National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW) empowers the next generation of musicians, actors, dancers and makers to build a creative, confident and generous future for Wales.
On Earth Day 2024, we are excited to launch the Change Makers - a new youth collective that supports young creatives to influence the future of the arts throughout Wales. It will nurture the next generation of arts leaders, with a focus on environmental, cultural and social issues.
We believe that all young people should have access to a wide range of artistic and cultural opportunities as part of a healthy, connected and fulfilled life. Bringing together young visionaries from across Wales, Change Makers will provide a platform to shape the strategic and artistic direction of NYAW, and influence change in the wider Welsh arts sector. The collective will help identify the barriers that prevent so many young people from participating in the arts, and how these could be overcome. It will empower young people to drive progress and ensure their voices are heard throughout the organisation.
In addition to facilitating dialogue and action, Change Makers will serve as a hub for nurturing future leaders of the Welsh arts sector. Through masterclasses and skills training sessions led by influential professionals, members will have the opportunity to hone their leadership skills and broaden their own career horizons.
Mason Edwards, Assistant Producer at NYAW said: "I'm delighted to see the Change Makers collective launching, as National Youth Arts Wales continues its work towards instilling Youth Voice in all areas of the organisation. As collective members not only will these young people have a seat at the NYAW table, but also the opportunity to come together as the next generation of arts leaders and help shape the future of Welsh arts for the better”.
The Change Makers are ten young people, aged 18-25 from many walks of life throughout Wales - united by their passion for the arts and their commitment to positive change. They will meet throughout the year to collaborate on key initiatives such as environmental stewardship, community partnerships, social responsibility and diversity and inclusion measures.
At the core of the project lies the Change Makers Report, an ambitious document crafted by its members to guide NYAW's work in the coming years. This will represent a collective vision of a more just, equitable and vibrant future, serving as a compass as NYAW navigates the road ahead.
Rightkeysonly, NYAW Change Maker said: “Being physically disabled, neurodivergent, and part of the LGBT+ community myself, I am driven to improve access to the arts, as it wasn't always available to me growing up. I believe NYAW is making the arts more accessible for diverse individuals, and I'd like to contribute to that journey”.
Karema Ahmed, another NYAW Change Maker said: “Joining NYAW as a Change Maker offers invaluable learning opportunities. I love the diverse perspectives within the project, enabling us to understand each other better. I hope that after this project, we are all able to get a better perspective on what needs changing to better the future”.
To find out more about the project and to read the Change Makers individual stories, head over to the Change Makers webpage.