COMMUNITY arts projects in Droitwich Spa are being put in the shop window.

Thanks to funding from the Droitwich Spa Area Partnership and Wychavon District Council, arts workshops have been taking place at Droitwich’s youth clubs in connection with the Art in Empty Shops project.

Droitwich Spa Youth Zone, Westlands Youth Club, Droitwich Youth House and Fernhill Heath have been visited by artist Sarah Edwards. Together they have created some great work, which will be part of the second phase of the exhibitions in empty shops.

The next round of exhibitions has started and will be running until August 2.

Dodderhill School is now exhibiting some of its GCSE students’ work and textiles.

Westland’s Youth Club’s project will follow on from this and Sarah James, poet and artist, will also exhibit her work.

All of the exhibitions can be found at the old Beaubelles shop in St Andrew’s Square shopping centre.

Wychavon District Council, For Droitwich Spa, Droitwich Arts Network, St Andrew’s Square shopping centre and Droitwich Spa Area Partnership have worked together to make the scheme happen.

The partnership wants to raise the profile of the arts in Droitwich and educate children and young people at the same time through the workshops.

It also wants to enliven the town, particularly in these hard economic times, and make Droitwich Spa more attractive.

The council wants to know what residents think about the workshops, exhibitions and this project. People are asked to get in touch and give feedback through the Wychavon District Council community development blog at wdccommdev. blogspot.com.

Jenny Davis, arts development officer, said: “There are not enough opportunities for young people to get involved in arts activities outside of school, so the workshops for this project have been a great bonus to the regular youth club sessions which are already happening.

“I am looking forward to seeing the artwork that they have done as it is pulled together for their exhibition in the empty shop.

“The interest in the exhibitions so far has been great from the public, so I hope what is on offer this time is equally well received.”

The council is also looking for artists who would like to get involved in the organisation of the exhibitions.

Anyone interested should contact Jenny Davis on 01386 565396 or e-mail jenny.davis @wychavon.gov.uk