In 2010 the Youth Arts Festival enters into its third year as an annual event!

YAF ’10 showcases the creative work of young people through youth services across Brighton and Hove. The Youth Arts Festival is a multi-media art extravaganza, showing a diverse collection of creative work across the city. New to YAF this year is a day of free workshops for young people aged 11–18 years as well as the usual theatre, visual art, graffiti, photography, fashion, sculpture, dance, music and painting. YAF ’10 is organised by the Youth Arts Project, part of Brighton and Hove City Council’s Integrated Youth Support Service.

YAF highlights artwork by young people (age 11–25) many who do not normally get the chance to participate in mainstream arts events. Some of young people involved are socially excluded or disadvantaged; some are out of education, work or training, and so don’t have access to the traditional routes to ‘art’.

There are 31 statutory and voluntary services involved this year, including those working in youth centres, hostels, detached youth work, youth offending, special educational needs, schools and domestic abuse support organisations.

The Youth Arts Project

YAF ’10 is coordinated by The Youth Arts Project, part of Brighton and Hove City Council’s Integrated Youth Support Service. The Youth Arts Project currently has 6 youth arts workers who run weekly drama and art sessions across Brighton and Hove.

The aim of the Youth Arts Project is to offer young people the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of visual and performing arts workshops with experienced practitioners.

We use the arts to build young people’s creativity, self-confidence, self-esteem, and develop political, cultural and community awareness.

We provide a forum for young people to explore issues that are important to them in a safe environment, using the arts as a vehicle for exploring and sharing their ideas. It also provides a platform for young people to express their views to a wider audience within the community.

We provide opportunities for young people to receive official recognition for their achievements and to offer a variety of accreditations including the Arts Award.