Exhibition: Every child has a voice

Every Child has a Voice is a project by Soundart Radio that invites all young people to broadcast. Over the last year, Shelley Hodgson and Lucinda Guy have visited reception classes in local primary schools where children have recorded the sounds of their immediate environments. Through creating charcoal self portraits, each child begins to tell their story, and through creating a map of their school they consider their place their expanding worlds.

Handing over sound recorders to young children to explore their playgrounds and nature areas with results in a wealth of radio content – sounds of water, trees, footsteps. Close up textures and big outdoor spaces. Surprisingly weird jokes and vocal sounds. They tell us about the dens they build, their friendships and what they are learning.

This exhibition showcases some of the audio and visual work they have produced, and also introduces young children and their families to concepts of community owned media, the electromagnetic spectrum and the importance of being heard and listened to.

Every Child has a Voice is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and by the Ragdoll Foundation. The Ragdoll Foundation was established in 2000 by Anne and Barrie Wood, supported by Ragdoll Productions.  It is dedicated to supporting the creation, appreciation and awareness of imaginative and innovative content that reflects the world from a child’s point of view.