Birmingham Youth Arts Summit

Overview

Birmingham City Council’s Culture Commissioning Service plans to revisit its strategy for arts & young people ‘A Creative Future’ and wishes to hear, directly from young people, views on where support is most needed.

An event has been developed and delivered in collaboration with a steering group of young people which aims to answer key questions about young people’s engagement with the arts, the roles they occupy and the opportunities for progression.

All primary and secondary schools in Birmingham, were invited to bring a group of young people aged between 7 and 16 years of age to the event to participate in creative consultation workshops with professional artists and arts organisations from across the city. They also had the opportunity to see the work of other young artists and performers throughout the day.

In the evening young adults aged 16+ were invited to attend ‘The Big Debate’ where they would enjoy entertainment, debate and discussion, alongside key decision makers from Birmingham’s cultural and education sectors. All those attending were encouraged to share their views, through discussion and a wide variety of media, on everything from access to arts in their local neighbourhoods to employment and training opportunities.

The Youth Arts Summit is underpinned by an on-going programme of consultation activity with a steering group of young adults as well as young people in a variety of community settings. This outreach programme is designed to reach those unable to participate in the event itself.

Youth Arts Summit Steering Group - taken 10th June 2013

Why your views matter

Birmingham City Council have organised this event to inform a revised Creative Futures Strategy advised by young people. Creative Futures is the arts and culture strategy for young people.

What happens next

Following the completion of consultation activity a full evaluation report will be compiled and the key findings and recommendations communicated to all those who participated. These key findings will directly influence decisions being made with regard to funding and support for arts and young people’s provision in the city. The third iteration of ‘A Creative Future’ strategy will be shared a widely as possible across the creative sector and those working with young people both within and beyond the formal education sectors.