After a brilliant response to round two of our Grants for Youth Theatre funding scheme, we’re delighted to distribute just under £25,000 in investment to our successful applicants.
This funding will enable groups and freelancers across Scotland to adapt their practice to deliver targeted activity with young people. It will help groups make adaptations for face-to-face delivery, while addressing issues of inequality, environmental impact, or social justice. The funding scheme aims to aid the development of practice that results in a positive impact on young people.
Funding for YTAS’s Grants for Youth Theatre was provided by the generous support of the Scottish Government’s Emergency Funds for Youth Arts and Communities Recovery Fund, as well as support from the Gannochy Trust. The funding aims to help the recovery of youth arts across Scotland, ensuring young people’s creative opportunities continue despite COVID-19.
As well as funding, successful applicants will receive support from one of our experienced Allies in Residence. These Allies will mentor groups embarking on new projects in possibly-unfamiliar territory. They come from organisations like Scottish Youth Theatre, Creative Carbon Scotland, Birds of Paradise, See Me Scotland, and more.
More about our successful applicants
Horsecross Arts will receive £2,998 for their climate justice project, pairing their young people with a designer to create an interactive installation that will make audiences think about the simple actions they can take to reduce their impact on the climate.
Ochil Youth Community Improvements will receive £2,265 to establish a safe space for disengaged pupils in Clackmannanshire. They’ll explore issues important to them, and turn that into an empowering creative project to educate their peers about risk.
The Theatre Royal Dumfries will use their £1,940 to undertake a collaborative performance outreach project with young people around the themes of land reform, protest and environmental crisis.
Fractured Glass Theatre will use £3,000 of Grants for Youth Theatre funding to create a safe space in Glasgow for a group of girls aged 8-12, in which they can experience the arts, feel empowered, raise aspirations, be inspired, and make positive change.
Spotlights Community Youth Theatre successfully applied for £3,000 towards commissioning a play specifically for their company. Many of the young people have additional support needs, and this will allow everyone to play an equitable role in the production.
Largs Youth Theatre will use their £3,000 to engage new and existing participants across two holiday camp programmes, which will aim to build drama skills and increase participants’ engagement in environmental themes and climate justice.
Falkirk Youth Theatre will also receive £3,000 to undertake a series of work to engage young voices in climate justice and LGBTQIA+ conversations, culminating in documentation through film.
Comar’s £1,500 of funding will help to create a sustainable outreach programme of personal development for rural students who wish to progress in the arts industry.
Freelance theatre artist Kiera Wilkins was awarded £2,666 to explore theatre with young people seeking sanctuary. The project aims to encourage connection and imagination through devising and performance.
Cutting Edge Theatre will use their £1,500 to establish a company for those aged 18 – 25 with learning disabilities. The funding will help them to employ freelance creatives to work with the group as part of this pilot project. They’ll develop creative content and ensure young people’s needs are supported, both within the group and within the sector.
Congratulations to our successful applicants: we look forward to hearing all about the projects in the coming weeks!
What’s next?
We know how appreciated the Grants for Youth Theatre have been for groups, and while the funding is now all allocated, we’ll keep advocating and applying for ongoing funds to continue this work in 2022 and beyond. Fingers crossed and watch this space!
