Ten areas around the country are to pilot the Government's £25 million 'Find Your Talent' programme to give young people the chance to encounter a range of high-quality cultural experiences for five hours a week both in and outside of school. Children in the pilot areas will be able to discover and develop their talents in the cultural sphere.
In time, the Government wants all young people to have the right to experience five hours of arts and culture every week.
Two organisations from the South East have been chosen as pilots:
Creative Foundation, (serving Shepway District and including Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh) - 'Sea Change'
Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council - 'PUSH 4 Culture'.
The pilots will trial different ways of offering young people a range of cultural experiences both within schools and in professional art settings. Different approaches will be used, based on partnerships between schools, local authorities and arts organisations, so that creative practitioners will go into schools, as well as children getting the chance to gain experience outside the classroom.
The areas, from 141 that applied, will become the first Find Your Talent areas and build on existing investment and experience, currently taking place around the country.
Find Your Talent will include giving young people the chance to:
- perform on stage and attend top quality performances, exhibitions at museums and galleries, and heritage sites
- get hands-on experience of the creative industries including film making, radio and TV
- learn a musical instrument, and take part in a musical performance in front of an audience
- produce creative writing and appreciate authors and how they work
- learn about - and practise - new media and digital
- develop art and craft skills.
For further details, contact Trish Botten, Learning and Skills Manager: trish.botten@mlasoutheast.org.uk or 01962 858840.
