Championing Young People in the Arts
At Creative Arts East, we’re passionate about nurturing the creativity, skills, and ambitions of young people. For many years, we’ve championed youth engagement and leadership in the arts through a wide range of projects—most notably through our Young Promoters programme, delivered in partnership with the National Foundation for Youth Music.
Our Programme
This programme has seen us work closely with rural high schools across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire to identify, support, and train young people to organise and host their own live music events. Through this hands-on experience, participants have gained confidence, re-engaged with their education, and expanded their aspirations for the future.
Key facts and figures
Adapting Through Change
In response to ongoing feedback from young people and stakeholders, and to the changes in society, we evolve our youth-focused work to remain relevant, responsive, and accessible.
Leading the Way: A Youth Consultation
In particular, in 2020, we received funding from the National Foundation for Youth Music to undertake an in-depth consultation into youth arts provision and leadership pathways across the region. Our goal: to better understand the challenges and opportunities young people face—particularly in rural areas of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire.
We used a mixed-method approach that included:
- Surveys
- One-to-one interviews
- Research events and focus groups
- Direct input from young people, facilitators, freelancers, and organisation leaders
Partnerships with and for young people
FLOCK Emerging Creative Network
Commissioned by and for Norfolk & Norwich Festival, in 2022 Creative Arts East established the FLOCK Emerging Creatives Network. A network for 18-25 year olds beginning their journey into the arts and cultural sector across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire.
FLOCK provides space to connect, collaborate, and grow as part of a supportive creative community.
Young people can sign up for free to be kept in informed about online and in person meetings around the region and other opportunities such as workshops, jobs, training, that nurture the next generation of cultural leaders.
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Improving quality of life through creativity.
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