CREATIVE YOUTH PILOT, SCARBOROUGH

Photos: Matthew Cooper

Creative Youth Company Pilot, Scarborough

In partnership with Scarborough PRU & North Yorkshire Youth Justice Service

ARCADE launched two pilot youth projects in Summer 2022, in partnership with Scarborough Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) and North Yorkshire County Council Youth Justice and Early Help services, along with national and local artists.

From April through to July, artist Diana Logan led a series of weekly creative workshops for young people at The Street culminating in the creation of a short film written and made by the young people and shared with hundreds of audiences as part of Scarborough Stories performances 7-9 July. Young people also took on 'Audience Guide' roles in the performance, confidently guiding audiences to special storytelling locations around the town centre.

3 people singing into microphones in a classroom.

3 people seated in a classroom. 2 of them smile happily at the camera.

3 people stand facing to the right holding microphones and laughing in a classroom.

4 people seated in a classroom laughing and looking happy.

4 people seated in a classroom. One person in the middle smiles happily at the camera.

3 people around a desk that has a sound board and wires coming from it.

2 people seated looking at a phone. One of them holds a microphone.

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I've gained the confidence to meet my friends again...

In March & April 2022 ARCADE hosted internationally recognised beatbox and theatre maker Conrad Murray (co-director of the incredible Frankenstein: How To Make a Monster presented by Battersea Arts Centre and BAC Beatbox Academy) and brilliant performer Kate Donnachie in Scarborough.

The below video is a retrospective of the truly inspiring time ARCADE ARTS had at Scarborough PRU, hosting Conrad and Kate. The young people were introduced to the art of Beatboxing, encouraged to find their voice and create original art. They wrote, performed and recorded their own original songs about love, maths and living carefree when you're young. We were blown away by the incredible talent from the young people at PRU, along with the outstanding support given by the staff to ensure these young people had a thoroughly safe space to express themselves and brave the fear of performing in front of an audience.

It's been life changing to be honest for some of them, they'll go on to potentially carry on writing at home, just walk out of the room a little bit taller. This is something - expressing their words, feelings and emotions in not just a positive way, but a beautiful way.

With thanks to our funders

These projects are made possible with the support of Get Going Grant from North Yorkshire County Council, Two Ridings Community Foundation and Arts Council England.