Quality standards offer new opportunities for community and participatory arts organisation and arts development agencies Event: Shine – an event to launch new training methodologies and materials and a series of showcasesby project trainees Date: 10 October 2011 Venue: Interchange Studios, Hampstead Town Hall Centre 213 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 4QP,United Kingdom – phone 020 7692 5800 Time: 3:45pm to 5:45pm – speechesat 5:00 pm
Two of the most respected arts development agencies in London are coming together to share their new training resources targeted at practitioners and organisations using creative approaches to delivering informal learning. Manoj Ambasna, Chief Executive of Collage Arts, said: “Our two programmes dovetail to give arts organisations a quality assurance framework and learning outcomes that can be validated and which are especially suited to reengage disaffected and disengaged young people.” Why is this important? There are new opportunities opening up for the delivery of education and learning. However, community arts and cultural enterprise agencies are not necessary convincing commissioners that the opportunities they provide can deliver validated outputs or that the work get disaffected learners back into meaningful work. So these toolkits and our research findings aim to support the sector in making the caseto open up or safeguard contracts and funding for using creative approaches to reengage young people. Manoj continued: “Between us WACand Collage Arts have nearly 60 years experience of working providing learning opportunities for young people. We have drawn on this expertise to create a toolkit for using the arts to deliver transferable skills. But in the sister project EUROAspire we have created a framework which looks at the skill levels of trainers as they progressthrough their careers. This work pushes the informal learning sector towards new levels of professionalism which we hope will make us attractive to new funders. The recent riots and the successive failure to make headway with the 10%of young people not in education, employment or training – mean that new approaches are needed to engageyoung people in learning and give them the foundations for their future careers.” Celia Greenwood, Chief Executive of WACPerforming Arts and Media College, said: “WAC Performing Arts and Media College and Collage Arts have been very successful in developing artists and alumni include Dappy, Miss Dynamite, Che Walker, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Labrinth. Additionally many hundreds of young people have gone on to work in the arts sector in some capacity. But many more have used the skills they have developed at WACand Collage to make themselves employable.” Despite the economic situation, WACand Collage are recruiting 310 trainees for their upcoming programmes. Celia Continued: “it is essential that we can continue to use the skills we have to help make young people employable and fulfilled in their lives. I am immensely proud of our record and that we already have 310 quality training opportunities for young people – who, provided they work hard, will leave us with the skills that will help them build their careers. However we have the capacity to work with so many more young people and to do so in a way which is very cost effective. We will be seeking further funding and developing new partnerships to continue to expand our training offer to young people.”
170 Creative Apprenticeship places Age range: 16-18 and 19+ Location: Across London Free training + wages The Advanced Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media is a Level 3 qualification designed to give participants the skills, know-how, contacts and experience in technical theatre, film and media, music marketing and events promotions, community arts, working in an arts venue or museum. Mentors will also help the trainees to find work so that you can apply your training to a real work place situation. Next programme runs from October 2011 Contact: Nathan Greenwood on nathan@collage-arts.org or call 020 8829 8900
20 places on 3-year Musical Theatre Diploma Age range: 18 + Location: WAC– Belsize Park London Feepaying This three-year, full-time, vocational training course prepares young people to work as performers. It covers traditional, classical and contemporary training in dance, drama and singing: uniquely equal status is given to non-western art forms. This helps to maximum employability across stage, TV and film. The diploma is Level 6 (degree equivalent). Feesare £9,000per year (International student £12,000). Bursaries and means-tested scholarships are available. Next programme runs from September 2011. Contact: Steve Medlin on 020 7692 5872 or email steve@wac.co.uk
50 places on ARCO+ Age: 16-22
Location: WAC– Belsize Park London
Free training – but you need to be able to support yourself ARCOPlus is designed to provide young people with foundation skills in performing arts and media and a supportive environment to work towards the qualifications. Three subjects are selected from drama, digital design, music production, singing/vocals and video production. ARCOPlus is 15 hours per week between Monday and Friday. Accreditation is at Level 1 or Level 2. After the training young people are helped into full-time further education, training or employment. The next programme runs from November 2011 to May 2012. Contact: Camille Curtis, on 020 7692 5876 or camille@wac.co.uk
40 places on Making Music Work Age: 14-19 NEET Location: Chocolate Factory – Wood Green London Free training – but you need to be able to support yourself Making Music Work will give young people the opportunity to perform or produce music and develop their communication skills. They will also complete a project using all their new skills and work towards a qualification at levels 1 or 2. The programme offers you life skills support and an opportunity for personal development through music with one to one help to get young people back in education, employment or training that suits them.
Next programme runs from January 2012 (two days a week) Contact: Nathan Greenwood on nathan@collage-arts.org or call 020 8829 8900
30 places on Commercial Music and Media Age: 18+ Location: Chocolate Factory – Wood Green London Free training – but you need to be able to support yourself The Commercial Music and Media Programme is for anyone over the age of 18. It is a dynamic learner experience of seminars, workshops and master classesto help learners to develop as a musician or music entrepreneur. It will widen thier skills and knowledge of businessplanning, media and marketing, legal affairs, artist management, event planning and music technology. The commitment is 12 hours per week for 30 weeks. Accreditation is available at Level 3. A distance learning option is available for people who can’t always attend the course in Wood Green. Next programme runs from January 2012 Contact: Nathan Greenwood on nathan@collage-arts.org or call 020 8829 8900