Matthew Rosenberg
Artform: Photography, Graphic Design and, increasingly, film.
How did you get started? I got interested in photography as a teenager and joined a local camera club that had a darkroom. When I started doing youth work I began taking groups out to photograph as well as teaching darkroom skills.
What is your favourite part of working with schools and young people? That moment when a facial expression changes from consternation to delight as a person realises they can do something.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you during a project? Four years ago I was doing a photography project at a youth centre and thought I'd introduce the subject with a fascinating talk comparing and contrasting the camera with the eye. I did lots or preparation but after five minutes I looked out at a sea of blank expressions and quickly decided to move on. Once I was out photographing with some children and went to casually hop up onto a low wall but caught my foot and somersaulted landing on the top of my head. Perhaps that was more painful than embarrassing.
How do you begin to come up with new ideas for projects? It's either a response to a request, or I am inspired by something I read or hear about. Discussing ideas with fellow d-w workers.
What do you do in your spare time to relax and have fun? I am taking classical guitar classes and am preparing for my first, very low level concert. Strolling around the British Museum with my son.
What advice would you give to new artists wanting to start out? Try to go along and observe some projects in action, and try working with different age groups.
What was the most successful project you have been involved with? I worked on a project teaching students about design and having them do 'real' work for clients. Most of these students were compelled to do courses in order to receive benefits and had been doing IT which had not inspired them and the project offered them skills and responsibility and many really took to it. I still frequently hear from ex-students who went on to study design at university.
Any tips for other artists about working with schools? Make sure the teachers/youth workers are really into the project.