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Young Community

The Young Community programme provides opportunities for young people to come together with like-minded peers and build connections that become networks for life. This long-term support programme is currently accessed by over 1,800 young people aged 16-25.

Who is the Young Community?

The Young Community is a fantastic group of people aged 16-25 who have all had an Arts Emergency mentor. 

Once you become 26, you are 'Alumni' and part of the Arts Emergency Network.

What can the Young Community access?

Our Community programme aims to create a community that can support each other.

We come together online and in person to share opportunities, resources, and build real connections, which encourage creative, personal, and professional growth in a supportive, inclusive space.

Tell me about some specific parts!

  • Receive a monthly newsletter from the Youth Collective, plus a bonus opportunities bulletin
  • Attend Community Socials in-person every month, or online socials every other month
  • Check out the Opportunities board
  • Participate in the WhatsApp Community and Discord server

Introducing the Youth Collective

The Youth Collective is a group of our Young Community members who meet regularly to develop their own advocacy, activism and community work, and ensure youth voice is at the centre of everything Arts Emergency does. 

The Youth Collective is a representative group of 12 young people who work collaboratively to provide leadership for the Young Community. They ensure that young people’s views and voices are at the heart of everything we do, working closely with Arts Emergency to bring this to life through our Community programme.

We recruit new members of the Youth Collective every year in October/November so If you want to get more involved, look out for your chance to sign up in the monthly newsletter.

Youth Collective residential, Oct 2024
4 people sitting at a table whittling wood and chatting
Young Community event, Manchester, 2025

Community Socials & Assemblies

We host monthly in-person socials and online events for the Young Community to build connections, develop knowledge and skills, and have conversations about the creative and cultural industries. From hands-on workshops and collaborative conversations, to online chats with creative professionals, the events offer a variety of spaces for young people to come together.

We also host an annual series of Community Assemblies where we come together and discuss the big issues affecting us, how the industry needs to respond, and how Arts Emergency can support us.

These events are co-produced with and led by the Youth Collective, ensuring every event is responsive to the needs of the young people. 

The Young Community Newsletter

The newsletter is written by the Youth Collective and drops into your inbox every month offering optimism, ideas, and opportunities, and lots more. We'll also send a mini bulletin with special opportunities. This is our main way of staying in touch with you so make sure you're subscribed. If you want to change the email address we send the newsletter to, please get in touch.

The most useful aspect of the Arts Emergency support was those monthly newsletters. Every month I’m gearing myself up to see what new opportunities there are. Those links have (hopefully) changed my life.
Rowena, Young Community member
I’ve been able to have so much experience and opportunities I would never would’ve had without Arts Emergency, and I’ve also been able to create some connections and some networking, and I’ve been able to learn a lot about the industry I want to go into.
Mia, Young Community member

The Opportunities Board

Arts Emergency has a network of over 10,000 creatives across the UK (and beyond!). They share opportunities with us, to share with you. We share a link to the opportunities board in each monthly newsletter. These are constantly flowing in, so bookmark the page and return whenever you're looking for a new opportunity. 

Our WhatsApp Community & Discord

The Youth Collective use WhatsApp to speak directly with the Young Community, share updates and gather ideas. The Discord server opens up conversation and collaboration across the Young Community.

Request a link via community@arts-emergency.org or check out the latest newsletter.

Blue Discord icon. Alien like head.