The 'Family Futures' programme is a community-based visual art project involving children, young people and parents. The pilot, which ran from April to June this year, covered the Estover and HOPES (Manadon, Pennycross, Knowle and Shakespeare Primary Schools) areas of Plymouth. 'Family Futures' offered a series of weekly, after-school art sessions with local artists, enabling participants to create artwork including mosaics, sculptures, Chinese brush paintings, Batik silk banners and tribal masks. Parents were encouraged to work with their children to discuss ideas, based around the theme of Past and Present (linking to the British Art Show 7), including the parents' past and present aspirations.

Funded by AimHiger, the project was supported by a team of student ambassadors from UCP Marjon, University of Plymouth and Plymouth College of Art. A celebration event was held at UCP Marjon at the end of the project which showcased the work created.

The sessions were a great success and we are currently applying for funding to develop the 'Family Futures' programme in other communities, working closely with schools, colleges and families.