to complete it.
Activities such as creating tiny clay pottery sculptures to leave as ‘gifts’ on walls, decorating trees and pavements and weaving ribbons onto railings all aim to motivate, excite and inspire families to be outdoors, spark conversation and create shared stories.
Rebecca hopes the community will connect with each other through the art that is being created, not just the children and families taking part but others, particularly older residents who have been isolated for so long.
“The inspiration for this project was a tiny fairy door made out of lollypop sticks, left on a tree near my home at the beginning of lockdown. As word got round others began to leave their own fairy doors. It brought joy for everyone and a sense of wonder for babies and young children. It also encouraged a playfulness between adults and children.
Move and Make builds on this with a series of weekly mini adventures and trails that I hope will really appeal to families with very young children and help encourage them to get out and about with their little ones more often.
“I hope to create a sense of intrigue, magic and inspire some fun and games, connecting families with their outdoor physical surroundings, with the history of our community, each other and also others in the community. There are a number of vulnerable or older residents who are self-isolating and love to see families playing outside. They feel as though It’s a gift for them.”
Associate Artist
Rebecca Fraser’s creative practice is rooted in the idea of positive placemaking – living and working purposefully within a specific neighbourhood alongside the people who live there.
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