1
26
4
DIGITAL MAP EXHIBITION
FILMS
7
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS
POEMS
6
PERFORMANCE EVENTS
9
MONTHS
16
ARTS AWARDS
123 YOUNG PEOPLE
1800 VOLUNTEER HOURS
60
TRAINING SESSIONS
“ RADIU5 HAS BEEN A REALLY WORTHWHILE AND FULFILLING EXPERIENCE THAT HAS OPENED MANY DOORS AND OFFERED COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES. THE ENTHUSIASM I’VE WITNESSED IN EVERY SINGLE VOLUNTEER AND LEADER IS INFECTIOUS AND I FEEL MORE ENCOURAGED AND DRIVEN THAN EVER TO ACHIEVE MY GOALS IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES.” Anastasia, cultural volunteer
FOREWORD By Deborah Kermode Deputy Director, Ikon, formerly Director of Bright Space
© Nav Singh
It is clear that growing up in the 21st Century is more challenging than it has ever been. Against a backdrop of fast changing and increasing challenges for young people, research reveals a current piecemeal system that often lets young people down and places little emphasis on their development. Youth services across the country are largely patchy with many young people voicing concern about the lack of appropriate community space where they can socialise and contribute to meaningful and enjoyable opportunities. From 2011 we will also see significant changes with heads and governing boards trying to make sense of the government’s goal of a nation of independent state schools each with additional freedom over their curriculum and admissions, and free from any legal obligation to work or cooperate with anyone beyond their own gate. The specialist schools networks, Creative Partnerships, city challenge areas etc have largely supported schools learning from each other but have seen their influence withdrawn over the past year in favour of new initiatives such as Teaching Schools, free schools and the rapid expansion of academies.
Moreover young people are also facing unprecedented challenges in reaching further and higher education with the removal of the EMA grant, higher tuition fees and limited university places. In the world of work, apprenticeships are readily seen as a viable alternative but needless to say there has to be a range of enthusiastic and committed employers willing to champion this dedicated training programme. With regards to the creative and cultural industries there tends to be a lack of information or guidance offered to some young people at school and also at home about potential employment opportunities in what is a highly competitive sector. But what of the creative and cultural opportunities available to young people in Birmingham? Self-titled as the Youngest City in Europe, Birmingham has more students than any other UK city outside London and more under 15’s than any other major European city. Birmingham is young at heart – and young in outlook, with 37% of its population under 24 years old. It is also believed to become Britain’s second plural city, where no ethnicity forms a majority, in 2024. It must also be noted that Birmingham has the largest ratio of arts organisations per head of population than any other city, outside of London and a significant creative industries sector. Playing a role in encouraging employment and student retention are a number of other significant developments such as the high speed rail network, the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local
Enterprise partnership and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s support of Birmingham as a Creative City. All of which suggest a welcome strategic vision in light of opportunities for young people but these benefits must also extend to all residents particularly the ethnically diverse which have high levels of unemployment and who are less likely to participate in mainstream cultural activities. sampad is an arts organisation with an absolute commitment to working with young people using innovative methods to capture their support and offer a range of self-constructive learning models.. The staff recognise that in order to support young people and expose them to the value of cultural opportunities, it’s imperative that they first begin to listen effectively and share ideas so as to provide the participants with a genuine role and an authentic voice. RADIU5 is such a project providing many of Birmingham’s young people the chance to act as critical commentators and volunteers by inviting them to investigate the level of creative and cultural opportunity available in the city, and led to a successful on-line resource for their peers in the form of a visual mapping campaign. It is a brilliant demonstration of the strategic role that young people can play in developing their own lines of enquiry but also sharing this learning with professional stakeholders who are essentially enthusiastic about working alongside young people but need direction.
“EVERYDAY THERE’S A NEW CHALLENGE, BUT THEN EVERYDAY YOU GET GUIDANCE.” Amina, RADIU5 volunteer
INTRODUCTION sampad and young people
“RADIU5 IS A PLACE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN COME AND SQUEEZE THEIR CREATIVE JUICES DRY.” Marcia, cultural volunteer
sampad has a successful track record of developing youth arts initiatives. Over the years many young people, by participating in sampad Youth Arts projects, have gained invaluable skills for life. We have consciously focused on young people who may not ordinarily engage within the arts due to factors that may be beyond their control. Barriers include cultural differences, economic and social boundaries. Young people may not engage in positive activities due to peer pressure or lack of self worth and self esteem. The ‘shy’ or ‘at-risk’ have found that by participating in an activity that they may not have experienced before has led to further active serious involvement – thus allowing young people to make informed and realistic choices of their future career paths.
