Meet our Youth Advisory Board
Our brilliant and talented Youth Advisory Board (YAB) are aged between 16 and 25 and are based in the North of England.
Grab yourself a cuppa and meet some of our YAB members as they give us an insight into why they became YAB members and what creativity means to them.
Meet our Youth Advisory Board
Lizzie
Describe yourself in three words:
Curious, Creative and Colourful!
Why did you join the Youth Advisory Board?
I joined YAB because I care about developing creative spaces and opportunities that are as accessible to as many people as possible. Growing up, I was lucky enough to live in a house that valued the arts in every form, even if we didn’t have the money to take part in all of it. I want other people to have those chances.
Why does creativity matter?
Creativity is important for our wellbeing and has so many varied career paths. Art is all around us. On our TV’s, on our walls, even the chairs we sit on are a creative design! I am proud to be a part of something which will help share the incredible world of creativity and helps to include as many voices as possible.
Rumbi
Describe yourself in three words:
Creative, ambitious, attentive
Why did you join the Youth Advisory Board?
I joined to be part of an amazing organisation that’s had such a positive impact on my musical career so far. “Run Run”, “Take Care”, my previously released singles, and the Studio Orchestra Project are all things that have been funded through this incredible organisation. I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in artist development programmes that have been pivotal in my music career. Now it’s my turn to give back into the arts and make a positive impact.
Why does creativity matter?
Creativity is our expression of life! It matters because sometimes it’s the only thing that we have left to decipher our emotions. Creativity in all aspects is a safe haven for so many people around the world. I believe that creativity is a key aspect of our continued development as beings and it’s something to be nurtured.
Rosie
Describe yourself in three words:
Theatrical, snack-loving, zesty!
Why did you join the Youth Advisory Board?
I joined the YAB to work on accessibility in the Arts Council’s funding application process and have also started focusing on environmental policy. It would be great to get more young people involved in the Arts Council and understanding how it can benefit their own craft. I wish I’d known more about it as a young theatre-maker!
Why does creativity matter?
Creativity matters as it makes us who we are! We are meant to express and make jokes and scribble in the corners of paper because that is art! Creativity keeps us young and never changes as we grow old. It’s what makes us who we are and how we come together.
Bryony
Describe yourself in three words:
Organised, Cool & Talented
Why did you join the Youth Advisory Board?
I joined YAB to learn about new topics and go to meetings. I’m proud to be selected to represent the North-West!
Why does creativity matter?
Creativity matters because it helps our bodies – to the way we think in real life and ourselves to what we do with it.
Alfie
Describe yourself in three words:
Hard working, creative, serious.
Why did you join the Youth Advisory Board?
Access for disabled people and those in rural areas.
Why does creativity matter?
It allows me to express myself and helps me to say what I want to say.
Israel
Describe yourself in three words:
Confident, Happy, Open
Why did you join the Youth Advisory Board?
I joined to meet so many amazing people and have learnt to listen to others as well as making my mind up as an artist.
Why does creativity matter?
Creativity matters to me because it helped people to understand the minds of people as well as telling you how they are felling. My music tells stories as well as my journey.
Abby
Describe yourself in three words:
A Groovy Gal
Why did you join the Youth Advisory Board?
I joined YAB to bring about change in the creative sector. I feel that many people do not get to explore their creativity as they live in low socioeconomic and rural areas and don’t have access to the arts. I would like to change this as part of the Youth Advisory Board and hope to see my community flourish with creativity.
Why does creativity matter?
I think that creativity matters as it allows people to explore the world around them and can bring people together. From my personal experience, the arts have helped me express emotions and communicate curiosities that I would’ve otherwise not found the words to convey. I think that it is incredibly important to nourish creativity from a young age; through creativity comes innovation and advancements within society.
Chloe
Describe yourself in three words:
Tactile, Scrappy & Driven
Why did you join the Youth Advisory Board?
I joined YAB because I wanted to see better access to arts opportunities, as well as representation for artists of colour in the North East. I’m invested in cross-arts forms and the interdisciplinary arts and have already been so impressed and inspired by our collective of YAB creatives, as well as representation for artists of colour.
Why does creativity matter?
