Youth Arts Now is an initiative which aims to support the research and future development of youth arts policy and practice in Ireland.

 

It is aimed at youth arts practitioners, youth arts groups, leaders, stakeholders and young  people . It will develop a series of 'ground-up' policies for youth arts in Ireland, a strategy that could support the development of sustainable funding for youth arts. It's aims also are to raise the profile and the importance of the youth arts sector and establish an effective network for lobbying and mutual supports for youth arts practitioners and organisations.

 

Youth Arts Now is currently a working group consisting of Waterford Youth Arts and the Waterford City & County Arts Office, Creative Waterford, Arts Offices of Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford.

 

Central to the process is the voice of the young person. Beginning with exploratory 'sit downs' with young local arts participants and then having to adapt to the 'lockdown' scenarios we have evolved our communications in such a way that it can capture data across a wider geographical spectrum better and more efficiently. This allows us to fine hone the mechanisms for youth participation. Youth Arts Now prioritises the engagement of young people, allowing for their full participation and engagement in the design and direction of the project.
 

Informed by the findings of an initial three month research and data collection project in 2020 resourced collectively by the Arts Officers of Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford Councils and Creative Waterford. 

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