The Radiu5 project was successful in doing this. This major project highlights the commitment from sampad and mac birmingham to young people and our priority of working within a digital environment through the data visualization creation, social media training and digital production. “Radiu5 is a good example of our priorities of working with young people, nurturing creative talent, enabling them to become creators, leaders and audiences, empowering young people to become confident citizens and culturally aware of their surroundings. Our work with young people has an intercultural approach highlighting the diverse mix of the young citizens of Birmingham. Social cohesion is a key driver in all the youth work that we do. Particular emphasis is based on developing the artistic voice of young people, talent, ability to think critically, young people as leaders, creators, participants and audiences, encouraging and preparing them to co-exist with different cultures and acknowledging the importance of issues being affected by globalisation and its significance to young people.” Urmala Jassal, sampad Programme Manager
Over 100 Cultural Volunteers have been involved with sampad designing volunteer opportunities to match their creative ambitions including: • Volunteering at arts events across the city • Making links with the creative industries • Gaining experience to bring CVs to life • Achieving Arts Award qualifications • Media skills training and mentoring by creative professionals • Opportunities to make music, perform, film and edit • Leadership roles and events promotion
RADIU5 promotes the values of the Olympics and Paralympics and was funded by mygames and Vinspired
EXCELLENCE DETERMINATION INSPIRATION FRIENDSHIP RESPECT COURAGE EQUALITY
”RADIU5 WAS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY FOR MAC TO ENGAGE WITH A RANGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ACROSS BIRMINGHAM. DURING THE PROJECT PARTICIPANTS GENERATED FANTASTIC RESPONSES WHICH WERE PROFESSIONALLY PRESENTED IN AN EXHIBITION AT MAC.” Dan Whitehouse, Next Generation Producer, mac birmingham
ABOUT RADIU5
“THE BEST THING ABOUT GOLD ARTS AWARD FOR ME IS THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE MAKE IT, YOU SEE THE SAME PEOPLE EVERY WEEK AND THEY BECOME YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY.” Pav, RADIU5 volunteer
RADIU5 was initiated and led by sampad in partnership with mac birmingham. Young people aged 16–24 years joined RADIU5 which provided an open-access programme of mentoring, master-classes and workshop sessions working towards producing films and content for a major exhibition and interactive digital map at mac birmingham. From promotional recruitment in schools, youth clubs and word of mouth participants came to the launch event in October 2010 which led to a series of events and opportunities attracting 123 young people over nine months who became RADIU5 cultural volunteers. The programme was led by a team of artist mentors and a project manger and co-ordinator who recruited, trained, and guided
young people to achieve their goals through RADIU5. Weekly twilight sessions and additional holiday workshops held at mac birmingham, encouraged the volunteers to set their own challenges. As a cultural volunteer their level of involvement was designed around their interests and other commitments. For some, the quality volunteering opportunities brokered were most important, others wanted the digital media training and contacts with the creative industries. Many became part of the Digital Mapping Team attending all the sessions working towards their Arts Award.
“I REALLY LIKED THAT IT DIDN’T JUST FOCUS AROUND ONE PARTICULAR ART FORM. THERE WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED IN SO MUCH AND IT WAS ALL TAILORED AROUND TO WHAT WE WANTED.” Volunteer survey
THE CULTURAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME INCLUDED
VOLUNTEERING Craftspace , Creative Leap, Out of One Many, Hello Digital, Creative Careers Event, Fashion Show, Biting Back Conference, BBC Mailbox, Punch Records, Eastern Electronic Festival, Diwali Festival, Artsfest MEDIA SKILLS Master classes with Sai Smith, Harmeet Chagger-Khan, James Kennaby and Taz Bashir (supported through use of mac birmingham’s media suite facilities) CREATIVE PRODUCTION Designing the Digital Mapping exhibition, researching and producing film shorts for the Digital Map, writing poems for performances, directing films for events WORKSHOPS Reviewing events (by mac birmingham), curating (by Platform), spoken word (by Peter Chand and Evoke), data visualization (by Substrakt) VISITS Southbank Centre London, Digbeth Creative Industries Tour (by Ammo Talwar from Punch), Substrakt and Fazeley Studios, Ikon Gallery, BMAG, Town Hall, Created in Birmingham, The Drum PERFORMANCE Launch event @mac birmingham, Cultural Fashion Show and Film Night @Old Joint Stock Theatre, Poetry showcase @mac birmingham, Spoken Word Out of Many One event @Town Hall.