Creativity matters because activism matters. Creativity means being adventurous, curious and radical, pushing against order or status in what we create, consume or listen to. It’s how we incite revolution, how we push against the status-quo, how we empathise and how we show radical kindness.
Mel
Describe yourself in three words:
Bubbly, Passionate, Ambitious
Why did you join the Youth Advisory Board?
As a YAB member, I really hope to be able to get higher authority to see the difference the arts make and how important it is. I also want to try to make the arts a creative safe haven for everyone no matter their race, gender, sexuality, disability, and social status. Everyone deserves an equal chance to get into the arts. The arts need to put money aside and start giving equal opportunities to everyone.
Why does creativity matter?
Creativity matters because it is a safety harness for those whose minds aren’t academic. It is a world of escape. It is a window of many unlimited possibilities. Without creativity, life would be dull and full of stress and pain. Creativity strikes inspiration in many and gives hope even in the darkest of times. Creativity is a ribbon that swirls around many thoughts and feelings that the world needs to see. Creativity has its value just as much as Academics.
Manisha
Describe yourself in three words:
Chaotic, focused and approachable!
Why did you join the Youth Advisory Board?
I hope to spread awareness and connect with others who believe that mental health should be a priority within the arts. This means a whole range of issues to tackle such as self-employment, perfectionism and accessibility.
Why does creativity matter?
Creativity matters because it’s a moment where an individual benefits from the process of expressing themselves in a way that is not right or wrong. It’s a process that anyone can engage in, when feeling any emotion.
Lily
Describe yourself in three words:
Tree-hugger, bagel-eater, almost-writer
Why did you join the Youth Advisory Board?
I joined YAB to try and make sure that the issues that young people care about are reflected in the art that they see around them, and to ensure that young people are the ones creating this art. I wanted to meet more like-minded young people with a love of the arts so that we could make a difference together.
Why does creativity matter?
Creativity is so important on so many levels, most importantly for mental health- creating something, whatever it is, is a great way to boost your mood. It doesn’t matter whether you’re ‘good’ at art, it’s all about enjoying it.
El
Describe yourself in three words:
Creative, Determined, Passionate
Why did you join the Youth Advisory Board?
I joined the Arts Council’s YAB to have a positive impact on the future of the arts world, in particular young people’s mental health in the industry and music education. In addition to these points, I joined to learn more about different arts subjects aside from my specialist subject in music. I aim to grow my own creative knowledge and contribute to the progression of music education.
Why does creativity matter?
Creativity is used as self – expression and a way of freeing emotions and feelings that can’t be expressed in words. It has the fascinating quality of being used in hobbies and in careers which makes it a very unique skill. Lastly, it links us all in some way and having that connection to others through a common interest is vital for sharing our own being in a different medium.
Johnathan
Describe yourself in 3 words
Bookish, spirited blonde
Why did you join the Youth Advisory Board?
Youth voice should be an important influence in the present and future of our arts and culture. I joined YAB to facilitate the opening of access and visibility for arts opportunities, events and funding in areas that have not traditionally had access. Arts and culture should not be a sector that favours privilege.
Why does creativity matter?
Creativity is so multifaceted that it can mean something different for everyone. For me, arts, literature and creativity have always been intrinsic to culture and cultural identity. Creativity for people everywhere because it moulds and affirms our experiences, however varied they may be. Individuals can see themselves represented in art, and they can produce art with which others can identify.
More from YAB
National Careers Week: meet two of our Youth Advisory Board members!
Our Youth Advisory Board consists of 18 young people from across the North of England as part of our pilot programme.
A conversation between two members of our Youth Advisory Board
Day to Create: a visit from our Youth Advisory Board
Abby, a member of the Youth Advisory Board, reflects on her visit to an Artsmark school during their #DaytoCreate celebrations. Find out what she got up to...
Chamber music gives me a sense of belonging when my mental health dips
"As a young creative I often struggle with my mental wellbeing, but there’s so much about sharing a passion with others that brings me joy", writes El Cragg for The Independent.
Our Youth Advisory Board work with staff throughout our organisation to ensure the voices of children and young people are at the heart of what we do.
We’re working with three fantastic youth organisations to help us manage the pilot of our Youth Advisory Board.
