“Words that I can string together would be just too cheesy to communicate the uplifting and inspiring feeling that last night engendered in, I think just about everyone there. Not just us but the young people who participated too. Congratulations to every one who helped make it happen. “
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Creative Youth are delighted to announce that applications are now open for the 2013 International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF), which is rapidly becoming one of the largest and most diverse youth events in the country.
From 6th – 28th July 2013 the streets and venues of Kingston will come alive as young people from the ages of 5 to 26 showcase the very best in youth arts selected from the UK and Internationally.
Music, art, drama, film and dance events take place all over the borough: indoors in Kingston’s pubs, galleries, theatres (including the wonderful 900 seat Rose Theatre), churches and the museum; whilst outside, the atmosphere is pure carnival with circus performers, processions, big tops, live theatre, music, dance and poetry performers all making good use of the wonderful open spaces of the Market Place and Kingston’s parks.
The festival thrives on the creativity and unique ideas of young companies and welcomes applications for site specific events and suggestions of spaces to utilise which have not been in previous years.
The festival is created and produced by young people, giving young people opportunities not only as performers, but as event managers, producers, creators and innovators ensuring young people have the best possible opportunity to have successful arts careers. IYAF actively encourages applications that are led by young people and welcomes applications which involve young people in a variety of fields – for example a cast of adults over the age of 26 could be accepted if the production was entirely produced by young people.
Building on a new initiative in 2012, the International Youth Arts Festival will once again open with 5 days of participatory projects, workshops and schools engagement work (6th July – 11th July). The latter part of the festival will be the celebration which we have all come to love! 17 days of performances, exhibitions and showcases of incredible youth work from around the world in addition to special events which showcase the projects delivered in the first week. Applications are encouraged for both parts of the festival as are projects which can deliver engagement at the beginning of the festival, followed by a performance element in the second part.
Guidelines are available HERE and the application form is HERE
For more information about IYAF 2012, please click here!