A new after-school art club is inviting young people in Consett to look at their town’s industrial heritage with fresh eyes, a spray can’s confidence and a pop artist’s sense of fearlessness.
LOPLOW Returns with a Local Focus
STEEL & SURREAL is the latest programme from ImaginAble Me CIC, a Consett-based community interest company founded by Tracey Keers and Karen Jervis that describes itself as a creative sanctuary for young people aged 9 to 17 who feel misunderstood, are LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, or simply do not fit traditional moulds.
The programme is delivered under the LOPLOW banner, which stands for Loud on Paper, Loud on Walls. LOPLOW sessions use graffiti-inspired art, bold colour and fearless self-expression to help young people build confidence and a sense of belonging. Sessions are inclusive by design, welcoming LGBTQ+ participants, neurodivergent and SEND young people, home-educated learners, and those managing anxiety or mental health challenges.
Consett’s Past Through a Pop Art Lens
The four-session block runs on 5 March, 12 March, 19 March and 2 April, with no session on 26 March. Each week offers a distinct creative theme rooted in Consett’s history and character.
In the opening session, participants create pop-art interpretations of local icons, translating familiar landmarks into bold, graphic imagery. Week two turns to the steelworks era, with young artists experimenting with “red sky” compositions inspired by the glow that once lit Consett’s nights when the steel furnaces were at work. The third session reimagines Terris Novalis, the landmark pair of giant survey instruments installed on the former steelworks site by artist Tony Cragg, in surreal neon styles. The final session draws on the railways and industrial movement that shaped the region, with participants designing graphic artworks capturing the energy of industry in motion.
The block concludes with a celebratory showcase, giving participants the chance to see their completed work displayed with pride.
Heavily Subsidised Thanks to Project Genesis
Thanks to support from Project Genesis, the four-session block is available for just £10 in total, making it accessible to as many young people as possible. Spaces are limited and can be booked through the ImaginAble Me website.
Project Genesis is the long-running regeneration programme that has helped transform the former Consett steelworks site into a thriving residential and business area, having leveraged over £250 million of investment into the town.
More Than Art
ImaginAble Me was recognised as part of Karbon Homes’ community recognition programme in County Durham for the work it does with young people who often find mainstream settings difficult. For many participants, the sessions offer more than artistic skills. They provide confidence, connection and a sense of pride in where they come from.
By turning Consett’s industrial past into vivid, expressive artwork, STEEL & SURREAL asks young people to see their home town not simply as a place that lost its industry, but as a place with a story still being told, and one they are now helping to write.
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Wow this is great to see. Well done to all involved.