Seminar and networking event to explore how creative and arts based interventions can create opportunities for young people and contribute to the vitality of the High Street. Focusing on the Have HeART Empty Shop project we will explore how we can build the confidence, skills and employment prospects of young people through positive engagement with the arts and creative industries.

SPEAKERS
Dave Adamson, CREW: “The Power of Pop Up: How Meanwhile Use Can Help Revitalize Our High Streets’
Karen Dusgate, Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association Ltd: “Art and Regeneration: The Redhouse Story”
David Shaw, Droneboy Create: “How the Entrepreneurial Spirit Can Bring Back the Lost Kids”

The creative industries is one of the UKs fastest growing sectors, accounting for 1.68million jobs in 2012 and an increase in employment of 8.6% (a much higher rate than the UK economy as a whole 0.7%*) Yet amidst rapidly increasing youth unemployment there are few opportunities for young people to build skills and gain experiences that would help improve their employment prospects in this thriving sector.

The Brighter Futures Programme aims to directly challenge this through a range of innovative youth led activities which aim to raise the self-esteem, confidence, aspiration and transferable skill base of young people experiencing disadvantage through positive engagement with the arts and creative industries.

The Brighter Futures flagship project is the Have HeART Empty Shop Project. This summer, South Wales based social enterprise Have HeART will transform an empty shop into a creative hub and retail space that aims to revolutionize the way young people think about and use charity shops.  The shop will provide a space for independent artists, makers and brands to showcase and sell their work while providing inspirational learning and voluntary opportunities for unemployed young people, and raising money for local youth arts/creative projects- a WIN WIN WIN situation. We will be officially launching the project at this event and it is a great opportunity to find out how you or your organization can get involved.

If you work with young people and/or disadvantaged communities, are studying/employed/represent the creative industries or believe in the importance of supporting the creative and entrepreneurial potential of young people, please come along to this exciting event and help explore ways we can empower a generation of caring and creative young change makers.

Space available for information and/or craft stalls: if you are an arts or youth based community group/organization/project or an independent artist/maker and would like a FREE information or market stall this a great opportunity to showcase your work. Please get in touch for more details. 

To register and reserve your place please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brighter-futures-day-seminar-and-have-heart-shop-project-launch-registration-11962615505 and please print and bring your ticket to the event. THIS IS A FREE EVENT, HOWEVER THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DONATION IF YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO, SEE EVENTBRITE PAGE FOR FULL DETAILS AND DIRECTIONS.

For further information, please email Nia at info@haveheartproject.org or call her on 07473 103170.