In 2010/11 the first phase of the Youth Arts Development Strategy concluded, with support from the Future Jobs Fund. Working with High Peak CVS we were able to employ a Youth Arts Network Development Officer, who researched networks across the country, strengthened our local contacts database and made recommendations for the Youth Arts Network High Peak.
This network now links together 10 different groups from permanent institutions, such as Buxton Opera House, to small ad hoc community voluntary arts projects and voluntary youth clubs. It is set up to communicate via a blog site and Facebook page, and from the beginning has aimed to collaborate on practical initiatives, rather than act as a talking shop.
In October 2012 we held our first collaborative event: We Make Our World, 28 October 2012, Buxton Pavilion Arts Centre.
Looking to the future the Network will develop by word of mouth and marketing to include as many groups from across the district as we can contact. Initial research demonstrated a demand for extra support, training and better communication between groups. Development for this year will publicise the blog site and Facebook page, to explore the extent of demand for different types of support.
We want to collaborate again on another performance for October and build the network to involve at least 15 different groups in the area.
Go to the blog for more detail on the discussions from the meetings and the database of youth activities mapped across the district: www.yanhighpeak.blogspot.com