Creative YOUCreativity is everywhere. Opportunity is not. We are part of the solution. The secret is in our name. Every year Creative Youth Network gives thousands of young people a taste and thirst for the arts and culture and the joy, life-skills and opportunity they bring. But we want more. Creative YOU is our campaign showcasing how we, you and the engaged, emerging and amazing young creatives we support, come together. We want to reveal how, together, we are ambition, quality, cultural democracy and social mobility in action. Every young person deserves the right to access creativity and development opportunities in the creative and cultural industries. It all starts with education. If all young people have access to creative subjects in school, then talented young people from all backgrounds can pursue their passion, develop crucial skills needed in so many industries and improve their wellbeing. 1. Pledge Add your name and join the many people passionate about bringing creativity back into our schools. With all the pledges we’ll be reaching out to headteachers in Bristol and the South West. We hope this will encourage local academies to give more space to creativity in their curriculum. Bristol, being the creative city we know and love, can pave the way for other regions to do the same, showcasing the true value of creativity. PLEDGE 2. Sign up Join us by signing up to our newsletter where we share best practice of how to support young people. sign up 3. Find out more Join us by reading and sharing our CreativeYOU report which shows how our work brings opportunities for creative expression and enables young people to explore their talent, regardless of background or circumstance. Download our Creative YOU report Young people launch exhibition at RWA Four large inflatable sculptures have made an appearance on the balcony of the RWA as part of Muse Your Imagination, a new exhibition put on by young artists from Creative Youth Network. The collaboration between Bristol’s first art gallery and the local youth charity brought together over 30 young people, aged between 11 and 19, to produce textiles, photography, music and film inspired by the Grade II* listed building and its permanent collection. The young creatives have also worked with Luke Egan, Filthy Luker of Designs in Air, to make large inflatable sculptures for the building. Guided by projection expert Sid Fossil, the film making course have produced a series of abstract films which are projected onto the inflatables and interact with the coat of arms and statues that perch on the roof. Annette Johns, Creative Programme Manager for Creative Youth Network, said: “Young people gained new creative skills on the project and learnt about the history of the RWA. They were very excited to be able to exhibit at one of Bristol’s most prestigious art galleries. They’ve worked really hard over the last few months to produce the work on show which looks truly exceptional.” Lizzy, young artist, said: “Being involved with this project has been really exciting, getting to see behind the scenes at the RWA was something I'd not done before, and the whole project bought new experiences. I feel a real sense of pride in myself, and all of the other young people involved, the work we have created looks impressive, and it's wonderful to have that recognised. I never thought I'd be able to say I've had my artwork exhibited in the Royal West of England Academy of Arts, but now it's happened, I feel even more motivated and inspired to create more.” Muse Your Imagination has been made possible by a grant of £35k from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The funding supports projects that engage young people with their heritage and share their experiences with the wider community. Manage Cookie Preferences How can we help?