By Jackie Fauteux, Creative Producer
The start of summer meant it was time to say goodbye to our second YAA Collective cohort. We were sad to see them go, but have made so many amazing memories after a great year together!
Myself and lead artist Jazzmin McClure began working with this incredible group of young people in September 2023 and had the absolute pleasure of facilitating 20 sessions, attending 11 live performances, and visiting 7 cultural venues with the group. We were also joined by 10 guest artists, specialising in a variety of artistic mediums throughout our 10 months together. So it’s safe to say this group of young people packed a TON of creative experiences into the year!
The YAA Collective, funded by the Ragdoll Foundation, provides up to 15 young people (aged 7 -11) with diverse arts and cultural experiences, steered by their interests, while providing them with opportunities to tell us what they think, how the experiences make them feel, what they really enjoy and what they don’t enjoy as much.
Through 10 months of workshops, arts venue visits, cultural experiences and creative ‘think-tank’ sessions, we build their cultural vocabulary and confidence in expressing their opinions, as well as giving them a sense of belonging in cultural venues across the city.
This immersive way of working gives young people the knowledge and skills to provide us with meaningful feedback and insight in a safe and supportive environment, which we take right up to board level– and what incredible insights they have! Throughout the year our Board Champion, Anna, visited us at our ‘think-tank’ sessions so she could note the feedback and insights from the group to be actioned/discussed at the next Board meeting.
A Packed Schedule…
The 2023/24 cohort had workshops in magic, juggling skills, stage & screen make-up, song-writing, puppetry, early cinema, drama, and dance! They made their own music video, took an exclusive tour of the Strand Arts Centre, made a speech at our festival launch; and had the opportunity to see Hansel & Gretel at the Lyric Theatre, as well as Grand Soft Day, Call to Mind, Doughnut, and I…Um I at the 2024 Belfast Children’s Festival (BCF24) – WOW!
Spark Steals the Show!
My personal highlight for this year though, was the very special YAA Collective commission for the BCF24 Family Day – Spark Steals the Show. Based on the group’s interests and feedback from earlier sessions, we asked them to create a piece of street theatre for our Family day – they got to choose the theme, genre, characters, costumes, music. They took part in a ‘Directing & Devising’ workshop with professional theatre-maker Stephen Beggs to empower them to run a rehearsal with the professional actors who brought their show to life. The show was a huge success and it was wonderful to see their delighted faces in the audience, and watch them take their well-deserved bow at the end of the performance.
To watch the confidence of the group grow throughout the year, to see the young people get to have so many new artistic experiences, and have such a sense of belonging at their ‘hub’ in the MAC is truly magical, and really showcases Young at Art’s ethos – placing the young person at the centre of what we do. To have to opportunity to provide not only new experiences, but a sense of agency and to show young people that their voices really do matter is a really special thing, that I feel privileged to be apart of. Huge thanks again to The Ragdoll Foundation, who have funded this three year initiative.
Next…
We are now looking forward to year three and will be recruiting for our next cohort very soon. If the YAA Collective sounds like something a young person you know would enjoy – watch this space! We cannot wait to see what our next group brings, what insights they have for us and what areas of the arts they want to explore – we always learn so much from these incredible young people!
