Together with our partners at Edinburgh Young Carers, Collective took part in UNCON 3.0 on 29-30 January 2021. UNCON is an event, held every two years, to showcase and celebrate the best of youth arts in Scotland. Designed and produced by young people for young people, this year’s UNCON will take place virtually, reflecting on the impacts of COVID-19 on children and young peoples’ lives and creativity.
At UNCON we presented MAKE/BELIEVE: a creative manifesto, produced by Collective, Edinburgh Young Carers and artist Khadea Kuchenmeister, which explores children and young peoples’ individual experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. Working remotely, a group of young carers took part in a mail art exchange, using packs of art materials provided by Collective to make varied and personal responses to postal prompts and creative challenges. MAKE/BELIEVE represents a spectrum of hopes, fears, reflections and ideas: from feelings of isolation and worry, to hopeful visions of the future.
A PDF version of the MAKE/BELIEVE manifesto can be viewed here.
On Saturday 30 January 2021, artist Khadea Kuchenmeister discussed the work along with a panel of representatives from each of the participating organisations.
Find information on the full virtual UNCON 3.0 programme here.
Khadea Kuchenmeister is an artist and Producer based in Edinburgh. She graduated from Edinburgh College's Contemporary Art Practice course in 2019, and has since worked on a number of projects with communities that explore oral histories and embodied knowledge. Since February 2020, Khadea has been a member of the committee at Rhubaba Gallery and Studios, working collaboratively on new programme including ...from tomorrow's yesterdays and Rhubaba's Podcast series.
Edinburgh Young Carers is a voluntary organisation that provides respite and support to young people between the ages of 5 and 25 who care for somebody at home. We aim to improve the lives and wellbeing of young carers by raising awareness, offering emotional and practical support and by giving each young person the opportunity to take a break from their caring role and have fun in a friendly, supportive environment where they can be themselves and leave worries behind.
UNCON is organised by Time to Shine and Creative Scotland.