“I HAVE VOLUNTEERED AT LOTS OF EVENTS AT THE DRUM, ARTSFEST AND ALSO AT THE NEC FOR THE FASHION AND DANCE SHOW. I HAVE DECIDED TO DO MY GOLD ARTS AWARD TO GAIN A QUALIFICATION FROM ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES. I LEARNT ALL SORTS OF SKILLS SUCH AS LEADERSHIP IN THE GROUP, COMMUNICATION, RESPONSIBILITIES THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE GOT...THIS WILL HELP ME IN THE FUTURE.” Sarah, cultural volunteer
1
26
4
DIGITAL MAP EXHIBITION
6
FILMS
1800
PERFORMANCE EVENTS
16
ARTS AWARDS
9
MONTHS
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS
VOLUNTEER HOURS
60
TRAINING SESSIONS
7
POEMS
123 YOUNG PEOPLE
“ I’VE MET LOADS OF EDITORS AND PRODUCERS, SO I’VE MADE LOADS OF CONTACTS FOR THE FUTURE.” Idriss, RADIU5 volunteer
“ RADIU5 IS A GOOD PLACE TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA INDUSTRY...RIGHT NOW I’M MEETING FILM DIRECTORS, MAKING FILMS AND APPLYING FOR FUNDING FOR NEW FILM OPPORTUNITIES.” Malachi, cultural volunteer
What is Data Visualisation? Data-visualisation is a relatively new term. It is the study of the simplification of complex information presented in a visual form. We took our inspiration from the Madrid-based Medialab Prado’s Visualizar project – an open and participatory research project around theory, tools and strategies of information visualisation. There are a growing number of people and organisations working in this field, as well as new free online tools, such as Many Eyes, which give people the freedom and power to visualise information in new ways. Data visualisation can be presented in various ways and often with a strong aesthetic. Sometimes the desire to create a strong aesthetic can present visual complexities
that make it difficult to understand what data is being visualised and for what purpose. However, by marrying up data with an interesting form of visual representation can make the interpretation of data interesting and in some circumstances enjoyable.
Why did we choose to use Data Visualisation? The RADIU5 project was conceived prior to sampad and mac birmingham moving back to the newly developed arts centre in 2010. We wanted to re-connect with young people living locally to mac birmingham, and to explore new methods of opening up a dialogue with each other. Our starting point was to better understand what cultural activities were of interest to the young people. We had little information to work from regarding the cultural activities of young people living locally, but we felt that a data visualisation project seemed like an appropriate vehicle to research and uncover new information.
How was it used and applied? A broad number of data visualisers come from a computer science or similar background, often working with existing data sets across a wide spectrum of interests and global issues, be it statistical data produced by government departments and local authorities such as budgetary information, pollution and the environment, or small organisations wanting to better understand patterns and processes. We believed that we could present newly gathered data about youth activities in a visual way, showing what activities were of greater importance to young people.
Equally our concerns were in applying this discipline to explore the relationship between technology and society, and connect the study of data visualisation to grass roots arts development. We worked with a team of young people not only to collect data, but also to produce it. This comprised of generating new webbased content that had a connection to the young people, either through the production of documentaries, photographs, videos, and blogs, as well as finding existing sources of similar content that spoke out to them. The technical data was gathered by way of categorising tagged content within existing social media sources, mainly YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr, Twitter, blogs and Tumblr, with the greater number of tags for each category determining the popularity of artform, venue, or other such category.
What is the digital map? Substrakt, the company behind producing the data visualisation, worked closely with a team of young people to understand what sort of information needed to be gathered, how it will best be presented, and connecting their motivations to the knowhow of computer programmers.
They put in place a system that enabled the young people to extract new data, to have it categorised, tagged, and visually represented in an interactive way via a digital map. A significant feature of the map was the inclusion of social media content available for others to see and interact with to see how the content connected across the various categories. The final product was a tailor-made interactive web based map available via the internet at RADIU5.substrakt. net and via a public exhibition at mac birmingham.
What was the main challenge? The main challenge was in establishing an appropriate methodology of data collection. The process of categorisation and data collection presented a series of new questions and complexities that would only have been investigated during the development of the project. The design of the data visualisation was also challenging in that it had to be something available both on the internet and for exhibition, whilst drawing in a range of social media content.
