The Rembrandt Photography Club - engaging our younger audiences

As National Treasures; Rembrandt in Brighton draws to a close, it’s an opportunity to reflect on an exhibition in which 14 local young people exhibit alongside an Old Master!

Rembrandt’s Self Portrait at the age of 34 came to Brighton Museum this summer, as part of the National Gallery’s Bicentenary National Treasures touring programme and provided the inspiration for an intensive photography club for a group of young people aged 13-16 years old.

It all started with a trip to the National Gallery. Photo: Melanie pollard

I’ve always wanted an excuse to start photography but never had a good one. This is what I was looking for and I’d love to keep it up and develop my photography skills

— Photography Club participant

This project, delivered in partnership with Photoworks, involved a series of practical workshops with award-winning photographer Alejandra Carles-Tolra, in which the young people explored the themes of identity, perception, and self-projection through time and space.

In the studio. Photo Alejandra Carles-Tolra — In the studio. Photo: Alejandra Carles-Tolra

It has been an incredible experience working with this group of young people and watching them develop as artists. But photography club is not just about taking pictures – it also aims to build young people’s confidence and give them access to new cultural opportunities and gain life skills and build friendships.

We received some lovely parent feedback about the impact this project has had.

My child learnt valuable lessons in resilience and gained confidence over the course. She learned technical knowledge re photography, camera use, composition & editing. She learnt that she is creative and capable and feels more confident about trying new skills and meeting people. She also gained confidence and knowledge of her local community and resources (i.e. Brighton Museum) and local geography/orientation due to traveling independently to the venue

— Participant’s parent/carer

Working together on their final self-portraits. Photo Alejandra Carles-Tolra — Working together on their final self-portraits. Photo: Alejandra Carles-Tolra

This was a great opportunity for my son who has a learning disability and has had a difficult childhood to take part in an inclusive learning environment, where he could learn a new skill too whilst exploring his own complex identity and history, as well as developing his independence and communication skills in a new setting

— Participant’s parent carer

Youth Engagement projects, like this one can have such a positive impact on a young person’s life, and highlight the role museums can play in engaging in our younger audiences in meaningful, relevant and surprising ways!

Thank you to everyone involved for making this happen.