The month of March sees the launch of the ‘I Spy Joy Photography Project’ digital exhibition, which is a partnership between South Perth Youth Services (Perth & Kinross Council) and ‘Focus on Youth’ from Portland, Oregon, USA. The full digital photography display is being shown in a variety of venues including various local secondary schools and campuses, Pullar House and Youth Services City Base. A selection of the images also feature on the ‘Education and Learning’ section of the Perth and Kinross Council website at:

http://www.pkc.gov.uk/Education+and+learning/Support+for+young+people+-+activities+and+advice/Youth+Photography+Project.htm

The phrase ‘I Spy Joy’ was used as a theme for this project to encourage young people to think about positive things in their life. This could relate to positive things they have seen, things they have or to the perceived joy for the potential viewers of their photographs. Photography workshops for the project in Perth took place in a variety of different venues, including Glenearn Community Campus, Perth High School and Fairview School. Sarah Coutts, one of the Perth photographers has commented “Entering my photos for the display has been great. It’s been a huge confidence boost…it’s been great for pushing myself to do new things and improve my photography skills”.

Gary Brown, Youth Services Community Learning and Development Worker for South Perth says “This project has been a great way for young people to express themselves through photography and have an opportunity to be part of an exhibition with peers from the United States.” Donna Lee Holmes, Executive Director of Focus on Youth says “Focus on Youth is delighted to be partnering with young people in Scotland for ‘I Spy Joy’, a collaborative photography project where students from both countries are able to share the beauty they seen through photography”.

Focus on Youth is partnering with Metro East Community Media to present a 30 show featuring our students, mentors and their exquisite images.

Watch for Focus on Youth on February 21, 2011 at 4:30 PM on Channel 11.  This 30 minute show features Focus on Youth students, Roman, Eric, Carlos and Enrique and their exquisite photos.  Focus on Youth Director Donna Lee Holmes and mentors Gary Wilson and Ilona La Rue also share their experience in working with these amazing young people.

Focus on Youth is partnering with KBOO radio….see live interviews with youth photographers and their images on the KBOO website at www.kboo.org

http://kboo.fm/node/24326