2020 was a particularly challenging year for young people. We were delighted to bring small groups together within a youthwork guidance framework, rebuilding social connections in a dynamic and creative environment. If Streets Could Talk grew out of that work. In October, a small group joined writer Alan Bissett to explore what it meant to be a care-experienced young Scot in 2020.
The story behind If Streets Could Talk
The group spent time developing their thoughts and experiences into images. From there, they worked with street artist Marc Delaye of Fresh Paint to bring those ideas to life. Over two days, in driving rain and wind, the group and Marc painted a striking 10-metre mural together.
Rather than simply illustrating a brief, the mural became a way for the young people involved to tell their own stories in their own words. Each image on the wall reflects something personal: a memory, a feeling, or a hope for the future. As a result, the finished piece stands as a collective portrait of resilience, shaped entirely by the group who created it.
Projects like If Streets Could Talk sit alongside the wider community and charity murals Fresh Paint takes on across the Highlands, many of which use art as a way to support wellbeing and connection. For more information on support available to care-experienced young people in Scotland, Who Cares? Scotland offers advocacy, advice, and a range of youth work opportunities.