Your future, your voice! >>> Engage Works is an online programme for young people exploring creative career pathways and activism, running from 23-28 November.
This time last year we had delivered our first conference (or ‘un-conference’…) Engage Works 1.0 brought together arts and cultural organisations and young people from across Norfolk to explore and discuss creativity and culture where we live, what works and what could get better and how. We created art and poetry together and had useful conversations, we listened, we enjoyed some brilliant performances from young musicians and poets, and we ate lunch (which is truly the mark of a good conference).
In March, we were ready to deliver our second event at the National Centre for Writing and then something unpredictable happened………a global pandemic.
If there is one thing the last few months have shown us, it is that now more than ever creativity and culture can bring us together and benefit us all, and is still a vital part of both Norfolk and our city here in Norwich. With that in mind we are really excited that we’ve been able to reshape some of that programme into Engage Works 2.0, an online programme happening from 23-28 November that’s open to young people from Norfolk, and beyond!
I think there is something for everyone to explore during the week. We have a series of creative career panels running on Monday 23, Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 November with our pals at Norwich University of the Arts – with a whole range of creative professionals; from games designers and digital experts, to illustrators, film-makers, poets and musicians.
You can also register for our FREE creative activism workshops, learn and get involved with some zine making – asking how we can make activism more inclusive with Norwich Millennium Library, book onto a four week programme exploring performance in activism with the Norwich Theatre team, delve into writing as activism with writer Daisy Henwood (check out this blog about Daisy’s YNAF 2020 workshop here), and we’ll be joined by the Young Activist Network to share their own positive activism and inspire some creative activism.
We’ll also be sharing loads of great stuff on social media with #EngageWorks #YourFutureYourVoice and #NorwichCreativeCity2040 – showcasing brilliant creative opportunities and activism in our region, as well as resources you can utilise to think about your own creative path.
The Engage Works programme has been coordinated in partnership with the Norwich 2040 Local Cultural Education Partnership and supported by Festival Bridge and Norwich University of the Arts.