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Summary Annual Report 2012 – 2013 It feels like there is a far more cohesive approach to youth theatre and the sector is a lot more connected thanks to Promote YT. I know that without attending their events I wouldn’t have linked up with half the companies and practitioners I am currently in touch with. From REVIEW OF YOUTH THEATRE IN SCOTLAND
The Project Year 2012-2013 THE YOUTH THEATRE SECTOR Our REVIEW OF YOUTH THEATRE IN SCOTLAND 2012 identified encouraging developments in Scotland’s youth theatre sector as we moved into the project year 2012/13. Youth theatre participation numbers had grown from 2011/12 despite the challenging economic climate with 15,000 young people being engaged weekly in over 85% of Scotland’s local authority areas. Youth theatres indicated a 64% increase in delivery, demonstrating creative ambition and the development of audiences (58% up on 2010/11) through projects, performance, touring and international working, with a focus on devising and new writing. Our findings also highlighted that an average of 5 young people per youth theatre moved on to study in the creative industries, proving that the sector plays a crucial role in investing in the future of Scotland’s theatre artists and cultural practitioners. In direct support of the sector Promote YT maintained a growing membership network of 104 related organisations and individuals over 2012/13, a 22% increase on 2011/12.
THE ORGANISATION Promote YT underwent a significant process of review over 2012/13 due to a revision of the organisation’s current funding structure by Creative Scotland. A positive process, this review resulted in the creation of a SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN designed to clearly dictate the direction of the organisation from 2013 and on into the next 2 project years The 4 core aims of this strategy are: 1 To drive the professional advancement of Scotland’s youth theatre sector 2 To raise the profile of youth theatre as an art form 3 To invest in the creative future of Scotland’s young people 4 To consolidate and represent Scotland’s youth theatre sector This strategy formed the basis of our application process to Creative Scotland in early 2013 for which we were successfully awarded funding for 2013 to 2015 and recognised as a “strategic worker in a dynamic art-form arena”. Promote YT provided central information services for the sector through a website, a bi-monthly e-bulletin and social networking
platforms including Facebook and Twitter. Social media was used to manage projects (Facebook / The Spark Collective) and as a key documentation and reporting tool (Tumblr / RE:LOCATION 2012). Promote YT acted as an advisor to Creative Scotland on the development of the National Youth Arts Strategy and represented the sector through various platforms including the Federation of Scottish Theatre, the Scottish Drama Training Network and Artswork Scotland. In March 2012 the organisation was invited to Belfast by the Ulster Association of Youth Drama to speak about the development of youth theatre practice in Scotland. Also in March, the organisation contributed to the Northern Voices conference exploring European perspectives on collaborating with young people, hosted in Kildare, the Republic of Ireland. Over and above the core staff team of four, Promote YT invested over £22,000 in temporary employment engaging 13 freelance specialists and 6 artistic organisations to deliver project activity. The organisation also provided 8 internship and work experience positions.
Company limited by Guarantee No SC 269952. Registered Scottish Charity No SC 035765
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Summary Annual Report 2012 – 2013 National Festival of Youth Theatre has literally changed my whole outlook on theatre and what it represents for not only a career, but for a life built around a passion! Thank you so much. YOUTH PARTICIPANT – NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF YOUTH THEATRE 2012
THE PROJECTS NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF YOUTH THEATRE The 8th annual NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF YOUTH THEATRE (NFYT) took place in Fife in July 2012 and hosted 13 performances and 42 artistic workshops. The event and was attended by 17 youth theatre groups from 12 different regions of Scotland as well as one international group from the Republic of Ireland. Promote YT continued to work in partnership with Solar Bear Theatre Company to ensure that NFYT was fully accessible to deaf audiences of all ages and young deaf festival participants. Outreach work took the NFYT experience to Fife secondary school pupils and the event provided employment to 10 creative artists. 6 festival volunteers also gained valuable experience working as part of a large-scale arts events team. In addition to the sectorial and participatory focus of NFYT, a public audience of over 170 attended performances over the 3 days, as well as a significant online audience through the hosting of the National Theatre of Scotland’s Five Minute Theatre online broadcasts. A total of 815 people actively took part in NFYT 2012. RE:LOCATION Made possible through International investment from Creative Scotland, 2012 saw the launch of RE:LOCATION, an international youth theatre exchange project co-founded by Promote YT and the Rogaland Teater in Norway. RE:LOCATION presented an exciting development opportunity for Scotland’s youth theatre sector, pioneering a collaborative approach to international working. All Promote YT membership youth theatres were invited to contribute to the creation of a one-off national company of 8 young theatre-makers. A specialist artistic team was formed to lead this company, comprising of artistic directorship from Visible Fictions Theatre
Company and a trainee Associate Artist post supported by the National Theatre of Scotland. This company, following a process of creative development hosted at NFYT 2012, represented Scotland at the inaugural RE:LOCATION event staged in Stavanger, Norway over the Summer of 2012. The RE:LOCATION journey was recorded through a filmmaking process which was showcased in December 2012 at a film screening event supported by the Norwegian Consulate General. This film can be viewed at: http://vimeo.com/55438313 SECTOR SYMPOSIUM In November 2012 the organisation staged its 2nd SECTOR SYMPOSIUM at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh. With 79 participants in attendance the event presented Promote YT’s SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN, offering the chance for detailed discussion and direct feedback. The event also celebrated recent achievements in youth theatre giving a voice to the sector through the popular ‘shout out’ platform. SKILL UP 2013 The year concluded with the delivery of the organisation's 9th annual SKILL UP training and networking conference staged in partnership with Dundee Rep Theatre. The SKILL UP 2013 weekend was attended by 71 delegates representing youth theatre and wider arts and teaching sectors. The 2013 event introduced a revised delivery framework hosting a CPD certificated training route alongside focused exploration workshops of key areas of youth theatre practice. Facilitation was provided by national and international specialists including Frantic Assembly, Company of Angels, Imaginate and the National Association of Youth Drama (Ireland). Promote YT subsidised the participation of 14 delegates to support professional development and provided sign language support to the programme.
FINANCIAL REVIEW Promote YT achieved a high level of financial and in-kind support from partners for activities over 2011/12. This, coupled with a development in generated income, enabled the organisation to deliver a greater range of projects to the highest possible standards. With increased funding secured until 2015 through Creative Scotland and deferred funding in place for key projects over 2013/14 the organisation has a good financial footing on which to build core and project activity.
Contact details Promote YT (Scotland) Out of the Blue, 36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh EH6 8RG 0131 538 0591 info@promoteyt.co.uk www.promoteyt.co.uk
Acknowledgements Promote YT receives funding from Promote YT (Scotland) additionally acknowledges the following funders and partners for their support over the project year 2012 – 2013: ON at Fife, Fife Strategic Events Investment Programme, Shell UK Ltd, Bank of Scotland Foundation, MacRobert Trust, Solar Bear, Big Tent Festival, Kingdom Shopping Centre, Creative Scotland International Investment, Rogaland Teater (Norway), National Theatre of Scotland, Visible Fictions, Norwegian Consulate General, Cagoule Productions, Festival City Theatres Trust, National Association of Youth Drama (Ireland), Dundee Rep Theatre, Scottish Youth Theatre.