The Plot

Inspiring young people from the Silwood Estate to get involved in arts activities

The biggest challenge facing any Youth Arts project is making sure the right people have access to it, which is essentially what 'The Plot' is all about. The initiative was set up by Lewisham and Southwark Arts to build awareness in young people of the variety of arts workshops, projects and courses on offer in the local area.

In spring 2004 MakeBelieve Arts were approached to co-ordinate the project between March 04 to March 05, aiming the work at young people in or around the Silwood Estate.

Firstly we received funding for freelancer Tanya Levy to develop and promote an enormous Youth Arts day to launch the programme. This day was a huge success with over 100 young people attending. On offer were a wide variety of activities including; a performance in a day, V-Jing (like D-Jing but with graphics), sculpture, t-shirt design, screen printing, and football with Millwall Football Club. There was also free spicy Caribbean food and all this accompanied by the sound of the Riverside Youth Steel Panners, and free goodie bags including prizes from HMV!

Having recruited a significant number of young people, three small projects followed through out the year, delivered by local based arts organisations Albany Digital, The Laban and London Bubble.

A V-Jing and music making course, based at The Albany kicked off the first project. A small group of young people got a chance to mix their own images and make music towards a live event in the Albany Cafe. Their event supported the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra that was performing in the theatre and participants from the Plot got to stay and watch. (It was the first time that these young people had ever been into the Albany Theatre!)

This project involved young people learning Street and Contemporary dance moves. A show of work was performed for the participants' family and friends in February, at Labans' new inspiring purpose built dance space in Creekside.

"What's it like to be young and growing up now?"

The theme of ownership and identity set the tone for The Bubble's Drama project which concluded The Plot programme. Participants worked towards a performance on these issues, in a tenants' hall on the Silwood Estate in March 05.

We hope that participants from any of the Plot projects will continue to inspire and be involved with their local arts organisations.