Youth Arts Advocacy Programme

Using NYCI’s expertise in advocating on issues affecting young people for many years and the experience of successfully hosting the National Youth Arts Showcase, the programme has developed a training programme for young people and their leaders, the objective of which is to embed experience and expertise in local organisations, supporting them to raise the profile of arts activities and undertake actions of their own. An additional objective was to develop relationships which allow the programme meaningfully engage with young people and inform aspects of our work.

Training to date has included a number of expert inputs on how decisions in Ireland are made, communications and working with the media, working with elected representatives and using your voice to promote your message. Past tutors include Simon DeVilly (Ex producer The Pat Kenny Show), Jillian Van Turnhout former Senator and former CEO of Children’s Rights Alliance, Rebecca Moynihan Dublin City Council, as well as various NYCI staff. Past participants of the project:

• Invited to Aras an Uachtarain as part of celebration of young people’s contribution to society
• Formed part of consultation group informing principles of youth arts practice from participants’ perspectives
• Invited to Twitter HQ to take part in ‘Hackathon’
• Formed part of assessor panel on Artist and Youth Work Residency Scheme.
• Presented their work at conferences in Dublin Castle and Queens University