Want to know more about youth arts? 

Need advice on how to contract or appoint artists?

Want to find an artist experienced in youth arts delivery? … then simply become a member of WYAN and you access all of this information for free in our resource section (only availble to members)  for more information click on MEMBERSHIP just below the TAGS!

Guess what membership is free too ! - what are you waiting for !

Radio Abbey in action

Radio Abbey – Kenilworth Youth and Community Centre

Ever wanted some where local to showcase young musical talent? Some where to hear fascinating interviews and information/advice programmes where young people are at the heart … look no further Radio Abbey is for you !

Over the past 6 months young people at Kenilworth Youth and Community Centre have been working with youth workers to establish a young people’s radio project.

Radio Abbey will be launching its broadcasts on the web at the end of November with the support of local business Solutions – Squared, and will be able to provide up to date information for young people by young people. Radio Abbey will be totally managed produced and presented by local young people and will offer training for those who would like to get involved. Right now they are looking for exciting events and opportunities to cover on the show  …

Kenilworth centre manager Andy Norman said ….’ At last young people will have a voice about what really matters to them! Not what adults think really matters. Their music, their issues, their life!’

If you have something to Broadcast on Radio Abbey please contact Andy Norman (Centre Manager) on tel; 01926 855205

On the 19th September 2008,  19 arts advisers were created in Warwickshire - they came from all over the county and from variety of different organisations. Over the next 6 months they will be working with young people to help them achieve an arts award  … to find out what they do watch this space

If you are interested in arts award and would like to know more about the Warwickshire pilot contact Clare Mitchell at claremitchell@warwickshire.gov.uk

Live in Warwick district ?

Got an opinion about the arts?

Wanna make your point heard ?

We are currently recruiting a group of young people from the area to visit appropriate arts related venues and events and then write a review of their experiences; is it suitable for young people? Is it affordable? Are the staff helpful/friendly?

We will visit exhibitions, museums, theatre plays and more, as a group and then tell the world what you think….THERE IS NO COST INVOLVED FOR PARTICIPANTS!!

We are having our first meeting on Monday 3rd November at WAYC HQ in Leamington at 6.30pm - if you would like to get involved or want more information then please get in touch:

contact Lee Atkins lee.atkins@wayc.org.uk or call (01926) 450156

More to follow…

The truth is…. Boys CAN dance

The truth is…. BOYS CAN DANCE !

Beingfrank Youth is a new and inspiring dance company. They say “We create energetic theatre through a fusion contemporary dance and physical theatre”

Aiming to interact with their audience with breath-taking effect the four young men who make us Beingfrank Youth with WYANs support have successfully applied for a youth opportunity bid that has enabled them to tour their show piece to youth groups and schools in Warwickshire as well as offer some workshops to budding young dancers.

Sound good doesn’t it … but perhaps what is most surprising about being frank youth is that the whole company are under 18 years old and so not only will this work mean that other young men are being encouraged to take up dance but also the dancers ( boys themselves) are learning new skills in fundraising touring , work shopping and business marketing all of which will certainly aid their career development as they move on to bigger and greater things.

Youth arts worker Clare Mitchell said

“It’s a real pleasure to work with such talented young men who have not only a very desire to develop themselves  but also the desire to contribute to the lives of other young people. Imagine what talent they might unearth as they embark on their tour of local youth centres and schools…”

Already the world is staking notice as, with help from their mentor Dave Mckenna (Being frank physical theatre) they took part in the national youth dance showcase in London last year and in February begin a months long tour with Birmingham based dance company ACE dance  in 2009… so watch this space blink and you might have missed them !

The local tour starts in Lillington Youth Centre and ends in Keresley village community centre at the BHK youth project.

For more details contact Clare Mitchell.  Youth arts development worker  01926 74 2486 or www.wyan.org.uk

A reporter for the Birmingham post said “the gymnastic antics of the Being Frank Youth Dance crew blew any stereotyped ideas of lanky, undisciplined sullenness right out of the water. I think I actually gasped out loud at one point; which was a bit embarrassing. It kind of made me wish that I’d done something a bit more worthwhile with my teenage years - like somersaulting around a metal bar rather than hanging around street corners drinking White Lightning.”