“ IT’S MULTITIERED... YOU GET TO WORK ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONALS, YOU GET TO NETWORK, YOU GET TO DO PLACEMENTS, SO YOU LEARN ABOUT THE INDUSTRY PRACTICALLY.” Abdullah, RADIU5 volunteer
What did the data tell us? We were initially interested in connecting with the young people by finding out about the activities they were involved in locally, and rightly or wrongly we worked under an assumption that they were active in underground activities outside of our knowledge. Although there was some activity of this nature taking place such as that at the now closed Sound Bar and graffiti arts across the city, the majority of the young people used the RADIU5 project as an opportunity to connect with the existing arts and cultural infrastructure of the city such as Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, The Drum, Town Hall and mac birmingham. This was a surprising outcome for us, which clearly demonstrates the importance of Birmingham’s cultural organisations in providing opportunities and access to young people. Overall the RADIU5 project provided a successful platform for many young people to creatively engage with new ideas in digital technology and to give them a voice within a wider social context.
OUTCOMES On-line participant Survey results NB Completed by 25% of total number of young people registered/Completed by 75% of core participant team
Key Findings • 100% of respondents would recommend RADIU5 to other young people • Young people were recruited by a wide variety of means including Via School/college, sampad website, through friends, direct recruitment through RADIU5 staff and facebook. • Gaining new media & arts skills and experience for jobs/cv were
the two highest scoring reasons why participants were attracted to joined RADIU5 • RADIU5 has a good retention rate with 67% of young people who respond attending most of the sessions throughout the project
Would you recommend this project to other young people? YES NO MAYBE
100% 0% 0%
• RADIU5 volunteers valued and took part in the range of activities offered with Media Skills, Digital Mapping Team, leadership, being mentored and Arts Award all scoring over 50% • RADIU5 volunteers valued a wide range of benefits and opportunities, however the two highest scoring were gaining experience for future jobs/cv and being mentored by RADIU5 staff • Over 80% of young people expressed that they would like more opportunities to do volunteering in the creative industries • At the end of the project, none of the RADIU5 participants were in full-time employment and with majority planning to attend college/school and seeking employment in the creative industries.
How did you find out about RADIU5? Via school/college
23%
sampad website
10%
RADIU5 Flyer
19%
Friends let me know
14%
Meeting RADIU5 staff
14%
Other (facebook, events)
33%
How were you involved in RADIU5? Would you like to do more volunteering in the creative and cultural industries? YES NO MAYBE
81% 0% 19%
I came to 1–3 sessions
4.8%
I joined in about 4–6 sessions
0%
I came to most of sessions (Oct–May)
67%
I joined in most of sessions (Jan–May)
24%
I came to one session but it wasn’t for me
0%
RADIU5 project offered different things... Which did you choose for your RADIU5 experience (tick all that you join in)
Tell us about what you think has been valuable to you from being a part of RADIU5? (score 1–5) Order of Highest score responses
What has attracted you to being part of RADIU5 (rank in order of importance 5 being most important) Order of Highest score responses
Skills Workshops (media)
62%
Gained experience helpful for finding a job/add to your CV
62%
Gaining new arts & media skills
77%
Workshops (spoken word)
22%
Mentoring support from RADIU5 staff
62%
Getting exp in creative industries for my cv
62%
Meeting artists/arts visits
57%
Had Fun /Made new friends
60%
Opportunities to perform/lead
57%
Volunteering at events
48%
Gained knowledge of the Arts
53%
39%
Part of the Digital Mapping Team
52%
Made new contacts in the creative industries
52%
Being part of a young persons group
Arts Awards
57%
Doing an Arts Award Qualification
52%
Being at the mac birmingham and their facilities
38%
Performing opportunities
43%
Developed communication skills
52%
Leadership opportunities
57%
Gained experience that will help you go to college/uni
48%
Mentoring support from RADIU5
57%
Found out about digital mapping/ gained media skills
38%
Other
14%
DIVERSITY Asian/Asian British Black/Black British Dual Heritage White/Whit British Other
28% 22% 23% 19% 8%
*based on VInspired /mygames data collation
AGE RANGE 16–17 years 18–19 years 20–25 years
22% 65% 13%
MENTORING “ Every week I discover more examples of the impact RADIU5 had on the young people involved and important legacies which remain for both the participants and arts organisations. It’s wonderful to speak to the cultural volunteers months later hearing a confident voice inspired by their new courses, apprenticeships and plans.” Janette Bushell, RADIU5 Project Manager “ When volunteering opportunities came in part of my role was to work with artists and arts organisation to look at how the volunteering opportunity was designed whilst at the same time working with the young people, in a mentoring capacity. This two pronged approach made my role challenging at times but very fulfilling.” Juliet Raynsford, RADIU5 Co-ordinator
