We joined the Equality Alliance at Hazlehead Academy for a 6-week long series of workshops exploring Art and Activism for LGBT History Month 2022.

We started by looking at art, and street art specifically, as a mode of activism. How is art used in activism? What sort of messages are shared through art? How does the LGBT community use art and street art to promote equality?

Our project started with posters to form our paste-up walls. We got permission from the school to use two walls on the stairwells and the pupils got stuck in creating posters which would promote equality and form a welcoming message to LGBTQ+ pupils.

We then started work on our spraypaint technique and design with a 45 minute practise session scribbling on the wall which would become the site of the final mural

The final piece was inspired by sketches by the members of the alliance and they chose the colours, layout, and phrasing. We used characters from TV and icons from their sketches to decorate the edges of the piece.

Throughout the day approx. 10 pupils were able to take part and each had a hand in a different part of the wall – from the rainbow drop shadow to the gaylien!

We were super glad to be joined by Kevin from POST ABDN who came and filmed the process for us.