The Arts Emergency Approach
- We build solidarity for young people from diverse artforms, disciplines, and identities, but experiencing common challenges
- We meet young people where they are and address their intersecting needs
- We are committed to supporting young people over the long haul
- Young people’s voices are at the heart of what we do and how we work
- We are a grassroots movement powered by a spirit of mutual aid
We aim to connect, develop and empower young people so that they can access and thrive in creativity and culture.
Connect
Young people build connections to support their creative ambitions.
They gain...
- Stronger connections with like-minded peers
- Stronger connections with creative professionals who can open doors
- Greater sense of belonging as part of a creative community
Develop
Young people develop the knowledge and skills to achieve their creative ambitions.
They gain...
- Improved knowledge of creative pathways and destinations
- Better understanding of how the creative industries work in practice
- Soft skills to navigate their individual creative journeys
Empower
Young people are empowered to pursue their creative ambitions.
They gain...
- Clearer sense of creative purpose and direction
- Greater sense of validation in their creative strengths, ideas, and ambitions
- Greater self-confidence that they can achieve their creative ambitions
Arts Emergency Programmes
We have three main strands of work (although they overlap considerably!)
Through 1:1 support, peer communities, and collectives of action, we open doors for underrepresented young people.
Mentoring
Our mentoring programme supports 300 young people each year across London, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside.
Through a year-long mentoring relationship with a trained volunteer who is experienced in their creative area of interest, young people aged 16-18 receive information, advice, and guidance that supports them to make decisions and take steps toward their creative ambitions as they move beyond compulsory education.
Community
Every young person who joins our programmes becomes part of the Young Community - a national network of 2,000+ creative young people aged 16–25 from underrepresented backgrounds.
We connect online and in person to share opportunities, resources, and build real connections, which encourage creative, personal, and professional growth in a supportive, inclusive space.
Collectives
Our Youth Collective is a representative group of 10 young people who work with Arts Emergency as paid consultants and leaders of the Young Community.
They work collaboratively to set the agenda for the Young Community, co-produce its programme, and make sure young people are involved and benefit. In this way, the Young Community programme is authentically an offer for young people, by young people.
Learning together
Every year Arts Emergency explores a theme through a series of BIG QUESTIONS which weave into our programmes and conversations throughout the year.
This year's theme is creative communities:
- What does a creative community mean to you?
- How important is it to have a creative community?
- What does an ideal creative community look like?
We invite you to reflect on these questions yourself, and read the response below by Maggie from the Young Community.
Our Stories
I 100% would not be where I am now without my mentor.
Aisha, 20, is from east London and is currently studying for a BA in Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts. Their journey with Arts Emergency started back in 2021 when they applied for a mentor.
Our Stories
"I was already confident in my drawing abilities but I lacked knowledge about the animation industry and the realities of getting a job in it."
We caught up with mentee Steph and their mentor Claire, both based in Merseyside, about the mentoring journey so far, what they’re getting from the experience and how the programme is helping plan for the future.
Our Stories
"I’d thought about studying architecture at university but I had no idea about the route to get there."
Louis, 22, from Manchester, first joined Arts Emergency as a mentee in 2020. Four years later, he's now a member of the Youth Collective and is well on his way to becoming an architect.