BALTIC has taken up Ctrl.Alt.Shifts call to action to fight against poverty and injustice, to stimulate engagement with passionate young people. Ctrl.Alt.Shift, a youth initiative is jointly hosting with BALTIC, a unique contemporary art project based on the theme of conflict.

12 students and recent graduates from Newcastle University's LifeWorkArt programme have embarked on a 5 month project working with high-profile artists and emerging talent from the contemporary art scene. Through workshops, seminars and specialist talks they have gained insight into extreme conflict in Colombia and begun a creative journey which will produce a challenging new exhibition at BALTIC from 13 March 2009 for six weeks.

The exhibition will encompass two floors of the building and will not only feature the work produced by the students, but also specially commissioned works from south London photo-artist Matthew Stone and installation artist Graham Hudson, who are acting as project mentors. Urban sculptor and photographer T-Magic, street artist Benjamin Wachenje and BALTIC freelance artists, Alison Unsworth and Paul Merrick complete the line up, to support the young people with their installation and creative display. We are also delighted to have a recent exhibitor at BALTIC, the renowned UK artist David Shrigley on board, as Creative Ambassador for the project.

Ctrl.Alt.Shift raises awareness amongst young people of global issues, and encourages them to voice their feelings and work to bring about change. They are passionate about providing a voice for the silent majority, and believe it is their responsibility to tell the real story of our times.

Through the mediums of photography, films, stories, illustration and music they educate, empower and engage the next generation in issues of global development. By harnessing contemporary youth culture, Ctrl.Alt.Shift hope to force change where it's needed most and to give young people the voice they deserve.

BALTIC and Ctrl.Alt.Shift want you to get involved. You are invited to enter an exciting competition and create your own art work inspired by the major global issue of conflict. Winning works will be showcased on BALTIC's website and Quay TV, within Quay - BALTIC's drop-in home for learning, as well as being published in the Ctrl.Alt.Shift magazine.

This is a fantastic chance to have your work shown in a national contemporary art gallery. To enter, you must create an art work based around the theme of conflict and upload an image of your creation to the Ctrl.Alt.Shift website. Closing date for entries is 1 March 2009. Full details of the brief and rules, as well as more information about the project, can be found by visiting www.ctrlaltshift.co.uk/baltic

For further information about Ctrl.Alt.Shift , their other projects and how to get involved yourself, visit their website www.ctrlaltshift.co.uk

Watch the Ctrl.Alt.Shift BALTIC video podcast