20th July 2007, 07/245
Go Live - next steps
A youth theatre and funding opportunities are being explored to
develop future performing arts opportunities in West Lancashire,
thanks to Go Live.
Go Live - the West Lancashire Young People's Performing Arts
Project -was a yearlong initiative planned to raise awareness of
the performing arts while increasing the opportunities
available.
The project was the result of a partnership between West Lancashire
District Council, Lancashire County Council and Rose Theatre at
Edge Hill University and was a resounding success.
It included four holiday activity programmes where youngsters could
try taster sessions with professional companies. Opportunities
included singing coaching, rock school song writing, Djing,
dancing, hip-hop, jazz and street dance, circus skills and drama.
1,054 places were booked in total.
A number of projects were developed with organisations, which
included Lancashire Education Medical Support, Young Carers,
Learning Support Centres and West Lancashire Community High School.
The evidence gathered will be used to create sustainable
opportunities for young people at risk of isolation.
Go Live successfully engaged and consulted with young people across
the district. The main aim was to find out what activities they
would like to see happen in the area. All the young people who
participated in the activity programmes completed questionnaires
and more than 700 Year 8 surveys distributed to schools were
completed by youngsters.
As a result of the exciting initiative and based on the views from
the consultation, partners are looking at achieving funding to
develop a number of social inclusion schemes with key
organisations; and are exploring the best model for a youth
theatre.
Cllr Rob Bailey, WLDC Portfolio holder for Leisure, said: "This was
a fantastic year-long initiative which achieved amazing results. It
really helped to raise awareness of performing arts in West
Lancashire and gave young people a unique opportunity to try out a
range of taster sessions so that they could make informed decisions
on what activities they would like to see being developed in the
area."
Chris Ingham, Lancashire County Council Youth and Community
Service, said: "The Go Live Project enabled many individual young
people to experience and enjoy the various art activities on offer.
Many of these young people do not normally have the opportunities
to access the quality of provision that was delivered within the
schemes. This alongside being able to express their view and ideas
for future development will ensure that the learning from the
project will hopefully lead on to many more activities being
available in the future."
June Gibbons, Rose theatre Edge Hill University, said: "Go Live was
a unique opportunity for young people of West Lancashire to not
only take part in the arts but actually have a say about how they
would like the project to be expanded in the future. The demand for
places demonstrates a clear need for sustainable arts provision for
young people in the area and a way forward for the development of a
thriving Youth Theatre."
Lancashire County Councillor Jean Battle, Cabinet Member for
Community Planning and Partnerships, said: "Go Live has given young
people in West Lancashire a real opportunity to shape the kind of
activity they want to be involved in for the future as well as
giving them the chance to develop their own creative skills and
abilities. This is a great example of the way in which partnership
working between local authorities and other agencies can deliver
significant benefits to communities."
What youngsters have said about Go Live:
· Mark age 13 - August 06 - Song Writing - "Can't be improved it
was boss!"
· David age 15 - October 06- Rock School - "Cool as usual keep it
going!"
· Alison age 14 -Feb 07- "Drama learnt new skills Miming, movement,
phrasing, I am much more confidant!"
· Julie age 15 - Easter 07 - "It was excellent I think it was all
good and I would really like it to be on next year"
· Ruth age 8 - "I loved the different dances!"
For more information about the results of Go Live or any Chapel
Gallery initiatives and exhibitions visit the Chapel Gallery section or
contact 01695 571328.
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