Making Culture e l b a l i a v a s t r A d an to everyone Our Ten Year Plan • Young people’s version
Produced by Participation Network for the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. December 2015
What’s it all about? The Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure wants to make sure that everyone here has an equal chance to take part in, and enjoy, Culture and Arts. She set up a group of experts and talked to lots of people in order to make this plan. But before she finishes the plan she wants to know what YOU think of it. Throughout this document we have set out some questions - we would love to hear your answers - or any other thoughts or ideas you have. If you, or your group, want to let us know what you think - contact us in the following ways:
Online : www.dcalni.gov.uk/consultation
Email: Consultations@dcalni.gov.uk
Post: Culture and Arts Strategy, Response Co-ordinator Arts and Creativity Branch Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Causeway Exchange 1-7 Bedford Street Belfast BT2 7EG We need to hear from you by 5.00pm on Friday 12th February 2016 And now an important question... what is “Arts and Culture”?
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Thank you for your help!
What does Arts and Culture mean? Well, it means lots of different things to lots of different people but it can include things like... Books
Plays
Festivals
Television
Movies
Museums
Arts and Culture
Music gigs
Comedy
Art galleries
Opera
Concerts
Orchestra Circus
Dance
question What does Arts and Culture mean to you? There are five main things that this plan is about - these are set out on the following pages with a list of things we plan to do and examples of things that have been done already. You will also find some questions - we would love to hear what you think.
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Equality Through Culture and Arts:
Absolutely everyone, with no exceptions, can be involved in and enjoy arts and culture WHAT WE WILL DO: a) We will find out what stops people getting involved in arts and culture - and we will do something about it. b) We will make sure that communities who have a hard time and people who are vulnerable or are left out of things can enjoy arts and culture. c) We will make sure that people can get involved in arts and culture as part of their education or in their jobs. d) We will make sure to support and thank people who volunteer their time to make art and culture events happen. EXAMPLES The City of Culture year in Derry was a great success - 20% of people who attended were from the most deprived areas here. More than half a million people visited the city and a survey shows that local people have a new sense of confidence and pride in their city. The “Glass House” exhibition set out to make visual arts easily understood and to bring it to people who don’t usually go to exhibitions. Over 3800 people went to see it in libraries here. ArtsCare brings a range of creative arts activities to people in hospitals and residential centres for older and younger people. They have worked in the community with Looked After Children, women who have been victims of domestic abuse, and people from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender and Black and Minority Ethnic communities.
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question What stops young people from enjoying arts and culture - how can we fix this?
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Creativity and Skills:
Arts and culture brings money into our economy. It is important that we help people to learn skills in art and technology so that we build a strong base and can make the most of opportunities in the future. WHAT WE WILL DO: a) Help people of all ages to learn creative skills throughout their lives in school, training and in jobs. b) Make sure that young people who aren’t in school or on training courses, for example Looked After Children or young people at risk of getting into trouble, have an equal chance to learn creative skills. c) Let people know that there are great job opportunities in arts, culture and being creative - and that these careers help support our economy. d) Make sure we develop the creative skills and talent we need for the future. e) Encourage our children and older people to learn about and use technology. EXAMPLES The Community iPad Initiative helps young people to manage their education through technology. Young enterprise students have the latest technology in the classroom and get the chance to set up their own IT business. Young people who want a career in creative industries like film, television, computer games and animations are helped to find trainee placements through the Creative Skillset Trainee Finder Development question Programme. The training they How can we make sure get makes sure that we have a that young people who aren’t supply of talent to produce the in school or on training next generation of world class courses get a chance to film, television etc. learn creative skills? The Glasgowbury Festival helps support local young musicians in areas where there is not much arts activity. They offer opportunities for young people to learn music and a chance for bands to perform.
