Festivals / Creative Youth Network
Reigniting the arts
Amongst the many industries hit hard by the pandemic, those in music and entertainment faced 18 months of cancelled shows, closed venues and unrenewed contracts.
Of the many thousands of professionals affected in this way, many emerging young creatives from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds found themselves particularly vulnerable – to unemployment, financial difficulty, isolation, marginalisation, and mental health challenges.
With funding from WECA’s Creative Business Grant, Arts Council England’s Project Grant Fund, Creative Youth Network is looking to support young creatives as they navigate a successful return to their burgeoning careers.
is needed now More than ever
The Network is putting on Reignite, a four day festival at The Station, championing 52 of these young people, commissioning new work and helping to provide advice and support that it is hoped will make meaningful change in the sector.
During the daytime, there will be free outside art exhibitions, live DJ sets, a shop selling goods from local makers and designers, and food and drink available to buy. Each night of the event will feature a headline performance, featuring theatre, music, spoken word and drag across the festival, with pay-what-you-can tickets starting from £1, purchasable in advance.
Millie Wood-Downie is producing Reignite, and has been personally impacted by Creative Youth Network: “Before the pandemic, I was working in the creative sector at venues such as the Watershed and making my own theatre with tours across the country booked in,” she reflects.
“As soon as the pandemic hit, my work stopped, venues closed, programmes cancelled my shows. I was too young in my career to be able to access furlough or recovery grants, and had to move home with my parents.
“Through support from organisations such at Creative Youth Network, I was able to produce my first one women show during lockdown and later went on to show it at Theatre on the Downs and Brighton Fringe Festival. I’m so pleased that I’m able to now produce Reignite, a much needed beacon of hope for so many young people whose hopes and dreams of creative careers were dashed during the pandemic.”
Millie Wood-Downie – photo: courtesy of Millie Wood-Downie
Protocols will be in place at Reignite to ensure it is a Covid-safe space; there will also be live streamed every evening, for those unable to access the event in person.
Reignite Creative Arts Festival is at The Station, Silver St, BS1 2AG on December 15-18. Tickets are available at www.creativeyouthnetwork.org.uk/pages/category/reignite.
Main photo: Ali Wright
Read more: Raise the Bar announce first show post-lockdown
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