Speak Up Ambassadors after their first session at Lowry

Speak Up Ambassador Scheme Launched at Lowry

This month we held our first meeting of our new Speak Up Ambassadors, made up of 8 young people representing a range of schools. We brought the group to  Lowry to take part in an event planning workshop, starting to generate ideas to feed into an event for local schools in July.

So what is Speak Up?

Speak Up is a National Theatre secondary school programme partnering with Lowry alongside 9 other cultural venues across the UK to deliver free, weekly creative workshops in a range of artforms to 15 targeted schools in Salford, Wigan and Rochdale. We work in areas with less access to the arts and creative venues. The project works with local artists and teachers to co-create artistic responses with groups around issues that are important to them. Through Speak Up, we encourage new ways of thinking about social change and how the arts can make a real impact in the world.

“FUTURE FASHION FORWARD” a visual art piece created by a Speak Up group in Rochdale exploring their hopes and dreams for the future

 

What is the Speak Up Ambassador Programme

“We are the representation of young people’s voices in Greater Manchester... It is our job to take part in online meetings and go to London and share our ideas with the rest of the Speak Up Council”. By taking part in residentials and regular sessions at the Lowry, the Speak Up Council and Ambassadors will be feeding into the design and planning of our final celebration events both in Greater Manchester and at The National Theatre" - says Amelia, who has been a member of Speak Up since the pilot stage of the programme in 2022 and is a representative on the national Speak Up Council. 

At Lowry we are working with our Speak Up Ambassadors and Speak Up Council to provide real opportunity in creative events management, working with industry professionals to allow young people to develop producing skills that they can then take into the next stages of their education or career journeys. The group will meet across the academic year and will be given a set budget to spend for the event. In February the group will have to pitch their ideas to other young people taking part in the Speak Up Project before settling on their final plans ahead of the Speak Up Changemakers event in July at Lowry.

Speak Up Council Member hosting the Speak Up Takeover Day in the Quays Theatre at The Lowry in June 2024

Why is Speak Up Important?

“I like how Speak Up is really inclusive... anyone can come, no matter who you are, what gender you are, what race you are, it’s a really inclusive space and a safe space for everyone”. The project focusses on both the creative process and using the arts to promote positive messages and make change. Speaking to another participant, they said “before taking part I had zero friends and I wouldn’t talk to anyone and now I have come to Speak Up I have found friends and a place at school” - says Amelia

The benefits of Speak Up are staggering and it is vital that arts organisations continue to provide accessible creative opportunities at a time when the arts are being drastically cut in state education. We have seen a 42% decrease in schools entering students into arts GCSEs since 2010 and 22% fewer drama teachers in schools 2022/23 compared to 2011/12 (Cultural Learning Alliance Report Card: 2024).

This is having a direct impact on creative access for young people across the UK. Ability to participate in the arts is not equitable, with independent schools being more likely to prioritise a creative education despite the arts and cultural sector creating jobs at three times the UK average, employing 1.8 million people across the UK (Creative UK: 2024).

Creative subjects are hugely beneficial to all, even those not wanting to pursue a creative career. Subjects such as art, drama and music also offer a wide range of skills valued by employers such as empathy, teamwork, problem-solving and innovation (Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation: 2023).  
Through programmes like our Speak Up Ambassador scheme, the Lowry is seeking to build opportunities for young people to gain a real insight into creative careers. Continued access to free creative opportunities is at the heart of the engagement work we do which provides a wealth of opportunity that not only positively impacts the wellbeing of individuals but is working to ensure we have more diverse representation in the future workforce of the arts industry.

Speak Up is kindly funded by the Mohn Westlake Foundation.

Photo credit Owen Peters

References

"Statistics: Creative UK." Creative UK. October 25, 2024. https://www.wearecreative.uk/champion/statistics/.

"Cultural Learning Alliance Report Card." Cultural Learning Alliance, (2024). Accessed October 24, 2024. https://www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CLA-2024-Annual-Report-Card.pdf.

"The Arts in Schools: Foundations for the Future." Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, A New Direction, (2023): 13. Accessed October 24, 2024. file:///C:/Users/Ella%20Dufton/Downloads/The-Arts-in-Schools-full-report-2023-updated-Jan-2024%20(1).pdf.