A series of creative workshops with Upper Clutha youth will help inform the design of a mural set to be painted at the new Kahu Youth space at Paetara Aspiring Central in May.

Local artist Chrissy Wickes - who has created murals at the Dinosaur Park, Wānaka Primary School and other Upper Clutha locations - has been employed by the Upper Clutha Youth Council to host the workshops and lead the mural project.

Kahu Youth Trust volunteer manager Joanna Lewis said its benefits would be two-fold: both helping transform the new space and bolstering Upper Clutha Youth Council numbers.

“We are waiting for a total refit - we still have a bare space at the moment,” Joanna told the Wānaka App.

She said concept plans for Kahu Youth’s new space have been drawn up and contractors have been approached but there is still lots of work to do to complete it.

The mural, which will run the length of one interior wall, will go a long way in bringing the space to life.

Joanna said the Upper Clutha Youth Council - which is mentored by Kahu Youth - received funding support for the mural from the Otago Community Trust Rangitahi Led Fund. 

“We are in the process of building our numbers at the moment and hoping the mural project will be a good way of finding some new members who really want to see [the] youth voice represented in the community,” Joanna said.

The project was launched with a focus group meeting late last month that included councillor Cody Tucker, Wai Wānaka’s Eva Fernandez, Community Network/LINK’s Yvonne Walker, Wild Self’s Sonya Waters and Kahu Youth Māori representative Imogen Smith.

Upper Clutha Youth Council and Kahu Youth also displayed a selection of Chrissy’s work and photos of the space at the Wānaka A&P Show.

“We have had good interest so far,” Joanna said. “The more times we can put it in front of people, the better the response will be in the end I think.”

Upper Clutha youth are encouraged to attend the upcoming mural workshops.

They will take place on March 27, April 10, April 29, May 5 and May 13, all at Paetara Aspiring Central from 3.30pm-5.30pm.

Joanna said the mural will be painted on May 20.

PHOTO: Supplied