This movement works toward a future where every young person can contribute to the culture that they live in. We believe that we can only achieve this vision if our work is guided by the insight and expertise of young people.
The Youth Collective is a group of young people who work closely with us to help us ensure that young people’s voices are at the heart of everything we do through:
Advocating for young people’s interests to Arts Emergency
Providing a sounding board on emerging ideas and plans from a young person’s perspective
Taking a leadership role in cultivating and setting the agenda for the Young Community
The team is made up of young people from across London, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and beyond - working, studying, and dreaming across a number of creative disciplines. The 2024-25 Collective members are Adebukola, Amie, Arisha, Ayah, Chloe, Fisola, Freda, Gen, Georgia, Louis, Sam, and Yusuf! You can check out their bios on the Arts Emergency team page. Chloe and Sam also serve as Young Trustees on our Board, representing the Young Community at the governance level.
Arts Emergency provides the Youth Collective with resources and support so that they can bring all their insights and experiences to the table. Youth Collective members meet regularly, both in person and online, and work closely with members of Arts Emergency's Board and Senior Leadership Team, as well as the rest of the organisation, to ensure that the programmes we deliver are truly designed for the people we exist to serve.
The Youth Collective Manifesto
The ‘art world’ is our world.
Things can change, they have to.
Artwork is heart-work.
No one should go on their journey alone.
Everyone has a part to play when the revolution comes.
We are far more powerful when we come together. Share resources. Pay it forward.
Collaboration not competition.
The arts should not be closed.
Creativity is not the end result. Be led by the process. Get stuck in.
Art is joy.
Keen to join the Youth Collective?
Applications for the next recruitment round will open in 2025 - keep an eye on your monthly newsletters to be first to hear when they do!
10th Birthday Festival
The 2022-2023 Youth Collective organised a festival to celebrate Arts Emergency's 10th Birthday.
Crash Culture Podcast
Inspired by the Young Community, Arts Emergency’s 2021-2022 Youth Collective produced a brand new podcast Crash Culture. Each episode explores inequalities within the arts, and how they affect real life people struggling to break into their career. Tune in to hear interviews, advice, industry top tips, and more! Hosted by Sarah, Sunnie, Mendhi, Hosanna, Benin, Ayah and Samira.
If you're interested in collaborating with the Youth Collective on an event or project please email our Community Team.
The Youth Collective is a paid advisory group, and the programme is made possible by generous donations from our supporters. To help fund this work, please make a donation.
