Young artists involved in mural

PHOTO: JULES CHIN
PHOTO: JULES CHIN
North Otago Youth Centre manager Amanda Acheson (left) with Oamaru based youth, Caleb McCauley, 12, Lee Genet, 17, and Dunedin street artist Claire Rye, stand proudly in front of the beginnings of a new community mural.

The mural is being painted on to a wall at old Joe’s Vegie building by the Youth Centre.

Mrs Acheson said there was "great support" from the community to her call out for a home for the mural.

She said the project was about getting young people to be creative by using their skills to help design and paint the mural, but with adult supervision.

A small group of 15 to 20 year olds was involved in creating the design. Mrs Acheson said it would represent them and the Waitaki District.

"They’re great young people."

Ms Rye, also an art therapist and youth worker, who Mrs Acheson has known for 10 years, was asked to help the group paint a new mural, after being involved in a successful project in Oamaru three years ago, where she helped complete a mural by Oamaru Eyecare.