“ They were all so motivated about what they were doing, hungry to learn and absorb new skills – I really enjoyed their energy, their spirit, the relentless amount of blood, sweat and tears that they poured into their work to hit our launch deadlines and to gain their Arts Awards. A defining feature about the RADIU5 young people? They’re a fearless, passionate bunch, who grasp opportunity with both hands and turn it into something amazing!” Harmeet Chagger-Khan, RADIU5 Film Mentor “ Getting into the creative industries today is challenging, especially with no experience. RADIU5 lets you absorb and explore these industries alongside invaluable support from industry mentors. It’s an absolute pleasure to see young people be proud of their work, themselves, and their peers, they have a thirst for more. This experience is invaluable.” Mandeep Malhi, RADIU5 Design Mentor “ I worked with students to help them focus their Arts Award ideas, offered technical support, and helped one of the students to create two albums! RADIU5 was a shining light in the creative community, creating a hub for young people and community leaders alike. The young people involved were incredibly inspiring, offering new challenges on a weekly basis. All community projects should be this good!” James Kennaby, RADIU5 Music Mentor
“ NEW MODELS OF WORKING HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED FROM RADIU5 INCLUDING THE FIRST BIRMINGHAM ARTS AWARD GOLD CLUB WHICH WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PROGRESS TO ACHIEVE A GOLD ARTS AWARD. SEEING YOUNG PEOPLE PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN RADIU5 STEP UP TO BECOME YOUNG MENTORS TO THOSE ATTENDING THE NEW CLUB WAS WONDERFUL – HAVING ALREADY ACHIEVED THEIR GOLD ARTS AWARD THEY WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT AND INSPIRE OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE IN WAYS I NEVER COULD!” Janette Bushell, RADIU5 Project Manager
OUTCOMES Birmingham Gold Arts Award Club sampad supported the club creating new opportunities for volunteering (including working at TEDX Conference in London), a place to perform and test out their management skills offering 20 young people from both RADIU5 and citywide open applications to progress to gain their Gold Arts Award.
Spoken Word sampad is maintaining contact with those young people who excelled at spoken word during RADIU5 exploring new opportunities to develop their craft and perform as part of sampad’s programme.
Funding mac birmingham has supported a group of young people from RADIU5 in a funding bid to create a community film (they proceeded to the final round and had the opportunity to pitch at a training event) and further young people-led funding streams are being identified.
Awards RADIU5 gave additional mentoring support to young people where needed, e.g. learning difficulties or English as second language. One young person was awarded a special Breakthrough Award at The Princes’ Trust’s Celebrate Success Awards for her achievements, others have used their Arts Award qualification and portfolios to support their applications to college, apprenticeships and placements.
Progression Routes The survey showed that 92% of young people felt that being involved in RADIU5 had helped them to progress in education or the creative industries.
Entrepreneurs At least two young people from RADIU5 have gone on to set up media businesses using the experience, mentoring and training from the project.
“GOING ON STAGE IN FRONT OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TO GET MY AWARD WAS THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE AND THEY ALL KNEW ABOUT THE FILMS I HAVE MADE AT FAIRBRIDGE AND RADIU5.” Kirsty, cultural volunteer
CREDITS & THANKS sampad would like to thank vinspired & mygames, mac birmingham’s support & partnership, RADIU5 artist team & the young people for contributing to the success of RADIU5. Manager Janette Bushell Co-ordinator Juliet Raynsford Artist Team Abe Khan Harmeet Chagger-Khan James Kennaby Mandeep Malhi Sai Smith Taz Bashir mac birmingham support Daniel Whitehouse Nick Shale sampad staff Clayton Shaw Urmala Jassal
“YOU’RE ALL AMAZING AND I’M VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH YOU.” Assim, cultural volunteer
RADIU5 was managed by sampad in partnership with mac birmingham. RADIU5 was part of the V Inspired mygames project (part of London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games).
FIND OUT MORE sampad’s RADIU5 Meets Arts Awards www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml1q1LGkupc RADIU5 60 Second Documentry Film www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK2VrOwK3Do RADIU5 www.sampad.org.uk/radiu5 RADIU5 data visualisation http://radiu5.substrakt.net
“ IT’S A REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE. YOU MAKE NEW FRIENDS, YOU WORK WITH THE INDUSTRY. YOU REALLY MAKE SOME SERIOUS NETWORKS WORKING WITH SOME SERIOUS PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE. YOU LEARN A LOT MORE THAN SITTING IN A CLASS-ROOM.” Abdulla, RADIU5 volunteer
Photography by cultural volunteers supported by Janette Bushell