Young Arts Leaders 2014-15 - Quarter 4 - Outline of Activities Young Arts Leaders sustaining engagement in the programme and connected opportunities;
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Interviewed 16 applicants for 8 Young Arts Leaders roles
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Selection and induction of 8 Young Arts Leaders
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Feedback, signposting and support to unsuccessful applicants
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Delivered Skills Weekend 1 in Callander, 27 Feb – 1 Mar 2015
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Initiated Gold Arts Award activities
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Initiated online reflection and collaboration activities
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Programme Manager carried out first mentoring sessions
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Reviewed possibilities for regional and partnership links
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Outlined possibilities for Young Arts Leaders individual mentors
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2 of the Young Arts Leaders attended Interchange, national professional development
Awareness of the Young Arts Leaders programme within the sector; •
In March a press release announced the eight selected leaders.
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We secured coverage on BBC Radio Scotland: The Culture Studio with Janice Forsyth (a 12minute interview, featuring two Young Arts Leaders and our Project Manager) and a feature on the Glasgow Theatre Blog.
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Social media - our tweet featuring an image from the residential photo session was retweeted by SDTN, Makeshift Broadcast, WeeTheatresGlasgow and the Highland Youth Arts Hub.
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Further YTAS tweets promoting the BBC Radio appearance were re-tweeted by Culture Studio (14,000 followers) and Janice Forsyth (11,000 followers). Creative Scotland also wrote their own tweet about the project 'Congrats to the 8 young theatre-makers chosen for @YTArtsScot's #YoungArtsLeaders programme:' featuring our image to their 58,000 followers (this was also re-tweeted by Janet Archer).
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The Young Arts Leaders webpage was updated in March with the new photography and biographies of each leader.
Next Quarter Plans 2015-16, Quarter 1 - Key Activities •
Delivery of Skills Weekend 2 in Callander, June 2015
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Young Arts Leaders to create and deliver an individual arts project relating to their own artform, part of Gold Arts Award activities
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Develop regional connectivity and relationships with Young Arts Leaders
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Individual mentors confirmed, briefed and contracted
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1 mentor training day delivered
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Mentors have had initial meeting with their mentee Young Arts Leader
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Young Arts Leaders sustaining engagement in the programme and connected opportunities
YOUNG ARTS LEADERS - BIOGRAPHIES
Stephanie Boyle, 24, Glasgow Glasgow-born Stephanie already has an HND in Acting and Performance and is now studying for a BSc in Applied Psychology. She would eventually like to study Drama and Movement Therapy. She co-founded Bold Cow Productions in 2013 and has so far produced, directed and performed two plays. She enjoys the opportunity for cross over between disciplines that creating theatre allows.
Joshua Ford, 16, Fife Currently studying NQ Events at college in Fife, Joshua hopes to continue his studies with Technical Theatre, specialising in Stage Management. His preferred discipline is technical theatre because he feels there is nothing in his locality where young people are able to learn it. Joshua appeared in the Youth Music Theatre Scotland (YMTS) production of Billy Elliot.
Colleen Garrett, 23, Ayrshire Colleen graduated in 2013 with a Drama and Performance degree from Queen Margaret University. Since then, she has worked as a freelance drama facilitator, from pre-school children to young adults. She has also worked with young people with a range of disabilities at a special needs school in Glasgow. Colleen is a passionate performer, enjoying acting and devising and writing new material. She has appeared in shows at the Edinburgh and Stockholm Fringe Festivals, and recently performed at Arches Live.
Jasmine Main, 20, Glasgow Jasmine has had a passion for acting and performing from an early age. She left school at 15 to study for three years at Langside College for an HND in Acting and Performance. Following graduation, she went on to study for a BA Honours in Acting which she completed last year. Jasmine has worked professionally as an actress throughout her studies and now works in the industry.
Kirsty Mackay, 19, Perthshire Kirsty has worked and volunteered with youth theatre groups for around three years. She studied Acting and Performance at Dundee College where she developed a love for directing and creating challenging contemporary theatre.
Fraser Morrison, 18, North Lanarkshire Fraser has extensive performing experience, including several leading roles in Youth Music Theatre Scotland. His main passion is writing and directing for educational theatre. He co-wrote and directed Caught in the Net, an educational piece about internet safety, which won the UK CyberSmart Award. Fraser has also run school drama workshops in Forth Valley and Fife, and enjoyed success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013.
Christopher Patrick, 23, Renfrewshire Christopher has experience of directing but is primarily drawn to writing. For him, writing holds the potential to create something which will engage and inspire an audience and bring them together. For his most recent project, Christopher helped produce, write and direct a two-week run of The Constant Soldier at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He wrote the script under the tutelage of David Cosgrove as part of Scottish Youth Theatre’s Young Writers course.
Rosie Reilly, 16, Scottish Borders Rosie is currently in fifth year at high school. She dances with Manor School of Ballet and performs in its productions. Rosie has gained 200 hours of experience with the Saltire Awards through her volunteering. Her love of dance encouraged her to apply for the Young Arts Leaders course and she relishes the challenge of becoming a leader.
YOUNG ARTS LEADERS – EVIDENCE OF SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT Excerpts of reflections from the online collaborative space (following the first residential Skills Weekend)
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Collen Garratt - 'I have to be proud of what I do... I shouldn't apologise!'
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Fraser Morrison – “Exciting to watch ourselves and each other grow... and see where we'll be next march”
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Stephanie Boyle – “Our experiences as a group will shape our experiences individually”
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Rosie Reilly – “'It’s ok to sit back and observe… but I need to take the confidence I have got this weekend to voice my opinion.'
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Kirsty McKay – “I feel more grounded in my art form, I had a space and place to think about my art form... and support that I never had before.”
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Chris Patrick – “I’m beginning to value being a writer, how I view the world and the process of that, how this is part of my identity and not to shy away from it but to celebrate.”
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Josh Ford - “Art has become something different to me, It’s become a bigger part of my life than it’s ever been.”
Stephanie Boyle – reflections on her evolving practice