YOUNG artists from Lewisham and Greenwich will get another opportunity to demonstrate their skills in the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival. If you live in Greenwich or Lewisham, are between 16 and 23, unemployed and not in full-time education, then you need to apply now for The Gallery 37 programme.

Sponsored by Woolwich Development Agency, it's a jobs initiative designed to help young people interested in arts. This year, about 100 talented people, aged between 16 and 23, are expected to take part. The selected apprentices will be employed for 25 hours a week, from June 10 to July 22, under the supervision of professional artists and arts organisations at the Royal Arsenal site in Woolwich.

Gallery 37 was launched in 1996 and proved, in its first two years, to be an important stepping stone for young artists, leading them to further education, arts-related jobs or training. This year, training programmes will include poetry, photojournalism, production of websites, 3D design and more.

Michael Aldridge, 20, from Lee Green, took part in the project last year. After completing a course with the Royal Navy he has obtained a place at university to do a degree in 3D design. "I was sure I wanted to go into something artistic rather than office work," he said. "It was great that someone recognised what I could do and was prepared to give me a chance to do it. I am now the first in my family to go to university," he added. The public will be able to buy the artists' work and watch them in action, between 10am and 4pm weekdays from June 10 to 22. Call 0181 305 1166 to apply.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.