CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Through our innovative Re:Generation 2031 programme we developed and funded 30 new entry-level positions for ages 16-25 within a huge range of creative industries across the Thames Estuary region, as well as running an entrepreneurship programme and five pilot practical skills development opportunities – giving groups of young people live real-world projects underpinned by a modular training programme delivered by partner organisation. Alongside this, within our own teams we hosted 17 work experience placements for young people.

In 2022 we provided high quality creative experiences to 6,800 children and young people in Kent, through Re: Generation 2031 we developed and funded 30 new entry-level positions for ages 16-25, and we have stepped up our work in Medway though our position on the Medway Cultural Education Partnership.

Our ART31 programme for 13-25s has seen us continue to deliver free weekly theatre & performance groups based at Gulbenkian Arts Centre, led by our in-house Creative Engagement Practitioner. Our partners Square Pegs Arts also continue to host their drama and singing groups at Gulbenkian for young people with learning disabilities and autism. These groups see us working with 120 young people per week and have a huge impact on those young people in terms of building a sense of belonging, wellbeing and confidence.

Our free-to-access programme has also included TECH31 and SCREEN31 workshops throughout the year, where young people learn skills in technical theatre, live event production and filmmaking.

In spring our intergenerational company’s production of Superglue as part of NT Connections was performed at Gulbenkian, the Marlowe and Trinity Theatre to great acclaim from audiences, as well as both the National Theatre and the playwright Tim

Crouch. Following an audition process where we met 77 young people from across Kent, the 2023 Young Company of 20 actors have now been cast and are working alongside a young crew of 13 young people from TECH31 & SCREEN31 to produce (Circle Dreams Around) The Terrible, Terrible Past which will perform at Gulbenkian on 12 & 13 March 2023.

Our Youth Board ART31 Generate met regularly throughout the year and a core project was to plan, programme and produce GENFest – a youth arts festival for 13-25s across Kent. The group curated a programme showcasing young creatives’ work across theatre, comedy, visual art, music and film, as well as a series of artist-led workshops. Young people from across Kent took part in the festival and attendance was very diverse with 30% from Black or Asian heritage backgrounds and at least 17% reporting themselves as being in challenging circumstances. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, so the group are now planning the next event for June 2023.

The community of young people involved in ART31 activities at Gulbenkian have been on several free theatre trips throughout 2022, seeing work by The PappyShow, Company Three, Icon Theatre and Pussy Riot.

Throughout 2022 we have been a core partner in FLUX, a Kentwide partnership project funded by Artswork and KCC Suicide Prevention which aimed to use the creative arts to support mental health and wellbeing in young people. The project supported our work with community partners KRAN & Spring Lane Neighborhood Centre, providing creative activity for their young people and testing cross-sector working to support health and wellbeing agendas.

Schools across Kent continue to engage with us through events at Gulbenkian Arts Centre as well as projects with our creative engagement team. In 2022 we delivered several schools outreach projects with visiting and associate artists including BAC Beatbox Academy, Half a String and Motionhouse – giving young people from local schools the chance to work with high quality artists and companies visiting and working in our region.

As our work develops in Medway, this year we have taken a lead role as part of the Medway Cultural Education Partnership (MCEP) which sees us working with partners to develop the cultural education strategy and offer for 0-25s in Medway. A key project for MCEP is the Medway Creative Schools Network, and in November we delivered a successful advocacy and networking event for headteachers and senior leaders in schools to engage with cultural providers.

Throughout 2022 we have continued to offer a year-round programme of film and live performance for families at Gulbenkian Arts Centre, and have developed Creative Club to run alongside this for 4-12 year olds to take part in artist-led workshops. Our annual family festival bOing! continues to be the University’s biggest community outreach event of the year. 2022 was our busiest bOing! weekend yet, with an estimated 12,000 people visiting the campus for an international programme featuring 30 different events and 172 artists.

Charlie Chopping

Charlie came to us first through our Youth Theatre, and then joined our NT Connections project, assisting with TECH31 on our Superglue production in 2022. He is now working professionally at the National Theatre.

“Gulbenkian has shaped my life and career. Initially a creative and social outlet, its Youth Theatre offered performance opportunity and lifelong friendships. Later, its National Theatre Connections programme introduced me to backstage theatre, with opportunities to run and design lights at the National Theatre at the age of 15 and to perform on stage with an incredible company.

Through consequent employment, including assisting TECH31 with the NT Connections 2022 production of Superglue, and these incredible experiences, the Gulbenkian has shaped my passion, technical skills and most importantly confidence to take into my professional career working in the film and television industry, overseas, and now, professionally, on tour with the National Theatre.”