An art project is being used to encourage children who have dropped out of the formal education system to return to full-time learning.

The City Spaces scheme was set up by Fusion, a community arts agency, based in Cowley Road, Oxford, and Flex, an organisation which supports young people who are not in the formal schooling system.

Six Flex students were teamed up with graduates from St John's College, who have become mentors. Together they have taken a series of about 2,000 photographs depicting life in Oxford as they see it, over six weeks.

About 20 photos, mostly black and white prints, have been picked for an exhibition and are now on show at Modern Art Oxford, until July 13.

City Spaces was a pilot project devised by Fusion, a charity which has for more than 10 years worked to get people from diverse backgrounds involved in the arts in Oxford.

It forms part of Fusion's "DiverCITY" programme to unite people from different social groups in creative ventures, to celebrate Oxford's diverse community.

The photos on show at Modern Art Oxford in Pembroke Street will also be published in the 2003/4 edition of the 'Survival Guide for Young People in Oxfordshire' booklet, due out in September.

Tara Stewart, Fusion's artistic director said: "The idea was to match Flex students' graduate mentors with a professional community artist, Ann Rapstoff, to lead them. "Together they would share their individual perspectives of Oxford with young people from the city through photography.

"We believe the arts enable communities to explore issues, communicate ideas and celebrate their identity, offer opportunities for self expression and skills development and contribute to personal, social and economic growth."