Our Credentials

Gabi Harris Statement and approach to community engagement

I aim to integrate artistic skills with community activity. I source ideas from cultures, beliefs, themes in visual format for inspiration for my murals. I also aim to bridge the gap between art as luxury and art as necessity. I believe everyone is essentially creative and can benefit from the use of colours and mark making. My workshops engage, bring community groups together, and address issues in an environment of acceptance and support. My workshops are educational, healing, enjoyable, fun and great as a team building exercise to create a large scale mural and public art work.

Awards

Youth and Community Arts Work

2007 March
Leeds College of Music Raising Attainment through the visual arts project -Saint Marys Catholic School, Huddersfield, Mural stage backdrop project collaborating with dancer and musician for a final school stage show
2007 April
East Garforth School Mural project with young people
2007 January
Spring bank Primary School Arts projects to create mural using wooden panels to display in main hall
2006-2007
Royds International School Commissioned to complete mural to display in main entrance hall
2006
Harewood House mural projects in schools working funded by heritage fund to address issues around racism
2006
I Love South Leeds, Leeds Learning and Leisure, Art and illustration workshops with young people
September 2005
Chapel Allerton Arts Festival
Stage Backdrop mural project with young people
August 2005
Bradford Youth Offending Team
Facilitated Graffiti/mural project with young offenders as part of regeneration scheme in Bradford mural displayed in town centre
September 2005
Artsplan National Youth Arts Agency, Southampton
Facilitated Training day in Birmingham with health professionals
September - October 2005
Harewood House, Harewood, YorkshireMural/graffiti Project for primary, secondary, 6th form school pupils
August 2005
Ryedale Youth Service, North Yorkshire
Graffiti skateboard project and early years play scheme
August 2005 - January 2006
Leeds General Infirmary Hospital, Leeds
Arts and Crafts on hospital wards working with creative writer to produce art and craftwork based on memories, words and images
August - July 2005
Seacroft hospital, Renal Ward, Leeds
Cartooning project with Renal Ward patients designing and planning a mural looking at illustration and cartooning techniques to cheer and inspire
June - July 2005
East Thorpe Visual Arts, Huddersfield
Mural and Graffiti workshops with disadvantaged youth groups 8-16 years
June 2005
Breeze Leeds City Council, Learning and Leisure
International Youth Arts Festival, Illustration/mural workshop for 100 international students
June 2005
Arts Festival, City Council, Liverpool
Workshops with 300 pupils to create various themed murals to be displayed at arts exhibition
June 2005
North Yorkshire County Council, Connecting Youth Culture, Youth Arts Festival, Harrogate
Mural/Graffiti project
March 2005
North Yorkshire County Council, Connecting Youth Culture, North Allerton Young Offenders Prison
Spray can arts project in prison setting with 20 young offenders.
October 2004 - 2005
Ripple Drug Addiction Unit, Bradford
Art therapist and creative writer at rehabilitation clinic. Compiled, researched, edited book consisting of client's creative writing and art work.
Oct - Nov 2004
Community Action against Crime, Leeds
Graffiti Project, Chapletown Youth Centre, Leeds.
June - July 04
Eastside Educational Trust, London
Graffiti/Spray Arts Project with alongside Connections
July 04
St Wilfred's High School, Pontefract
Graffiti Arts Project with 25 pupils, 11-14 years old
June 04
National Gallery London/ Woodlands Primary, Leeds
Mural project competition for National Gallery
June 04
Hunslet Moor Youth Centre, Leeds Graffiti Wall
June 04
Paddock Youth Centre, Huddersfield
In partnership with East Thorpe Visual Arts- Mural project part of summer school
April 04
Leeds City Council, Dewsbury Road, Leeds
Library Stained Glass Window, Art workshops with local school designing and making a stained glass window for local library
April 04
Leeds City Council, 'Be safe in your Community'
South Leeds Stadium, Be safe in your community project, using art to explore issues around safety
April - September 04
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
'Hay Days' Arts project for over 55's drawing and mark making group.
February 2004
Learning and Leisure, Leeds City Council
Art workshop with young offenders
February 2004
Leeds Youth Offending Team
Lead Artist Graffiti & Murals with young offenders to build their social skills & prevent re-offending
January 2004 - March 2004
Leeds City Council, Youth Service
Interior design project in neighbourhood estate setting - young people excluded from school
Jan - March 2003
Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield
Assistant Facilitator - Full Body and the Voice Theatre Company -individuals with learning difficulties, autism & special needs
March 2003
Spring Arts Project, Leeds Town Hall
Lead Artist. Worked - special needs, learning difficulties and disabilities using arts and crafts
2001 - 2003
The Zone Youth Centre, Leeds
Arts Co-ordinator- coordinated arts events & sessions

Editorial & Research Work

2001
Reuters News Agency, London
Researcher, editor on Reuter's intranet internal website
2001
Teletex, London
Researcher, editor for Teletex
1999 - 2001
IPC Magazines, South-bank, London
Researcher, Sub-Editor, Writer, Editors Assistant for Horse and Hound, Country life, TV Times, Marie Claire: Websites and Magazines. Proof reading, picture research, attended press briefings/ launches, wrote reviews, researched articles, managed office, trained staff.