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Valued Arts and Culture:
Everyone’s life can be made better by arts and culture. It brings money into the economy, creates jobs and can encourage people to follow their dreams. It also helps break down barriers between people. WHAT WE WILL DO: a) Help people understand how arts and culture can hep us grow as people and as a community. b) Show and celebrate what we have achieved in arts and culture. c) Make a link between art and culture and how we make plans for local communities. d) Demonstrate our rich culture as a way of saying where we are from. e) Make the most of links between arts and culture and our museums and libraries. EXAMPLES “My local Community Arts Group has taught me a lot over the years, helped me grow as a person and gave me strength to achieve my goals. After finishing school, I felt lost but my Community Arts Group has helped me find myself and given advice and support for my future career path. I thank them and can’t wait to see what our future brings.” Kids In Control is a theatre programme that works with young people who are often left out. This year they’ve worked with around 566 young people including rural. urban, special needs, able-bodied, various religious and community backgrounds, looked after and at risk. Draw Down the Walls has been working to connect young people and adults living in interface communities across north Belfast for a number of years. A series of events brought local people together with a famous artist to meet, share stories and create an artwork together - helping to improve community relations.
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question How can we make sure that young people from groups who are often left out get a chance to take part in art and culture?
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Rich Cultural Expression:
Everyone has a right to express their culture and creativity - it’s part of being human. We respect our own and other people’s identity. WHAT WE WILL DO: a) Give people chances to express and celebrate their creativity and culture in a respectful way. b) Support cross-community programmes that help us learn about different cultures. c) Value the creativity and identity of people who are often left out of society. d) Value all the different languages here. e) Celebrate and respect all the different arts and culture here equally.
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EXAMPLES Belfast Suitcase Stories brought together a group of older and younger people to learn about and celebrate Belfast as a diverse and multi-cultural city. People came from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender group, Carafriend - An Droichead Irish language group - over 50’s group from the Indian Community Centre and the Belfast Islamic Centre. During the city of culture in Derry an Irish language and culture organisation (An Gaeláras) got together with the Band Forum from the Protestant / Unionist/ Loyalist community. They continue to use music as the common ground to communicate and build relationships. The Belfast Mela is the north of Ireland’s biggest multi-cultural festival. Thousands of people come along to enjoy ethnic and community arts as a way challenging racism. question How can we make sure that young people get a chance to enjoy and celebrate cultural identity?
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Wellbeing:
Arts and culture can improve our health, our education, and our confidence. We can learn and develop new skills. WHAT WE WILL DO: a) Tell people about how arts and culture can help keep our bodies and minds healthy. b) Show that arts and culture can be good for society by helping people to feel better. c) Get people across the government to work together to make the most of how arts and culture helps our wellbeing. d) Value the way arts and culture improves wellbeing and helps us to see society in new ways. EXAMPLES “The Magic Menu” provides fun, laughter and happy shared memories for children who are living with cancer and are in treatment at home with their families. A magic show is brought into the family’s home - this helps take attention away from dealing with the illness and gives everyone something to look forward to, to talk and laugh about, and to remember afterwards. The Sing for Life community choir was set up in September 2012 for anyone affected by cancer. The choir gives people a chance to meet others living with cancer, share time together in a supportive and friendly environment and learn new singing skills. Community Dialogue works with men from different community backgrounds who were affected by mental health issues and suicide. The men created photographs, stories and music which showed how they saw life and these were displayed in a number of libraries.
question How can we provide opportunities for arts and culture to improve wellbeing for young people?
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Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure December 2015
Culture and Arts Strategy, Response Co-ordinator Arts and Creativity Branch Department of Culture Arts and Leisure Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford Street, Belfast BT2 7EG Telephone: 028 9051 5075 or 028 9051 5148 Text phone: 028 9052 7668 • Fax: 028 9082 3351
Participation Network • Children in Northern Ireland Unit 9, 40 Montgomery Road, Belfast BT6 9HL Telephone: 028 9040 1290 • www.ci-ni.org.uk