Creative Youth
Enabling young people to realise their potential through the arts.
Developing young people by equipping them with the skills and confidence to succeed in business and the arts.
Celebrating the achievements of young people in the arts worldwide during our International Youth Arts Festival
CREATIVE YOUTH is a charity born from The International Youth Arts Festival Kingston (IYAF) which was established in 2008 with the ambition to create a festival of national importance, showcasing youth arts (5-26yrs) of the highest quality. In just over four years, we have made considerable strides in achieving this goal. In late 2010, the charity changed its name to reflect the year-long programme of work we now undertake, culminating and celebrated in the annual International Youth Arts Festival Kingston. Creative Youth enables young people to realise their potential through the arts. We allow young people to be involved with innovative, original, ambitious projects and work with artists of the highest quality, often encouraging the artists themselves to take risks and push boundaries within their own work. In close collaboration with key partners, we mentor young individuals, entrepreneurs and organisations by providing artistic, business and strategic support, allowing the next generation of artists to flourish. We are very fortunate to enjoy the active involvement of our President, HRH the Earl of Wessex, as well as other influential figures.
“It is in these difficult times that great art is often produced. What you are doing in Kingston is unique, there is no other festival of its kind in the country and you should feel proud that it is taking place right here, in your town.” HRH The Earl of Wessex speaking at the Creative Youth From Amazon showcase at the Rose Theatre Our commitment is to ensure that young people, whatever their skills or backgrounds, are involved in highquality arts projects. As well as targeting some of the most vulnerable young people in our community, we also reach out to large and diverse audiences, as demonstrated by our commitment to using public spaces, street arts and digital technology, enabling us to reach new and untapped audiences.
Creative Youth (organisers of The International Youth Arts Festival Kingston) President: His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex KG GCVO Reg office: c/o Arts Office • Guildhall 2 • Kingston upon Thames • Surrey • KT1 1EU ‘Creative Youth’ A Company Registered in England and Wales no 06848384. Registered Charity No: 1132314 website www.creativeyouthcharity.org Tel: 0208 549 2120 Email: hello@creativeyouthcharity.org Donations can be made :- http://www.justgiving.com/iyafestival & http://localgiving.com/donation/creativeyouth
Central to our key priorities has been the creation of our Creative Talent programme. This involves working closely with key partners (e.g. Metrobank, Kingston College and Kingston University), to mentor young individuals, entrepreneurs and organisations by providing artistic, business and strategic support. This will allow the next generation of artists to flourish and develop into nationally important organisations. At a time when cuts to the arts are impacting on job opportunities for young people, and youth unemployment in the UK at 12.3% (against 4.9% for the rest of the working population), with more than a half million 16-24 year olds out of work. Our model is designed to create a generation of self-sufficient individuals and businesses in control of their own futures. We have a volunteering programme which has a core team of 50 volunteers, which can increase to over 160 during the festival period, who work on a multitude of projects. The majority of these volunteers had almost no experience of the arts when they began and, for many, it has been a life-changing experience. The charity is funded entirely by sponsorship, donations, grants and various fundraising events.
The establishment and growth of the organisation has been made possible thanks to ongoing support from Kingston Council, which grants use of the Rose Theatre, Kingston, under the New Deal programme and provides financial support. Contributions from Kingston University, Kingston College, the Mercers Foundation, the Foyle Foundation, Kingston Boys Club, The British Council, Outer London Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. Important partnerships both past and present with major businesses, notably Brighton Fringe, BT, Bentalls Kingston, HSBC, John Lewis Kingston, The Bentall Centre, Kingstonfirst, Air Charter Service and Canadian and Portland have consolidated this support. The Festival has made headline news for its ground-breaking approach to youth engagement, appearing as a feature on BBC TV Breakfast, fronted by the actor and Patron Tom Chambers. Other patrons include TV presenters Angellica Bell and Michael Underwood; award winning actors Tom Holland, Sheridan Smith and Matt Lucas who has hosted a fundraiser for the charity. In order to continue our work we need support all levels of support and donations are welcome.
The International Youth Arts Festival Kingston (IYAF) Creative Youth celebrates the achievements of young people in the arts worldwide during the International Youth Arts Festival Kingston. The growth of the Ferstival has been phenomenal. In 2009 there were 50 Events across 4 Venues in Kingston over a 7-day period and featured 450 participants from 40 different participating groups. In 2016 there were nearly 4,000 participants from 70 different participating groups, across 18 venues over 10 days. Over the last 8 years more than 30,000 young people have participated. The International Youth Arts Festival Kingston 2017 is set to be even bigger, brighter and bolder. Now in its 9th year, the Festival will run from 7th July to 16th July 2017, showcasing the highest quality of a diverse range of youth arts, from the UK and around the world including theatre, dance, music, visual arts, comedy, circus, carnival, visual art, poetry, cabaret, and film. IYAF will fill every venue - theatres, pubs, parks, streets and galleries with the most dynamic atmosphere that is simply not worth missing! Creative Youth (organisers of The International Youth Arts Festival Kingston) President: His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex KG GCVO Reg office: c/o Arts Office • Guildhall 2 • Kingston upon Thames • Surrey • KT1 1EU ‘Creative Youth’ A Company Registered in England and Wales no 06848384. Registered Charity No: 1132314 website www.creativeyouthcharity.org Tel: 0208 549 2120 Email: hello@creativeyouthcharity.org Donations can be made :- http://www.justgiving.com/iyafestival & http://localgiving.com/donation/creativeyouth