Teesside Young People Celebrate Arts Award Success

43 young people from across Teesside are celebrating after successfully achieving their Bronze Arts Awards, through participating in creative projects run by Tees Valley Arts.

risky biz photo by kev howard

Some of these young people have found themselves in difficult circumstances in life, but all have enjoyed taking part in the projects, and all can be very proud of what they have achieved.

Young people gained their Bronze Arts Award through taking part in the following projects:-

  • Moving On: Moving on is a J Paul Getty Jr Foundation funded project which uses the arts to help give the young people in the care of the local authority a range of skills to help them to move on positively, adding value to the dedicated work of the Care Teams.
  • stART: The stART Project worked with young people in the Borough of Stockton categorised as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), and delivered a package of creative activities and learning. The project was funded through the Synergy VCS consortium, and TVA worked in partnership with Stockton Integrated Youth Services on the project which took place at the Five Lamps’ Youthy in Thornaby.
  • Journeys: Young people from Middlesbrough worked on a drama project with local playwright Ishy Din, supported by drama workers. They developed a play called ‘Alchemy’ about the history of Teesside, and it was performed at Middlesbrough myplace and Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt. The project was funded by Arts Council England.
  • Risky Biz: TVA is working in partnership with Barnardo’s to support vulnerable young people through creative activities, and the project is funded by Comic Relief.

Alchemy photo by Kev Howard

The Arts Award supports young people to develop as artists and arts leaders and inspires young people aged 7 to 25 to enjoy the arts. Tees Valley Arts is a regional Arts Award Training Centre, and Education Officer Jane Gray delivers training for Arts Award advisers across the region and nationally. Jane Gray commented:

“The Arts Award is central to many of our initiatives, providing an opportunity to accredit young people’s achievement when participating in the creative arts. One of the interesting aspects of Bronze Arts Award is the opportunity for young people to research their own arts hero and we have been astonished by heroes studied, ranging from the Notorious B.I.G to Susan Boyle via Adam Ant.”