Creative Voice Festival took place Wednesday 29 – Thursday 30 October, 12.30-4.30pm at Princes Quay third floor and was a mix of workshops, young people’s performances, exhibitions and food! It offered the chance to see how young people have been creative at their local youth centres and youth arts projects.
This year’s exhibition included a “What Makes You Happy” tapestry made by young people from Route One Youth Centre and those who attended last year’s Festival who worked with MakerspaceHull. It was exhibited as part of a creative space supporting positive health and wellbeing and developed from young people’s feedback. Other exhibitions were from The Peel Project “Reviving Traditions” with young people also offering henna hand painting, Hull Youth Development Service “Celebrating Young People: Challenging Stereotypes” as well as a collaborative artwork of photography, collage and mixed media made by the Hull Young Major and friends and Young Voices Influencing Care Group and 87 Gallery “What We Do” screen print artwork by Care Experienced Explorers artists.
Performances came from young women from DJ Methodz Turning the Tables Project, Freedom Road Creative Arts, Hull Youth Music Network, Pragnya Indian Dance, Bettadayz and Just Drama Youth Theatre, Andrew Marvell Youth Centre. Many young people had not performed before and were proud of their achievement.
Sixteen young members of Just Drama Youth Theatre, based at Andrew Marvell Youth Centre, delivered a 35-minute performance to an audience of more than 60 family members, friends and supporters – with many of the audience were so impressed, they gave the group a standing ovation.
This year’s performance demonstrated not only creativity and skill, but remarkable personal growth, as many of the participants experience social and emotional challenges. Nine members had never performed publicly before.
Through weekly sessions, the group has been exploring short comedy and drama scenes, building characters, and devising pieces inspired by their own experiences.
The ethos of Just Drama is to create a kind, nurturing space where young people who may struggle to speak out can find their voice. Sessions adapt to individual needs and are designed to boost confidence, resilience, and self-esteem.
Drama is used by the group as a tool for self-expression, allowing young people to explore different situations, understand themselves and others, and work collaboratively to create meaningful work.
Young people also made a Play in Two Days inspired by Princes Quay with Middle Child Theatre. They performed it at the end of the festival.
Generation Hull also launched Kingston Youth Centre’s Arts Council as part of their Fight for Our Creative Futures programme.
There has been some amazing feedback.
“I had a lot of fun on this project, and I was really excited to share my ideas for a play. I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“Performing in Princes Quay was really scary but also really fun. I was nervous, but when we started I got really into it.”
“I want to do something like this again, it was really good to decide what story we wanted to tell. I don’t think you get to do that much.”
“Amazing Great Beautiful”
“Fun but Scary!”
“Fun Engaging Creative”
“Fun Interesting New”
“Just wanted to say a massive thank you to you and your colleagues for all the work you’ve done with L. She has grown so much since attending the youth club. The show yesterday was amazing 🤩🤩” (Parent/Carer)
“They are no longer the lonely souls that couldn’t meet your eye.” (Parent/Carer)
Creative Voice is a Hull City Council youth arts initiative led by Arts Development and Youth Development Service with partners Hull Dance and Artlink.
Photograph: Annabel from Astra Youth Centre
