Youth Arts
We deliver a programme of youth arts in East Cambridgeshire with a range of organisational partners. Our projects focus on providing opportunities for ages 8-18 to become directly involved in artistic creation, particularly with children and young people who are hard to reach or who have reduced access to the arts. Delivered by professional artists, using theatre, dance & music, visual arts, film & new technologies we challenge young people to participate, create, enjoy and achieve in the arts. Our projects are funded through project grants.
Since 2009 ADeC (Arts Development East Cambridgeshire) has developed and delivered a creative arts programme across Huntingdonshire in partnership with Cambridge County Council Office of Children and Young People Services. So far delivered 149 workshops and have involved more than 500 young people. ADeC is now working closely in Yaxley, Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots. This funding has allowed us to bring in professional arts practitioners to deliver creative projects, allowing arts practitioner to share their skills and work alongside the young people.
As part of the programme ADeC has been training and supporting Youth Workers as Arts Award Advisers. 21 locality youth workers have been trained as Arts Award advisers and 34 young people have achieved their Bronze and Silver Arts Award. The Arts Award is a nationally recognised qualification. Through the Arts Award young people aged 11-25 can explore any of the art forms including performing arts, visual arts, literature, media and multimedia. The award builds confidence, helps young people to enjoy cultural activities, and prepares them for further education or employment.
Summer 2011 has been busy with workshops ranging from Street dance to graphic design to photography. The St Ives worked with 15 young people to complete their bronze Arts Award in a week. This was a huge challenge but also a great success story. Working with a professional graphic designer Yaxley have redesigned their youth club posters for the new term. St Neots were lucky enough to work with a professional photographer to learn how to document their skate part event. Huntingdon spent a week learning the latest street dance moves and put a performance on to the rest of the group at the end of Fusion.
ADeC looks forward to working with these localities over the next few months, and helping them plan and coordinate their future projects.
Alongside these workshops ADeC has trained 21 youth workers as Arts Award Advisers. All centres now have many young people signed up and taking part in their Arts Award. 34 young people so far have successful achieved a Bronze or Silver Award. This is a huge achievement.
'I have always in one way or another been involved in arts based work with in my youth career, but even more so during my time in St Ives. Arts Award was something I knew little about, but after training to be a qualified Arts Award advisor and subsequently taking over and running the Arts Award sessions I knew a lot more. ADeC have been a brilliant partner to work with during my time in St Ives, very supportive and willing to help or answer questions at any time. One of the most successful projects, I had the pleasure of working on with my Arts Award young people came about after a recommendation from ADeC.
With ADeC's support through their financial backing and involvement in the Arts Award in St Ives, I have worked on inspiring music projects and supported many young people to complete their Bronze and Silver Arts Awards. ADeC's support has played a large part in the success of the arts projects I have worked on.' Daniel Keen – Youth Worker.
Babylon Gallery